May,26,2023
For the third straight season, the title of Suffolk County Large School Champions belongs to the boys from Commack.
The Cougars edged Ward Melville 4-3 in a battle of unbeatens and a rematch of last year’s county championship on Thursday afternoon at Smithtown East High School. The depth of Commack, and its veteran players, proved to be the difference as the team’s doubles pairings won all three flights to help lead the way.
CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE SUFFOLK COUNTY LARGE SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIP
“Our team really rallied behind the idea of putting our seven veterans from last year’s team into the most crucial positions,” said Commack head coach Jimmy Delevante. “They all bought into the idea, and they 100 percent believed in it, even when we were down in all of the second sets in those doubles matches. They stayed positive throughout the entire match and really came together as a team when it mattered the most.”
Three-time county singles champion Edward Liao anchored the top of the Commack lineup and delivered a 6-4, 6-2 victory at first singles. However, Ward Melville would win the other three singles flights, as Shashank Pennabadi won 6-1, 6-0 at second singles, Gabe Bursztyn won 6-1, 6-1 at third singles, and Chris Decker notched a 6-2, 6-1 victory at fourth singles.
That meant the doubles play would be the difference in deciding the county champion. The second doubles duo of Saharsh Peddireddy & Jeffrey Behar held on to win 6-0, 5-7, 6-3, and Eric Benderly & Adam Fawaz won 6-1, 6-7, 6-2 at third doubles.
Eric Benderly & Adam Fawaz won their match at third doubles on Thursday
With the overall match even at 3-3, the county championship would come down to the first doubles court. With everyone on hand focused on their court, James Yu & Joe Romito, who teamed up in the individual county tournament, used that chemistry to hold on in a deciding third set, and clinched a third consecutive county championship for Commack with a 6-1, 6-7, 6-2 victory.
“It feels awesome!” said Peddireddy. “This is the year where we had so many new players and it was a great atmosphere. This was by far the most intense match with the most support, and keeping focus through it all was what led us to the win.”
Peddireddy added:
“We don’t stop here, we’re going to keep going. Roll Commack.”
In fact, Commack isn’t done yet as it moves into next week’s Long Island Large School Championship against Syosset, the champions from Nassau County.
CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE SUFFOLK COUNTY LARGE SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIP
“I honestly haven’t looked at the matchup yet,” said Delevante. “I know how good Ward Melville is, so 100 percent of my attention was on them today. If my boys can put in the heart and effort that they did today, I’m confident we can defend our Long Island title next week.”
Commack and Syosset will meet next Wednesday, May 31 at Hofstra University.
Scenes from Suffolk County Large School Championship - Commack vs. Ward Melville
