Commitment Profile
Spring Signing Week '15: State Champion Otero Picks Penn State
by James Hill, 17 April 2015
Share: | |
| | |
|
|
Five-star senior Oliver Otero has been a major contributor to high school championship teams in two states.
As a freshman in Winston-Salem, Otero helped the
Reynolds High School Demons win the 2012 North Carolina state crown - and, after moving to Coconut Grove, Fla., he competed for the
Coral Gables Senior High School when they won the state title last year. It marked the first tennis team championship for the Cavaliers in 42 years.
Taking along his good track record, Otero has decided to become a member of the Penn State Nittany Lions team next fall. He will soon sign the National Letter of Intent to make it official, but there was no doubt in Otero's mind where he will spend the four years of his collegiate career.
"I've known the head coach since I was 12," said Otero, of Penn State coach Jeff Zinn, who spent 15 seasons at the helm of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem. "He watched me growing up as I developed into a competitive tennis player. I got to meet the (Penn State) team during my official visit in September, and I knew right away it was the place for me."
Otero is ranked 15th in the state of Florida, No. 26 in the Southeast, and is 96th nationally in the HEAD Class Rankings. He holds an RPI of No. 78, and is ranked 44th in strength of schedule.
His Coral Gables High School coach, David Weiner, used superlatives when describing his player on the tennis court, and in the classroom. Otero, who lists his strong points as "his footwork and mental toughness," plays No. 1 singles for the Cavaliers.