2026 Long Island Boys’ High School Season Preview
It’s that time of the year again, when we see the snow begin to melt (albeit slowly), and we start to thaw out from the winter cold. It means it’s time for another high school tennis season as the boys prepare to hit the courts this spring.
As we look ahead to the 2026 season, we examine some of the top players and teams to watch from both Nassau and Suffolk County.
*All players and dates are subject to change
Bohner Looks To Lead Friends To State Title Defense
Last season, Friends Academy realized that the third time was the charm. After losing in the New York State Division 2 Championship in two consecutive seasons, the Quakers would not be denied in 2025.
Friends Academy won the program’s first State title, defeating Byram Hills 3-2.
“The seniors this year have been on the team for the two losses in the state championship, and so to have the support of past players, and the experience to finally win one was definitely a full circle moment,” junior Will Bohner said at the time. “It’s a big deal for the Friends Academy program and shows how consistent we have been.”
Now, as we prepare to begin another season of boys’ high school tennis on Long Island, Bohner is the senior on the team, and is excited for the opportunity to lead his team in its title defense.
“After winning States last season, we had a lot of people who have graduated, and changed roles on the team that have given them a new challenge to rise to,” Bohner said. “I think by remaining as a tightly knit group with a common goal like we did last year, we will be able to make another big splash this season.”
On an individual level, Bohner is also excited for the opportunity to achieve more success in the county tournament, and the proceeding state tournament. In 2025, Bohner finished in third place in singles at the Nassau County Individual Championships which qualified him for the New York State Individual Championships.
Bohner won his opening round match 6-0, 6-0, before falling to eventual champion Alexander Suhanitski of New Rochelle in the second round. It was a loss that motivates Bohner, and he is eager to see what he can do in the individual tournaments this spring.
However, his main priority remains representing his school in the right way, and bringing more titles home to Friends Academy.
“This being my senior season, I really want to leave my mark on high school tennis and the area I grew up in,” he explained. “Repeating as State Champions would be great, but maybe achieving some of those personal goals I never got, such as county champion and going on a deep run at States would be the perfect way to end my high school career.”
Nassau County Teams to Watch
Syosset
The title of most dominant boys’ tennis program in New York belongs to Syosset. The Braves are the defending State Champions having won the last three New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Division I championships, and will be out to make it four in a row this spring. Bolstering an already deep lineup will be the addition of senior Evan Lee, who didn’t compete in his sophomore and junior seasons, but will move into the top singles position to replace outgoing senior Devan Melandro. Nikhil Shah, Aayan Mehta and Grayson Prince will compete for those final two singles spots. Syosset’s strength will continue through the depth of its doubles teams which includes Loui Peredo, Leon Zhao, Anik Paul, Jacob Prince and more.
Jericho
One team that could threaten Syosset’s stranglehold on the Nassau County title is the Jayhawks of Jericho. Featuring a potent singles lineup and experienced doubles players, Jericho is prepared to make noise this spring. Preston Wang, Nicholas Chin, Tiancheng Gong, Hiroto Honda and Michael Paik will lead the way for Jericho, and the lineup will be bolstered by Chase Rand, Charles Park, Armaan Dewal and Brian Kim.. Jericho has the top-end talent and corresponding depth to become a contender for the county title.
Friends Academy
The Quakers enter 2026 as the defending NYSPHSAA Division 2 Champions, and are eager to repeat. Seniors Will Bohner and Bryan Bin, two longtime varsity players, return for their final seasons with that goal in mind. The Quakers have made deep playoff runs the last three seasons and compete in Nassau’s Conference I, ensuring it will be battle-tested for the playoffs. Friends Academy also have Hudson Lee, Steven Seviroli, Blake Doan and Ryan Chang back to help round out a lineup that is capable of winning another state title.
Roslyn
Last season, Roslyn lost a heartbreaking Nassau County Large School final to rival Syosset, and the Bulldogs will lean on that for motivation as it begins the 2026 campaign. Top singles player Ethan Solop has graduated, but Roslyn will make up for that loss with its immense depth, both at singles and doubles. Seniors Bartek Dziedziach and Brian Toh will lead the way atop a lineup that also features sophomore Aayan Merchant, juniors Ezra Benaharon, Darren Shen, and Tyler Sofer. In addition, Foti Fotinakopoulos, Jake Klein and Oliver Toh round out a lineup that has the goal of returning to the county championship and taking that next step.
Port Washington
The Vikings were semifinalists last season, and have its sights set on a trip to the county championship this year. Seniors Tyler Finkelstein, Bradley Grundfast and Ollie Navo will anchor a team rich in depth, and will use their varsity experience to lead a team with high expectations. Freshman Anthony Venters will play a vital role, as will juniors Jake Miller and Austin Lieberman, and sophomore Maximus Necakov. With talent throughout the lineup, the Vikings will be a threat to return to the county championship, a place it hasn’t been to since 2023.
Additional Nassau County Players to Watch
→Christian Bravo, Garden City
→Ben Weise, Garden City
→Saje Menon, Wheatley
→Jason Chan, Manhasset
→Luke Lastique, Baldwin
→Liam Raykis, Lynbrook
→Aryan Gopal, Herricks
Nassau County Key Dates
→Thursday, March 26: Regular Season Begins
→Saturday, May 9 – Sunday, May 10: Individual Championships
→Monday, May 11: Playoff Matches Begin
→Week of May 25: Division 1 & Division 2 Nassau County Championship
→Week of June 1: Division 1 & Division 2 Long Island Championship
→Friday, June 5- Sunday, June 7: NYSPHSAA Individual Championships
→Friday, June 12: NYSPHSAA Team Championships
Lopez Hopes To Lead Ross School Further
The Ravens of the Ross School have been close to reaching the NYSPHSAA Championships in recent seasons, falling just short in the Long Island Division 2 Championship twice in the last three years.
Because of that, the team is extremely motivated to return to that position. Leading the way will be Ignacio Pena Lopez, who played first singles a year ago, and will return to that spot in the lineup with his eyes set on a big season for his team.
“It was my first year on the team, so it felt really special to be part of something like that right away,” said Lopez. “Winning the Suffolk County championship was an amazing experience. Everyone was super happy and proud, because we worked really hard throughout the season. After we won, we all went out to dinner together to celebrate, and it was honestly one of the best moments of the year. It showed how close we were as a team, not just as players but as friends.”
That is an important, but often overlooked, aspect of high school tennis. Throughout a season, a team develops camaraderie together, which can help create success on the court.
“We were really connected both on and off the court, and we always supported each other no matter what,” Lopez added. “Representing my school also meant a lot to me, and competing alongside my friends made every match way more exciting and meaningful.”
Lopez also found success at the individual level. He won the Suffolk County Division IV singles title, and would go on to finish in fourth place in the Sectional Individual Championships.
It was a great result for someone in their first year playing high school tennis, but as Lopez prepares for this season, he knows he can do more, both on an individual level, but also for his team.
“I want to stay more consistent during tough matches, and keep working on my focus under pressure,” he explains. “I also want to continue growing as a leader on the team, helping my teammates stay confident and connected. If I keep working hard and staying disciplined, I believe I can take the next step this year. Ross really emphasizes leadership and growth, and I want to reflect that both on the court and off the court in how I support my teammates every day.”
As we approach the new season, Lopez and his Ross teammates are determined to build off of the success of the 2025 season as it looks to reach the State Championships:
“Our goal this season is to go even further and make it back to the Long Island Championship, and we all believe we can do it if we keep the same mindset and team energy.”
Suffolk County Teams to Watch
Hills East
The Redhawks of Hills East are ready to defend its Suffolk County Large School title. A perennial contender, Hills East will be led by Tommy Walsh, a senior who last season reached the Round of 16 at the NYSPHSAA Championships in doubles alongside Sam Stein. While Stein has graduated, as has first singles player Lohit Modisetty, Walsh will lead a formidable lineup for the Redhawks. That includes Zachary Miller, Noah Rabinowitz, Noah De Vera, Masood Khwaja, Max Greenfield and Luke Kerman. A team filled with championship experience, Hills East has its sights set on returning to the Long Island Championship and playing for a spot at States.
Harborfields
A year ago, Harborfields reached the semifinals of the Suffolk County Large School tournament. In 2026 they return many of their players. Leading the way will be Brody Surbeck who played first singles a year ago, and will anchor the lineup for the Tornadoes. Behind Surbeck sits teammates Justin Lee, Boden Rudloff, Caiden Veitch, Caleb Cole Vegna, Joey Serventi and Gennaro Brickman. Harborfields looks to build on their strong 2025 season and take the next step this season.
Bayport-Blue Point
Bayport-Blue Point was within one court of winning the Suffolk County Small School title and competing for a Long Island championship in 2025, and with a senior-led team returning, they are a motivated squad this season. At the top of the lineup will be Luke Jensen. Additionally the Phantoms have seniors Aidan Apicella, Joseph Damico, Nick Byman and Dominic Linzie to bolster the lineup. Declan Schug, Jefferson Swan, and Anthony Latino also return to give the lineup great depth. With an experienced team, Bayport-Blue Point aims to avenge last year’s county title loss and get to States.
Ward Melville
A year after reaching the semifinals of the Suffolk County Large School tournament, Ward Melville will be a contender again in 2026. Replacing former New York State Doubles Champion Shashank Pennabadi will not be easy, but the Patriots have a deep team to make up for that loss. Leading the way will be junior Aidan Thomas, who played second singles a year ago, and should be one of the top players in all of Suffolk County this season. Senior Josh Poppers will play a vital role in bolstering the singles lineup, as will sophomore Leo Schoolman. The doubles lineup will include Eric Zhou, Tony Xu, Kevin Dong, Arnav Aggarwal and Jackson Proothi who along with others will form a team capable of competing with anyone in the county.
Ross School
The defending Suffolk County Small School Champions are hoping to return to the Long Island Championship, and for the chance to advance to the NYSPHSAA Championships for the first time in program history. Ignacio Pena Lopez, who finished fourth in the Suffolk Individual Championships a year ago, will anchor the lineup that also features senior Jagger Cohen, an experienced varsity player. Peter Hackett, Walker Bohnsack and Robert Winter will play a big role in providing key lineup depth as the Ravens aim to return to the Long Island Championship, and advance at least one step further than it did last spring.
Additional Suffolk County Players to Watch
→Leonardo Villacreses, Sachem
→Ray Hidaka, Shoreham-Wading River
→Kai Hidaka, Shoreham-Wading River
→Alan Yu, Half Hollow Hills West
→Ishaanth Guduru, Smithtown West
→Austin Nam, Port Jefferson
→Vidal Macchia, William Floyd
Suffolk County Key Dates
→Monday, March 23: Regular Season Begins
→Monday, May 11: Playoff Matches Begin
→Saturday, May 9 – Tuesday, May 12: Sectional Individual Championships
→Friday, May 22: Division 2 Suffolk County Championship
→Wednesday, May 27: Division 1 Suffolk County Championship
→Week of June 1: Division 1 & Division 2 Long Island Championship
→Friday, June 5- Sunday, June 7: NYSPHSAA Individual Championships
→Friday, June 12: NYSPHSAA Team Championships
