When Nina Green was a student at Hollywood Hills High in the early 1980s, she was regarded as one of the top tennis players in Broward County. She continued that success at the University of Pennsylvania.
Today, Green is a Miami-Dade County attorney who has found her way back onto the court, but this time, she is doing it as a mother.
Randy Green, 11, is just learning the sport of tennis. With the help of family friend Howard Hamilton, who just happens to be the tennis pro at David Park Tennis Center in Hollywood, Green and her son have been able to enjoy the sport together.
Watching Randy, who has Down syndrome, play tennis brings a sense of pride to Nina and her husband, Warren, a teacher at Driftwood Elementary.
While they have learned much about Down syndrome and what it can do to families affected by it, the Greens have played on the many positives, and they feel getting Randy involved in tennis has been the best move they have ever made.
“Randy was watching one day on TV and seemed to really fall in love with the sport,” Nina Green remembered. “Having known Howard for so many years, he was the perfect person to contact about getting him involved in the sport.”
Because Randy has been involved in so many different activities and sports, fitting tennis into his busy schedule was something that the Greens had to make time for.
“When we saw Randy getting involved in tennis, this was simply a no-brainer,” Nina Green said. “As parents, it’s our responsibility to afford him every opportunity to expand his horizons as we can.”
Although many youngsters with Down syndrome have a tough time mainstreaming with other children, it has not been a problem with Randy. He attends elementary school near his home in Cooper City, competes in soccer, baseball and even snow skiing, and volunteers his time to make sure that other kids feel comfortable.
A few months back, Randy had the opportunity to appear on NBC’s Today Show, where he swam with the dolphins on Key Largo. It’s something he does quite often.
The Island Dolphin Care has provided so many hours of enjoyment to young boys and girls who need an emotional lift in their life, and make no mistake, swimming with the dolphins has made an impact.
“When you see Randy out there, helping other kids who are not as fortunate as he is, it brings several tears of joy to your eye,” Warren Green said. “Randy is truly a special young man who has indeed been a very important part of many lives.”
The Greens have found themselves heavily involved in Down syndrome support programs to stay aware and help others, but for Randy, his focus appears to be on the Special Olympics and a medal in tennis.
“I love to play tennis,” Randy said. “It’s fun to be out there with Howard.”
Although Hamilton has had the pleasure of teaching many youngsters throughout the years, the special bond that he has formed with Randy, Nina and Warren is something that goes further than the tennis lessons given two to three times a week.
“Randy is a unique young man,” Hamilton said. “To watch him advance in this sport, and mature as a young man makes me feel great.”
Wrestlers do well
When Allen Held took his team to the state wrestling tournament in Lakeland from Feb. 16-18, the last thing he would ever have predicted was having his own son, A.J., make it to the state championship.
The South Broward sophomore finished second, ending the year with an impressive 43-2 record at the 3A 140-pound class.
“This is something you lie in bed at night and dream about,” said Held, who coached three state champions when he was at Hallandale High. “You hope for the best for everyone on your team, but to have your own son reach that title match is something that fulfills a lot of dreams.”
Held wasn’t the only Bulldog sophomore to do well. Ivan Lopushinkiy finished third in the state in the 135-pound class after losing a tough semifinals match to Gabe Hale of Royal Palm Beach, 3-0. South Broward finished 10th in the state.
Toulson reaches Doral
It took an extra playoff round, but Christopher Toulson will be making his third trip to the PGA Ford Championship at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Miami from Thursday through March 5.
Toulson, 39, of Weston, shot a 1-under par 71 at the South Florida PGA Class A qualifier at Emerald Hills in Hollywood on Feb. 10 to tie Hal Jacobs of Pompano Beach.
In the tiebreaker, Toulson won on the first hole of the playoff when he saved a par-5 and Jacobs got stuck in the rough and finished with a seven. Toulson, a PGA professional from the Jim McLean Golf School, grabbed the second qualifying spot and joined Fort Lauderdale’s Keith Burt, who shot a 3-under par 69 to take the first spot.
“It was very nerve-racking,” Toulson said. “Basically, it’s all or nothing once you get into a playoff round, and there were a lot of thoughts going on in my mind. This has a special feel for me since this could be my last Doral.
Toulson also advanced in 2000 when he qualified as the points leader in the area and was the South Florida PGA Player of the Year. In 2003, he advanced via a qualifying event much in the same way as this year’s qualifying event.
MAKE-A-WISH
Jeff Conine, a longtime supporter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida, will be inducted into the organization’s Sports Banquet Hall of Fame March 13 at the Foundation’s 13th Sports Banquet and Celebrity Auction at Hard Rock LIVE at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood.
Conine, currently a member of the Baltimore Orioles, has been actively involved with Make-A-Wish’s Southern Florida chapter () since 1993 and sits on its advisory board. He has been an ardent supporter of its two largest fund-raising events, the Make-A-Wish Ball at the InterContinental Hotel in Miami and the Broward-based Sports Banquet.
The Weston resident has also personally helped grant wishes, enabling six South Florida children “to be a baseball player for a day” during his time with the Florida Marlins. Conine joins former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino (2004) and NBC-6 anchor Tony Segreto (2005) in the Hall of Fame.
The sports banquet features a cocktail reception, dinner, live auction with one-of-a-kind themed packages, and a silent auction with collectibles. The fund-raiser begins at 5:30 p.m. and tickets are available for a tax-deductible donation of $250.
To learn more or to reserve seats, call 888-773-9474, ext. 318.
Registrations
BASKETBALL LEAGUE: Hallandale Beach Parks and Recreation Department is now accepting registrations for the upcoming season of youth basketball for ages 5-16. Registrations will be accepted at the Parks and Recreation administrative office at 410 SE Third St., from 8 a.m.-6 p.m Monday through Friday until March 25. Participant fees are $30 or $15 with verification of residency in Hallandale Beach. League play, practices and games will begin in mid-March.
At the time of registration, parents must be on hand to sign the registration waiver form and submit a birth certificate for the participant. Payment is due at the time of registration. Parent volunteers are also needed to coach, keep score and assist with the league. For additional information contact the Hallandale Beach Parks and Recreation Department at 954-457-1452.
PEMBROKE PINES FLAG FOOTBALL: The Pembroke Pines Optimist Flag Football 5 on 5 league will have registrations for the upcoming season for the 9-, 11-, 13- and 16-under age divisions from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursdays and from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays at 7400 Pines Blvd. Fees will be $85 for Pines residents and $115 for nonresidents. Visit
Larry Blustein can be reached at .
