Kenta Miyoshi tosses the ball for a serve at the 2023 Illini Open. The Fighting Illini junior won his second straight ITA National Summer Championship title on Tuesday.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Illini's Miyoshi wins back-to-back titles at ITA Nationals
SNS Sports – Illinois' Kenta Miyoshi successfully defended his title at the ITA National Summer Championships, winning the men’s singles tournament for the second consecutive year. Having strong summer season, he secured his spot in the ITA National Summer Championships after he won an ITA Summer Masters Series event in Madison, Wis., in July.
Surviving his semifinal match against No. 3 seed Lucas Brown from Texas 6-3, 6-7, 10-2, the Japanese native punched his ticket to the title match for a rematch against Florida State’s Jamie Connel.
In 2023, summoning every ounce of tenacity he could muster, Miyoshi won their earlier meeting 2-6, 6-4, 10-7. On Tuesday, took command early and delivered a 6-3, 6-3, decision over Connel on Tuesday at the Leftwich Tennis Center on the campus of the University of Memphis.
During his sophomore season, all eyes will be on the Big Ten Distinguished Scholar who ended with a 27-9 record in singles and 18-10 record in doubles. Miyoshi finished his sophomore year undefeated in singles during Big Ten play with a 6-0 record and ended the 2023-24 season with a 10-match undefeated streak in doubles.
From paralympian to coaching powerhouse, Illinois' Adam Bleakney to coach at 2024 games
Champaign - As the 2024 Paralympic Games prepare to take center stage in Paris on August 28, one man stands ready to lead Team USA's wheelchair track and road racing team to glory: Adam Bleakney. A three-time Paralympian himself, with a silver medal from the 2004 Games in Greece, Bleakney has been at the helm of the University of Illinois wheelchair racing program since 2005, molding champions and shattering records along the way.
Bleakney's journey into the world of wheelchair racing began after a life-altering spinal cord injury when he was just 19 years old. "I was looking for something to redirect my energy, and I was drawn to wheelchair marathoning," Bleakney shared with the University of Illinois News Bureau. With unwavering determination, he took on the challenge of the Chicago Marathon a mere year after his injury, setting the stage for a remarkable career as an athlete and coach.
Under Bleakney's guidance, the University of Illinois has become a breeding ground for Paralympic excellence. His athletes have amassed an astonishing 55 medals across four Paralympic Games, setting 14 world records on the track in the process. They've also dominated the world's most prestigious marathons, claiming victories in Boston, London, Chicago, and New York City.
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee has recognized Bleakney's exceptional leadership, naming him Paralympic Coach of the Year three times. His impact on the sport is undeniable, and it's no surprise that all nine wheelchair racing athletes representing the United States in Paris have a connection to the University of Illinois. The majority of these elite competitors have honed their skills at the university's state-of-the-art facility in the Rehabilitation Education Center, one of only eight U.S. Olympic and Paralympic training sites in the country.
As the Paralympic Games approach, all eyes will be on Bleakney and his team of exceptional athletes. With his proven track record of success and the unwavering support of the University of Illinois behind them, there's no doubt that Team USA's wheelchair racers will be a force to be reckoned with in Paris. The world will be watching as they push themselves to new heights, chasing gold and inspiring a new generation of athletes to follow in their tracks.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Paralympic racer Susannah Scaroni, rolls down Washington Street in Urbana during the 2024 Illinois Half Marathon. The University of Illinois graduate in nutritional sciences will assist athletes with nutrition at the upcoming games later this month. She won the title, crossing the finish line at 50:08, ten minutes ahead of the second-place finisher.
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