Wheatley Completes Undefeated Season, Wins New York State Title

June 14, 2022 | By Frank Cannistra
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The Billie Jean King National Tennis Center played host on Friday to the Small School State Championship match, which saw Wheatley overcome a very competitive Byram Hills team by a final score of 3-2. 

The victory for Wheatley not only solidifies them as small school state champions, but completes an undefeated season.

Coach Herman Lim was ecstatic at his team’s victory, stating:

“I’m speechless. It’s been such an unbelievable season, undefeated, trying to keep these guys on track. I keep reminding them that we’re due for one and these kids have been just amazing.”

Most notably of their three wins, first singles player Kavin Shukla was able to secure a victory for Wheatley in a very intense match that had the crowd extremely boisterous throughout. Shukla dealt with quite a bit of heckling and a big second-set deficit to win the match 6-2, 7-5, and clinch the state championship. 

Elsewhere during the match, Wheatley singles players Saje Menon and Aaron Raja provided the team with just the right amount of wins, as Byram Hills was able to secure both doubles matches. 

Shukla was proud of his fellow teammates for coming up with the victories that put him in position to clinch the state title.

“We’re really close, me and these guys, they all work hard…well at least some of them”, Shukla said jokingly. 

“Thankfully singles did what they had to do,” Lim added. “Byram Hills had great doubles play today, so our games came up huge when we needed them most.”

 


Frank Cannistra

Frank Cannistra is a Contributing Writer for New York Tennis Magazine. He may be reached at frankcannistra4757@gmail.com

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