2023 Long Island Boys’ High School Season Preview

As the winter weather slowly dissipates and we move into the spring, that means the arrival of a new boys’ high school tennis season here on Long Island.

Last year, we saw the introduction of the Small School Championships for Nassau County, Suffolk County and Long Island, as well as the first-ever New York State Team Championships, where Long Island representatives competed against the best teams from across the state at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

With many top players returning this season, including Hewlett’s Stephan Gershfeld, the 2023 spring season here on Long Island sets up to be an exciting one. Last year, Gershfeld won his second straight Nassau County singles title, and went on to win the New York State championship.

Below are some of those teams and players to watch for both Nassau County and Suffolk County, as well as the season’s key dates.

All names, dates and locations are subject to change. Be sure to check LITennisMag.com throughout the season for the most up to date information on all things high school tennis.

Nassau County Teams to Watch

Great Neck SouthGreat Neck South’s Albert Hu

A year ago, Great Neck South came within one victory of reaching the Nassau County championship, and the Rebels will be eager to build on that success as we head into the 2023 season. Led by one of the best players in the county in Albert Hu, Great Neck South could be a threat in the top conference. Hu will be backed in the singles lineup by experienced seniors Chris Park and Luke Goodman to bolster the lineup, as well as seasoned players in the doubles lineup. Despite their loss in the semifinals a year ago, Great Neck South will use that playoff experience and try to build on their success this spring.

Port Washington

While their lineup may lean on the young side, Port Washington is a team that needs to be considered when talking about potential county champions for 2023. The Vikings will be led by juniors Ezra Loewy and Anton Perfiliev who both competed atop the singles lineup a year ago. Reed Paltrow, an all-state doubles player last season, will be back as well as John Funk to bolster the depth on the team, which will help keep Port Washington competitive against any team in the county. Despite losing seniors Candrin Chris, Dan Greilshemer and Amir Pazy, the Vikings’ depth will be a key factor in its success.

RoslynRoslyn’s Drew Hassenbein

The Bulldogs of Roslyn enjoyed one of its best seasons in recent memory in 2022, capturing the Nassau County championship with a thrilling win over rival Syosset. Roslyn will aim to go one step further this season and capture the Long Island championship and returns much of its lineup from last year in order to achieve that goal. Leading the way will be Drew Hassenbein who shined as an eight-grader a year ago, and will be backed up by varsity-veteran Ethan Solop ,as well as experienced doubles players Cayden Shen and Bartek Dziedziach. The senior leadership, led by Gavin Koo and Zach Sheena, will help anchor a team full of young talent as the Bulldogs look to go one step further than it did in 2022.

Syosset

Each year, the Syosset Braves seemingly reload its talent base which has helped make it one of the most consistent teams in the county year in and year out. This spring is a bit different in that regard in that it doesn’t have to reload at all from last season as the Braves will return all of its starters from the 2022 team that reached the county championship. Anchoring the squad will be all-state singles player Ansh Chadha, the Bentley commit who reached the semifinals of the individual championships last spring. The projected lineup features experienced players Evan Lee and Devan Melandro rounding out the singles lineup, and Syosset always possess depth in the doubles lineup which makes them a difficult team to play.

Wheatley

In 2022, the Wildcats of Wheatley became the first team to ever win the Nassau County Small School championship. It didn’t stop there, however, moving on to win the Long Island title, and then completed the championship trifecta by winning the New York State Small School Championship and becoming the event’s inaugural champion. Wheatley will be motivated to repeat those accomplishments this season, and will now do so with a target on its back. The Wildcats will have to replace the leadership and talent of first singles player Kavin Shukla, with that mantle falling to Aaron Raja, who played second singles a year ago and teamed with Shukla to reach the doubles final in the Nassau County individual championships. Raja will lead the way in the singles lineup this season, and an array of experienced doubles players to try to lead Wheatley to a repeat of last year’s success.

Nassau County Players to Watch

(in addition to players mentioned with their team)

►Stephan Gershfeld, Hewlett

►Federico Garcia, Hicksville

►Matt Manesh, Great Neck North

►Aiden Patel, Plainview

►Cooper Schorr, Lynbrook

Nassau County Key Dates

►Monday, April 3: Regular Season Begins

►Saturday, May 13 – Sunday, May 14: Individual Championships

►Wednesday, May 17: Small School and Large School Playoffs Begin

►Monday, May 22: Small School Championship

►Wednesday, May 24: Large School Championship

►Thursday, May 25: Small School Long Island Championship

►Wednesday, May 31: Large School Long Island Championship

►Friday, June 2 – Sunday, June 4 – New York State Individual Championships, USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center

►Friday, June 9: New York State Small School AND Large School Team Championships, USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center

Suffolk County Teams to Watch

CommackCommack’s Eddie Liao

Commack was the best team in all of Long Island a season ago, moving through its entire schedule without losing, including a thrilling victory over Roslyn in the Long Island Large School Championship. While the Cougars fell in the New York State finals, the team will be ready to repeat that success this spring, and are excited to try to claim that state title. Leading the way will be junior Eddie Liao who has been at the top of the Commack lineup for a couple of years now, and is one of the toughest players on all of Long Island. The two-time Suffolk County singles champion will lead a lineup full of experienced players, including captain James Yu at second singles, who has been an all-state player before. Eric Benderly, who clinched his team’s Long Island championship last season, will move up a spot in the singles lineup to replace outgoing senior Matt Strogach. Saharsh Peddireddy and Joe Romito will also return to the lineup, and Commack has talented players waiting in the wings on its junior varsity team to add depth as the Cougars seek to repeat as county and Long Island champions.

East Hampton

Last year, East Hampton made its way into the semifinals of the county tournament to finish one of its best seasons in recent years. The Bonackers were one win away from playing for a county championship, a fact that will be motivation for this season’s squad. Led by Max Astilean, who himself reached the quarterfinals of the Suffolk County individual championships, East Hampton returns much of its lineup from last year’s semifinal team. That includes second singles player Nick Cooper, and his younger brother, Henry, who competed at both second (while his brother Nick was injured) and third singles last year. Kiefer Mitchell, Jagger Cohen, Armando Rangel, Cameron Mitchell, Miguel Garcia, Dane Schwalbe and Carlos Quintana, all players who were in the lineup a year ago, are back this season, which makes East Hampton both experienced and talented, and a potential threat to the county’s top teams.

Half Hollow Hills East

The Thunderbirds of Hills East are one of those teams that will always put out a competitive lineup, as each year Hills East proves its one of the most consistent programs on all of Long Island. That will be no different this season, as Hills East will be led by senior captain Krithik Madisetty, an all-state player, who will anchor the lineup at first singles. Krithik’s younger brother, Lohit, is expected to play a major role atop the singles lineup, while freshman Tommy Walsh will contribute both in singles and doubles. To create the depth and experience in doubles, junior captain Jordan Heyman will play a significant role with his position at first doubles, as Hills East aims to make a deep run in the county playoffs.  

Half Hollow Hills West

Entering the playoffs as the seventh seed in last year’s county tournament, Hills West reached the quarterfinals, but are eager to go further in 2023. Leading the way will be junior Bryan Volk, who has been one of the better players in all of Suffolk County over the last couple of seasons, and will be tasked with guiding a young Hills West team into competition. Helping him out in the lineup will be Alan Yu, an all-league player in 2022, as Hills West looks to build on that quarterfinal appearance last year.

Ward MelvilleWard Melville’s Shashank Pennabadi

The team that Commack beat in the aforementioned Suffolk County championship: The Ward Melville Patriots. Ward Melville compiled a fantastic season in 2022, going undefeated in League II and winning multiple playoff matches en route to the county final. The Patriots return a lot of its top players from a season ago which is an encouraging sign as it aims to once again make a deep playoff run. Aron Bursztyn, who paired with Shashank Pennabadi to win the Suffolk County doubles title, has graduated and will not return, but Pennabadi will be back this season to help lead his Patriots. To help with that cause will be Shashank’s brother, Harshith, as well as Bursztyn’s brother, Gabe, who was injured most of last year. Ward Melville also returns multiple all-league players from the 2022 team, including seniors Charley Du, Luke Hou and Ethan Timm, as well as junior Max Schoolman.

Suffolk County Players to Watch

(in addition to players mentioned with their team)

►Walt Whitman’s Samuel Lopez

►Shane Duerr, Bayport-Blue Point

►Angelo Guzman, Comsewogue

►Ray Hidaka, Shoreham-Wading River

►Kyle Johnson, Harborfields

►Samuel Lopez, Walt Whitman

►Emil Sabovic, Connetquot

Suffolk County Key Dates

►Tuesday, March 21: Regular Season Begins

►Thursday, May 11: Large School AND Small School Playoffs Begin

►Friday, May 12 – Monday, May 15: Individual Divisional Championships

►Thursday, May 18: Small School Championship

►Friday, May 19 – Monday, May 22: Individual County Championships

►Thursday, May 25: Large School Championship

►Thursday, May 25: Small School Long Island Championship

►Wednesday, May 31: Large School Long Island Championship

►Friday, June 2 – Sunday, June 4 – New York State Individual Championships, USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center

►Friday, June 9: New York State Small School AND Large School Team Championships, USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center