2007-2008 PSAL Boys Team Championship

Host: USTA/Billie Jean King National Tennis Center

PSAL Boys A Team Championship WINNER:  

BEACON HIGH SCHOOL

PSAL Boys B Team Cup WINNER:

MANHATTAN CENTER/SCIENCE & MATH

        On Thursday, May 15, 2008, the best boys teams in New York City dueled it out at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center for the coveted prize of being crowned City Champions.  Beacon and Manhattan Center, two top-notch tennis programs, earned the banners that they will bring home to their respective schools.  Coach Bayard Faithfull of Beacon and Coach Mitch Weinfeld have a lot to be proud of.  They are two great coaches who never took anything for granted and had their players ready for each and every match.  I commend them both on wonderful seasons! In addition, Coach Jon Leizman of Hunter and Coach Fred Drier of Bryant, the two finalists, gave Beacon and Manhattan Center all they could handle and had tremendous seasons.  As Fred told me yesterday, “It’s a beautiful day and there are no losers here today.”  Standing next to Arthur Ashe Stadium and playing on U.S. Open courts, I couldn’t agree more.  Now, let’s get to the tennis.

          In the A Division, Beacon and Hunter have battled all year long in one of the city’s toughest divisions.  Undefeated Beacon got off to a great start with their #1 singles player, Milo Hauk.  Milo dictated play consistently from start to finish against the very talented, Mieszko Tomczyk of Hunter.  He cruised to victory 6-2, 6-3.  At #2 Singles, Greg Streat of Beacon had all he could handle in the first set against Kevin Kwok of Hunter.  Full of long baseline rallies that entertained the Court 8 spectators, Streat narrowly pulled out the tense first set, 7-6 (7-3 in the tiebreak).  Facing an opponent who seemed to be out of gas, Streat took the second set 6-0.  At #3 Singles, Jonathan Franzel of Beacon also had his hands full facing the up and coming sophomore, Philip Malaric of Hunter.  After a close first set, Franzel, fresh off a tenacious win vs. Brooklyn Tech in the semifinals, closed out the match 6-4, 6-1. 

One of the best matches of the finals was found at #1 Doubles.  Two of the best doubles teams in the city went at it for two grueling sets.  Full of tension and lots of ups and downs, Imran Choudhury and Hannah Berner of Beacon narrowly beat Len Chenfeld and Max Segan of Hunter 6-4, 7-5.  This victory was the third match to be completed and therefore, clinched Beacon’s 2^nd PSAL City Championship in 3 years.  As the last point was completed, Choudhury and Berner were joined on court by relieved and joyous teammates.  Not to be forgotten, Stacey Lopez and Khari Linton of Beacon solidly defeated Hal Moore and Ciaran O’Connor of Hunter at #2 Doubles 6-4, 6-3.  This was the fifth and final match to cap off a beautiful day of tennis at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.  With several ranked players returning, Beacon will be a force to be reckoned with for many years to come.

           In the B Division, Manhattan Center and Bryant both finished with 11-1 regular seasons.  To begin play at #1 singles, Erick Fuentes from Manhattan Center battled against James Tsang from Bryant.  Fuentes dictated play and was too much to handle and winning a decisive victory 6-1, 6-3.  He's a sophomore with a lot of potential and dominated all year long with an 11-0 record leading Manhattan Center's team.  In one of the longest matches of the day at #2 singles, Daniel Jerolimov of Bryant narrowly won against Do Hyun Kim of Manhattan Center 2-6, 6-2, 6-4.  The match went back and forth for almost two hours with solid all-court play from both players.  Jerolimov, like Fuentes from Manhattan Center, was rock solid at the #2 position for Bryant all year finishing the season 16-0.  At #3 singles, Russell Bari won handily for Manhattan Center 6-2, 6-1 against Roy Chi of Bryant.  Bari's play all year showcased a tremendous singles depth on Coach Weinfeld's squad.

          At #1 Doubles, Andi Muskaj and Anthony Galinda of Bryant beat Qi Guan and Jeremy Mathias of Manhattan Center 6-2, 6-2 with aggressive serving and volleying as well as great teamwork.  This win set up one or the most dramatic matches of the afternoon.  At #2 Doubles, Rahul Patel and Pias Malaker of Manhattan Center had to contend with Ayoub Maouhoub and Mohamad Awada of Bryant, a doubles tandem that would not quit.  With one Bryant player injuring his ankle during a frustrating 6-0 first set loss, Coach Drier listened closely to his player and considered whether or not to replace him for the rest of this crucial match.  His player insisted on continuing.  The Bryant team fought back tenaciously and won the 2nd set 6-3.  With the B Cup Title on the line for both teams and a bigger crowd watching, Malaker and Patel of Manhattan Center played tough tennis and were able to secure a 6-3 3rd set victory and the 1st PSAL B Cup Championship for Manhattan Center.  Coach Weinfeld and his team beamed with pride over their great accomplishment.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE TEAMS WHO PLAYED FOR A WONDERFUL SEASON AND SPECIFICALLY, TO BEACON AND MANHATTAN CENTER, OUR A AND B TEAM WINNERS!!