Syosset Beats Port Washington to Win Nassau County Large School Championship

May 25, 2023 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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An emotional week for the Syosset Braves culminated with a Nassau County Large School Championship as Syosset reclaimed its spot atop the county with a 6-1 victory over Port Washington at Hofstra University on Wednesday afternoon.

A day after defeating Roslyn in the semifinals, Syosset had the support of many of the Bulldogs players who came out to watch the county championship. That support went a long way on Wednesday.

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM SYOSSET VS. PORT WASHINGTON

“A lot of things happened this season that made it tough, and it was amazing having some of the boys from Roslyn here to support us,” said senior co-captain Ansh Chadha. “It gave us some extra motivation. It’s been the hardest season for all of us, so this makes it extra special.”

Chadha got his team on the board first as he delivered a 6-1, 6-0 victory at first singles.

Syosset’s Ansh Chadha won at first singles to get his team started on Wednesday

“He held the first game of the match, and so I had to just calm some of those nerves down and get settled in,” he said. “Once I did that I finished what needed to be done.”

Soon after Chadha’s win, his younger brother Shiv & Spencer Keschner posted a 6-4, 6-2 victory at second doubles, following quickly by a 7-5, 6-4 win from Nikhil Shah at third singles.

Syosset head coach Shai Fisher talks to Shiv Chadha & Spencer Keschner during their win at second doubles

Port Washington trimmed the deficit thanks to a 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 comeback win from Ollie Navo & Benjamin Lane at third doubles. But the hope of a comeback did not last long, as Evan Lee clinched the county title for Syosset with a 6-4, 6-2 triumph at second singles.

“It means a lot,” Lee, a freshman, said of clinching the win for his team. “I really wanted to win this match for the team, and to be able to clinch the title is amazing. We fell just short last year, so it was nice to come back this year and win it.”

Syosset would claim the final two courts on the day, as Aayan Mehta & Devan Melandro won 7-6(5), 6-2 at first doubles, and Ethan Lee & Ryan Jiang rounded out the scoring with a 7-6(6), 6-2 victory at fourth doubles.

“With everything the team and our community has gone through, I think proud would be an understatement,” said Syosset head coach Shai Fisher. “I want to send our thoughts and prayers again to the Roslyn community and the Roslyn team. They are still in our thoughts and will always be in our thoughts. Going into today, after all the emotions yesterday, it’s one of those indescribable things and what I love about this team”

Syosset now prepares for next week’s Long Island Championship, where it will take on the winner between Commack and Ward Melville.

“We’ll start worrying about that tomorrow,” Fisher added. “We’re going to enjoy this one today and get back to work tomorrow.”

Chadha said he knows his team will be ready, no matter who the opponent is.

“The job isn’t finished, it won’t be until we win the state championship,” he said. “That’s our end goal. We don’t know who we are playing yet, but whoever it is, we’ll be ready. We have a week before that and we’re going to prepare as hard as we can.”

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM SYOSSET VS. PORT WASHINGTON

The Long Island Large School Championship will be held Wednesday, May 31 at Hofstra University.


Scenes from the Nassau County Large School Championship


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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