Holmdel With a tournament championship already in the books, Holmdel continues to solidify its position as one of the best tennis programs in New Jersey. The boys tennis team won its fourth consecutive Monmouth County Tournament last weekend (April 28-29) at Tindall Park in Middletown, sweeping all six contests in straight sets.
The tournament proved to be a battle between Holmdel and Christian Brothers Academy. Junior Derek Liu, competing at first singles, eliminated CBA’s Nick Sharwarko in the semifinals before defeating top-seeded Maclane Smoke of Manasquan.
Freshman Mike Chen, who played in the United States Tennis Association’s Easter Bowl last month, registered a tournament win at second singles. He defeated Peter Cangialosi of CBAin the finals.
The Hornets’ Daway Chou-Ren became the first player to win a fourth-straight third singles title. Chou-Ren, a senior, is in his fourth season at third singles.
“He really has embraced that spot,” Holmdel head coach Chuck Chelednik said of Chou-Ren’s tournament success at third singles.
In the final match at first doubles, Holmdel’s Ganesh Natarajan and Michael Li, both seniors, defeated Mike Montanelli and Mike O’Malley of CBA. Sophomore Sam Joynson and senior Daniel Tu of Holmdel won second doubles over CBA’s Henry Manley and Mark Robinson.
The Hornets showed off their depth at third doubles, where they had two of their own teams in the final match. Senior Ken Hua and freshman Ray Wang secured the title by defeating fellow Hornets Ethan Wang, a junior, and David Lin, a freshman.
The Hornets (13-3) closed out the day with 30 team points, while Christian Brothers Academy finished in second place with 18 points.
The county championship gives the Hornets momentum heading into the Shore Conference Tournament, which began May 1 for Holmdel against Pinelands. With a win, the first-seeded Hornets would play either Manalapan or Colts Neck in the quarterfinals onMay 3.
“The Monmouth County Tournament gives the kids a lot of confidence,” Chelednik said.
Last season, CBA was upset by Marlboro, who then lost to the Hornets in the conference final. When asked about Holmdel’s chances of winning a fourth Shore
Conference title in a row, Chelednik said depth becomes a deciding factor in team tournaments.
“I would be kind of shocked if it isn’t us and CBA in the finals,” he said. “Depth always carries us.
“We have a one and two [at singles] that can match up with anybody in the Shore, and even the state,” the head coach added.
Holmdel is back in Group II for the NJSIAAstate tournament, which is slated to begin in a couple weeks. Chelednik likes his team’s odds to win the Central Jersey sectional title, and Holmdel has its sights set on a possible rematch with Livingston later in the tournament. Liu and Chen each lost their first and only matches this season when the Hornets fell to Livingston, 4-1, last month.
“I would like to think that we can beat Livingston if we meet them again,” Chelednik said.