MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. \u2014 Two student-athletes from Somerset Academy are getting a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.<\/p>\n
Ninth-grader Matthew Vedder and eighth-grader Lucas Maria made the cut as ball volunteers for the annual Miami Open.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe go through about 1,000 applications, put people through hours and hours of training where we firmly narrow it down to our final 425 ball persons,\u201d director of ball volunteers Marc Adler told Local 10\u2019s Michaila Hightower. <\/p>\n
For the next two weeks, Vedder and Maria will be on the court during games, tracking every ball from the sidelines.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing on the court is the best seat in the house,\u201d Maria said. <\/p>\n
Adler didn\u2019t hesitate when saying, \u201cThey have one of the most important roles at tennis tournaments.\u201d<\/p>\n
It will certainly be an exciting moment for Vedder and Maria, who will have friends, family and classmates coming to watch them.<\/p>\n
They will make sure to soak in every second.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully one day I can be able to play in the Miami Open and ball kids could be in the same position just like me,\u201d Maria said. <\/p>\n