The ITHF Honors the TeamFAME Class of 2025 at the 5th Annual Sunset Slam
The International Tennis Hall of Fame honored the TeamFAME Class of 2025 graduates on Wednesday, July 9th in the fourth annual Sunset Slam. The evening featured a collection of memorable moments, awards and speakers during the inspiring evening at the ITHF’s historic Horseshoe Court.
The graduates featured six Newport youth including: Isaiah Gonsalves, Adanyce Correia, Melanie Jasse Pacheco, Emilio Beltran, Alexis Carter, and Brian Taveras Polanco. Each TeamFAMEr will attend Newport’s Rogers High School this fall.
“We’ve watched these students grow from quiet observers into passionate voices and community leaders. Every single TeamFAMEr brings their own unique light to this program, and it’s that diversity, spirit and drive that makes TeamFAME so special,” said Executive Director of Team Fame and Vice President of Advancement at the ITHF, Marguerite Marano.
Across the year, TeamFAME student-athletes focused on a myriad of community service efforts, particularly promoting sustainability in the Greater Newport area. Alongside the ITHF’s official sustainability partner 11th Hour Racing, TeamFAMErs completed enriching work to reduce their carbon footprint as a Green Team such as collecting harvest and donating to Newport’s Martin Luther King Jr. Food Pantry.
Notably the Class of 2025 competed in a program-high five middle school matches across Rhode Island. Off the court, the graduates strengthened their financial literacy with Citizens Bank and posted strong academic achievements– with several reaching honor roll at their respective schools.
Among the festivities, the event featured surprise guest appearances from Hall of Fame Class of 2010 Gigi Fernandez as well as 2025 Hall of Fame Open competitors Genie Bouchard and Christina McHale. The WTA stars spoke to the TeamFame student-athletes and a crowd of 300 supporters, highlighting the importance of community in tennis.
“When you have a group of kids your own age that motivate you, it makes it more fun and is what I think made the difference for me when I was growing up", said former world No. 24 McHale. "All of you [TeamFAMErs] have been so poised and have said they want to play at the tournament too, I think that is amazing and so inspiring.”
The celebration culminated in the recognition of four TeamFAMErs being honored with the event’s special awards.
Adanyce Correia was presented the 2025 Character of a Champion Award.
The honor is awarded annually to a TeamFAME student-athlete who is consistently community-minded, serving as role models to their peers. The awards were presented in memory of late TeamFAME Advisory Board member, Robyn Holloway and Newport educator, Terrence C. Burns.
The 2025 Rising Tide Award was granted to Ariyah Nada
The Rising Tide Award, presented by 11th Hour Racing, is given to a TeamFAME student-athlete who rises to meet challenges– especially those facing our oceans and environment. Like a rising tide, this young leader uplifts their peers, cares deeply about their community and takes meaningful action to protect the ocean.
This year’s FILA R.E.A.C.H. Award winner is Alexis Carter and Isaiah Gonsalves
The FILA R.E.A.C.H. Award stands for Realizing Extraordinary Accomplishments with Courage and Humility. As a year-round supporter of the ITHF and TeamFAME, this award celebrates a TeamFAME student-athlete who embodies the spirit of FILA-sponsored champions– showing resilience, effort, attitude, courage and humility on and off the court.
As the TeamFame Class of 2025 awaits a new chapter in education, they will remain involved in the program as junior coaches, high school teammates and ITHF staff– while applying new skills and lifelong connections into their respective communities.
