Bayport-Blue Point Claims First New York State Division II Title
The Bayport-Blue Point Phantoms captured its first ever New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Division 2 Girls Tennis Championship with a 4-1 victory over Edgemont at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be given to us, and that we had to go take it,” said Lily Castka. “If we weren’t focused, it wasn’t going to happen. We knew we had to go out there and play our best.”
With that mindset, the Phantoms dispatched of Honeoye Falls-Lima 5-0 in the semifinals to reach the NYSPHSAA Championship for the second straight season and face off against Edgemont.
Eden Romano, who clinched the Long Island title for her team earlier in the week, won 6-1, 6-1 at second singles to kick off the scoring in the final for Bayport-Blue Point.
“I’m super impressed by Eden. She was a big doubles player all season for us and joined our singles lineup late,” said Bayport-Blue Point head coach John Selvaggio. “That decision paid off.”
Evie Romano & Leila Rogers then won 6-2, 6-4 at first doubles to bring the Phantoms within one win of the state title.
In fitting fashion, that win would come on the first singles court from Lily Castka, the Suffolk County singles champion who had previously sealed the team’s county championship.
Castka raced her team through the finish line, winning 6-1, 6-3 to win the third point for Bayport-Blue Point, and clinch the state title.
“I was definitely a bit nervous towards the end of my match, but I just told myself to keep breathing and get through it,” Castka said. “It feels amazing. I don’t think it’s something our school has ever done, so it’s cool to be a part of that, especially the clinching match.”
At third doubles, Jordana Heller & Julie Wellems won 6-4, 6-2 to round out the scoring for Bayport-Blue Point. The lone point for Edgemont came from the second doubles duo of Isabella Jee & Seren Fowler who won 2-6, 6-2, 7-5.
“I’ve been proud of this team from the start, and they did a phenomenal job today,” Selvaggio added. “They stayed calm, cool and collected; got fired up when they needed to, but stayed in check when they needed to. It’s a testament to the hard work they put in during the season and during the offseason. We had a grueling schedule towards the end of the season that got us ready for these moments.
And every week, someone new steps up. They all depend on each other, and we’re like a family. No family is perfect, there are things we work through as a group, and at the end of the day, they love and respect each other and that’s all that matters. They all did their part today.”
Castka added:
“Everyone on this team does what they are supposed to do and it pays off. It’s definitely something we are proud of, and we wouldn’t be able to accomplish this without everyone on the team.”
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