Spartans' Salcedo top seed in Div. I

He's only a freshman, but he hasn't lost a match this season.
& lt;a href=mailto:scalzo@vindy.com & gt;By JOE SCALZO & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN -- Most freshmen would be pretty intimidated to enter the Federal League boys tennis tournament as the top seed, but Boardman's Bryant Salcedo is not like most freshmen.
"He's one of the best I've seen in the area," said Boardman coach Evelyn Stanton, "and that includes anyone from previous years."
Salcedo, the top-seeded player in Thursday's Division I sectional tournament, won all four matches at last week's Federal League tournament in straight sets, beating Hoover's Jimmy Vogelgesang, 6-4, 6-2, in the final for the No. 1 singles title.
Now he's focusing on bigger goals.
"My goal is to definitely make it to state," Salcedo said. "Then I want to win state."
This year?
"Yes," he said.
It's ambitious, but Salcedo is no stranger to success. Since getting a tennis racquet for his sixth birthday, Salcedo has steadily evolved into one of the best players in the country.
No. 1 in Northeast Ohio
He's ranked first in northeast Ohio among players age 16-and-under by the United States Tennis Association. He's traveled across the country playing tournaments and he's made a smooth transition into high school competition, going 10-0 so far this season.
He's already beaten most of the area's top players, including Liberty's Richard Baroff and Poland's Luke Duchek.
"He's pretty much beating everyone coming his way," Stanton said. "Hopefully, he can get to state this year. As a coach, you don't want to be too optimistic, but he's good enough. He has the inner strength to get there and he wants it."
And while he may not win a state title this season, he's good enough to win one by the time he graduates, Stanton said.
"Oh yes, absolutely," she said. "And if he doesn't, something's wrong."
Started young
Salcedo began taking tennis lessons at age 8 and soon after began playing in tournaments around northeast Ohio. As he got better, he started playing in regional and midwest tournaments, eventually advancing to the national scene. He even missed the beginning of the high school season to play in some bigger tournaments.
"He's made a lot of sacrifices to play tennis," Stanton said. "And he's good at it. He's a lot like [former Canfield player] Chris Kuppler, because he's very fast. But he has a little bit more finesse because he's trained so much and played against the top kids in the country."
Salcedo is also a good student, Stanton said.
"He's a good kid, a good student and he comes from a great family," she said. "He's just a wonderful young man."
His younger brother, Robert, also plays tennis and he's a good bet to become one of Ohio's best players when he starts high school in two years.
Just don't expect him to beat his older brother anytime soon.
"I would never let that happen," Salcedo said with a laugh.
& lt;a href=mailto:scalzok@vindy.com & gt;scalzo@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;