2011 Boys High School Recap
Division I
Benjamin N. Cardozo High School 11-1
Forest Hills 10-2
Francis Lewis 6-6
Bayside High School 3-9
Townsend Harris 0-12
Division II
Division III
Beacon High School Captures Fourth Consecutive PSAL Championship
When people use the word “Dynasty” in sports, they are usually referring to one team that exemplifies dominance over the course of a few years or seasons. The best way to show this dominance is by winning of course. The 2011 New York City Public Schools Boys Tennis High School League (PSAL) saw a fourth consecutive championship go to the Blue Demons of Beacon High School. Led by Coach Bayard Faithful, Beacon entered the season winning four out of the last five PSAL city titles with hopes of winning another. They succeeded in their goal with a 5-0 victory over Brooklyn Tech High School, coached by Scott Anderson.
Both teams entered the finals undefeated with 12-0 records, but experience proved to be the victor as Beacon was able to fend off a young, emerging powerhouse in Brooklyn Tech.
The match got off to a quick start for Beacon as the Freshmen number one doubles team of Win Smith & Lucas Pickering won their match, 6-0, 6-0, capping off an undefeated season. The number two doubles team of Sophomore Daniel Segan & Freshmen Richard Sec had the same luck in winning big with a score of 6-1, 6-0. This gave Beacon an early 2-0 lead with three singles matches left to play.
At number one singles, two of the top PSAL singles players in New York City squared off, as nationally-ranked Senior Quinton Vega of Beacon, who recently was named an All-American, faced off against another nationally-ranked player in Jake Sosonkin of Brooklyn Tech. In a hard fought first set, Vega narrowly edged out Sosonkin to win 6-4, using his huge forehand and aggressive net play to his advantage against Sosonkin’s big serve and finesse game. In the second set, Vega seemed determined to not let Sosonkin gain any momentum and won handily 6-1.
At this point, the team score was 3-0, already giving the title to Beacon, but there were two other matches still to be played. Christian Waldron from Beacon battled against Sami Chahi of Brooklyn Tech at number two singles and in a long, hard-fought match that Waldron won, 6-3, 6-2. At number three singles, Beacon’s Jeremyah Schur pulled through for a victory against Mikolaj Borak of Brooklyn Tech for the sweep and a 5-0 Beacon High School victory.
With dominating doubles teams returning for Beacon High School for a few more years, there is no telling when this dynasty might come to an end.
PSAL Boys Individuals Results and New York State Championship Team
On May 31, the PSAL Individual Tournament was played to crown the 2011 PSAL Boys Tennis Champion, but to also determine the PSAL All-City team to be represented in the State Championships, played at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
The finals pitted two teammates against each other with Stefan Ilic, the number one seed and a senior from Forest Hills High School, playing his teammate, Justin Vijungco, the number two seed who is also in his senior year). Despite the friendly rivalry, Ilic played more aggressive and dictated the match with his big forehand winning, 6-2, 6-2 and winning his first-ever title as PSAL Boys Singles Champion. Based on their performances, Stefan and Justin were chosen as two of the top three singles players to be invited to the State Championships. The third and final spot was given to senior Daniel Lakhman of Francis Lewis High School who won the third place match against Leir Oren from Eleanor Roosevelt High School, 6-4, retired.
Joining the three top singles players were the three top doubles teams decided from the doubles tournament. The three teams included, Christopher Jou & Leon Pan from Stuyvesant High School at number one doubles, Sami Chahi & Mikolaj Borak from Brooklyn Tech High School at number two doubles, and the number three doubles team of Alexis Cai & Spencer Chan from the Bronx High School of Science.
Singles
►Justin Vijungco of Forest Hills High School advanced to the second round where he was eliminated by Alex Tsai of Binghamton, 6-1, 6-3
►Daniel Lakhman of Francis Lewis High School also advanced to the second round where he retired against Brendan Henry of Farmingdale High School, 6-1, 3-1.
►The team of Sami Chahi & Mikolaj Borak from Brooklyn Tech High School advanced to the second round and lost to the team of Jonathan Paris & Conor Mullins from Cold Spring Harbor, 6-1, 6-1.
►Alexis Cai & Spencer Chan from the Bronx High School of Science were eliminated from contention in the first round of action in a 7-5, 6-2 defeat to Neil Weaver & Nicholas Mancuso of Victor.
CHSAA 2011 Boys Varsity Tennis
Congratulations to the St. Francis Prep Boys Varsity Tennis team for capturing the 2011 CHSAA A League Championship
Final standings (A League)
3. St. John’s Prep
Once a year, for about a week, New York City high school tennis players take part in the Mayor’s Cup tournament, ran by the New York Junior Tennis League (NYJTL) and held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. First held in 1988, the Mayor’s Cup All-Scholastic Tennis Tournament is the premiere event for local public, private and Catholic high school tennis players. The event has grown to become the second largest event held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The Mayor’s Cup has additionally earned the honors of being named the largest scholastic tennis event in the nation. With a total of 11 different events and more than 500 participants, the Mayor’s Cup provides the perfect opportunity for New York City’s junior tennis players to showcase their on-court talents on the courts where legends play.
The Mayor’s Cup consists of team and individual events. The team events are based on regular season statistics and are by invitation only. The team title is very prestigious as it pits the best teams from different leagues around the city and only eight can qualify. The winner is viewed as the champion of champions. This year, the title was won by Beacon High School, led by All-American standout Quinton Vega. Last year, Beacon lost to Cardozo High School in the semifinals, but they were without the All-American Vega due to a very important USTA Sectional Tournament that was important for his future college career. Needless to say, Vega had something to prove.
The number one seed Beacon defeated the number two seed Horace Mann, winners of the 2010 Mayor’s Cup, 3-2 in some pressure-filled matches. Led by Vega, who won 6-2, 6-3 over Horace Mann’s Steven Hefter, Beacon not only captured the PSAL Championship, but also the 2011 Mayor’s Cup Championship. It was a very successful season for the Beacon Blue Devils who have now won the last four consecutive PSAL Boys Championships and also for Vega who is bound for Wisconsin University.
In the Boys Varsity Singles event, a pattern began to take shape. While the individual player’s name was different, the team was not. The Boys Varsity Singles title was won by Christian Waldron, number two singles for the Beacon Blue Devils. Waldron was seeded 10th for the tournament and the junior was able to defeat the number three seed, David Arroyave of St. Francis Prep, 6-3, ,6-4 to win his first Mayor’s Cup boys singles trophy. In total, Beacon won the 2011 PSAL Championship, the Mayor’s Cup Team Championship, and the Mayor’s Cup Individual Championship.
In the Boys Varsity Doubles event, a legacy came to an end for St. Francis Prep. Kilby Featherston & Christopher Jimenez won the doubles title at the Mayor’s Cup All-Scholastic Tennis Championships. Kilby is the last of four Featherston siblings to play tennis for the Terriers, but he ended his career on a high note as the pair won their second straight Mayor’s Cup Doubles title. Seeded number two, the team of Featherston & Jimenez defeated the number one seeds, Christopher Jou & Leon Pan from Stuyvesant High School, 7-6(3) 6-1. For St. Francis Prep Coach John Brennan, it may feel a little unorthodox to not have a Featherston on the team but it has been an amazing run with many championships.
The NYJTL All-Stars were also selected by a panel of experts from the NYJTL and the Mayor’s Cup Committee. This prestigious group has been recognized for their accomplishments on the tennis court, sportsmanship and academic excellence. Each All-Star has been accepted into respected universities and some have been highly recruited to play on NCAA Division I Tennis Teams. Congratulations to the following:
At this year’s Mayor’s Cup, David Arroyave was seeded third and advanced to the finals where he lost to Christian Waldron. A NYJTL Tournament Team Member for many years, Arroyave leads his St. Francis Prep at the number one singles position. The senior will be staying local attending St. John’s University in the fall.
►Kilby Featherston – St. Francis Prep (Senior)
As a senior, Kilby Featherston reached the Mayor’s Cup Boys’ Varsity Doubles Title for the third straight year with partner Christopher Jimenez. The team was able to win the 2010 Mayor’s Cup without losing a set. The duo defended their title in 2011 by defeating top seeds Christopher Jou & Leon Pan. Featherston will be attending UC California Berkeley in the fall.
►Stefan Ilic – Forest Hills High School (Senior)
Stefan Ilic has been a top USTA Eastern player and will be attending Stony Brook University where he plans to play on the Varsity Men’s Tennis Team in the fall.
►Christopher Jimenez – St. Francis Prep (Senior)
►Christopher Jou – Stuyvesant High School (Junior)
►Daniel Lakhman – Francis Lewis High School (Senior)
►Hugh Mo – Benjamin Cardozo High School (Junior)
►Jake Sosonkin – Brooklyn Tech (Junior)
►Christian Waldron – The Beacon School (Junior)
Steven Wilson – John F. Kennedy High School (Senior)
►Quinton Vega – The Beacon School (Senior)
►Justin Vijungco – Forest Hills High School (Senior)
2011 Mayor’s Cup participants gather for a photo
Former New York City Mayor David Dinkins recognizes the achievements of the athletes during the 2011 Mayor’s Cup event
Deborah MacFarlane Antoine, president and CEO of NYJTL, addresses attendees