Cold Spring Harbor Repeats As LI Small School Champions
For the second straight season, the girls from Cold Spring Harbor will be representing Long Island at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Team Championships.
The Seahawks repeated as Long Island champions after defeating Bayport-Blue Point 4-1 in a rematch of last year’s championship, anchored by the play of two of its captains, sisters Kati and Kami Cotek.
Kati, a senior, got her team off to a fast start in Tuesday’s final as she raced through her match at second singles to put Cold Spring Harbor up early.
“I was able to angle my forehand well today and make her run, which helped me set up some winners,” said Cotek.
Her coach, Melissa McLees, raved about her player’s performance, calling it the “best she has ever seen her play”.
“She was on fire,” McLees said. “Kati has come a long way, and she really wanted this one today. She wanted the win, and wants to go back to states and prove ourselves there, because she doesn’t feel like we did our job last year.”
Soon after Kati’s win, Kami delivered a victory at third singles to move her team within one win of a second consecutive LI crown.
“I was just trying to stay aggressive while being consistent, and trying to find her weaknesses and play based on that,” Kami said.
Emilia Romano would get the Phantoms of Bayport-Blue Point on the board with a win at first singles and trim the deficit to 2-1 with two doubles courts remaining.
Both the first and second doubles matches went into deciding third sets, but the second doubles pairing of Dylan Savarese & Stevie Sullivan made sure to stifle any hopes of a Phantoms comeback as they won their match to seal the championship.
“After losing the second set, we knew we had to come back even stronger in the third set,” said Sullivan. “They picked it up in the second, so we had to step up our game. We wanted to play as hard and focus on every point.”
Savarese added:
“We stayed positive in that third set and made sure not to get too down on ourselves. I think that’s what made the win so much better.”
Taylor Winthrop & Kaitlynn Hanna won their match at first doubles to close out the scoring for the Seahawks and wrap up its 4-1 victory.
“I knew my girls could do it if they stayed focused. Their tennis has always been there, but I think it’s the mental edge that has really helped them get to this new level,” McLees added. “That’s going to be big at states. Being new to states last year, it was a bit overwhelming, but I think that experience will help us this time around. I think we’ll come out focused, prepared and take it one point at a time, and it can be anybody’s day. I’m hoping this year it will be ours.”
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