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Nicolas Kotzen was down to his final shot. The blue chip senior from Short Hills, New Jersey had never won a gold, silver or bronze ball in singles or doubles.

The USTA Winter National Championships would be Kotzen’s last chance to obtain the signature achievement.

Kotzen (right) and Brown Pose With Their Awards
© Contributed Photo

Kotzen came through in the clutch, sweeping both the 18s singles and doubles titles on the hard courts at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Florida.

The 23rd-seeded Kotzen defeated No. 18 Lucas Brown of Plano, Texas 7-5, 6-1 in the Boys 18s singles final. He teamed with Bjorn Swenson to win the doubles crown with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over No. 1 Brown and fellow Texan Grant Lothringer.

“It’s nice to end your junior career with two gold balls, which will be my only two gold balls,” said Kotzen, who has committed to Columbia. “It’s a cool way to end things for me. I have been through a lot and I am happy that I did this.”

Piper Charney joined Kotzen as a double gold ball winner. The 26th-seeded blue chip junior from Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina defeated No. 7 Katie Codd 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in the Girls 18s singles final.