2022 NYC Boys’ High School
Preview
igh school tennis returns to its normal point on the calendar as the boys’ season gets underway this spring. The COVID-19 pandemic forced a shutdown of the seasons over the last two years, but it is exciting to have boys’ high tennis back in the Public School Athletic League (PSAL) New York City in 2022. While last year there was an abridged season, with only some teams and players competing, this spring will play host to a full season. The season is set to begin in March, although at the time of the publication, the official schedule and other championship dates had not been announced yet. Please be sure to check NYTennisMag.com for the latest information, recaps, photos and more throughout the season. Note: All players and dates are subject to change. Please visit NYTennisMag.com for the latest information.
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Beacon Under the tutelage of first-year boys’ head coach Martina Choi, Beacon won all seven of its matches in a shortened 2021 season, and is set to once again claim its place among the PSAL’s best. It does lose last year’s first singles player Arnav Agostinho to graduation, but still have a list of talented players on its roster to pick up the slack this spring. Soren Rudin Aulenbach will move up to the top singles position, while the first doubles duo of Arjun Agostinho & Erik Johansoon return to lead the doubles teams. With experienced players back, plus young talent waiting in the wings, Beacon is one of the city’s favorites again this season. New Utrecht The Utes of New Utrecht went unbeaten in Brooklyn’s League I. It will have to replenish much of its talent from last season’s roster, with both first singles player Timothy Lee and second singles player Maximillian Bolkhovsky having graduated. But leading the way for the Utes will be Raymond Lian who as a freshman played second singles, and will be thrust into a bigger role this spring. New Utrecht will aim to repeat its success from 2021 in hopes of becoming the best team in Brooklyn.
Bronx Science Bronx Science also posted an undefeated record in the shortened 2021 boys’ season, and will enter this spring with a lot of those players back in hopes of winning a PSAL title. Luke Ellerstein competed at second singles a year ago, and will most likely jump up a spot in the lineup as Neil He, who played first singles last year, graduated last year. The Wolverines will look to get a big season from the first doubles duo of Justin Fong & Jeffrey Yang, as well as brothers Adam and David Kamenetz at second doubles. Cardozo Cardozo could be one of the most intriguing teams in all of New York City this season as much of its roster from last spring will be back this year for the Judges. The team that went unbeaten in the Queens I division returns its first singles player Akash Hongal, Peter Vanechanos at second singles and Nathan Shtilerman at third singles. The first doubles tandem of Zachary Dubilirer & Justin Lau are also back, which provides the Judges with a talented and experienced lineup ready to compete against anyone throughout New York City. Tottenville While it finished in second place in Staten Island last spring, the Pirates of Tottenville could be due for a much more successful season in 2022. Johnathon Belibasakis will return to compete at first singles, plus Matthew Finkelstein and Eugene Saturchenko, both seniors, round out the singles lineup at second and third, respectively. The Pirates will also have the first doubles duo of seniors Steven Spreen & Louis Larocca. With a senior-heavy team, look for Tottenville to use that experience to make a deep run in New York City’s playoffs later this spring. More Players to Watch l Kyle Ramsingh – John Adams l Salena Dilraj – John Adams l Justin Tsemekhin – McKee/Staten Island Tech l Matthew Elgenio – Townsend Harris l Angier Lei – Stuyvesant l Austin Huang – Townsend Harris l David Pomerantz – Hunter
NYTennisMag.com • March/April 2022 • New York Tennis Magazine
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