By Noah Poser
Lane Tech received a stiffer challenge at the 2024 city championships than last year, both from its opponents and the weather, but the result was the same, with the Champions becoming back-to-back champions, bringing home the 2024 CPL Boys Varsity Tennis City Championship Friday, May 3.
After a three-hour weather delay, the event, held at Riis Park, was finally able to begin under clear skies on May 3. While weather was a notable difference, the day’s theme proved to be eerily similar when comparing this year’s tournament to last year’s.
It took shape right away in the No. 1 singles final, which featured Lane’s Marko McRae and Kenwood’s Nhylan Westmoreland for the second consecutive season.
McRae came into the tournament as the top seed and he quickly showed why, dropping just one game in two matches on his way to the final. It was there where he met Westmoreland, who he beat for the title last spring. Westmoreland was able to put up more of a challenge this time around, but McRae, now a three-time city champion, was once again able to take care of business, winning 6-2, 6-2.
“I’ve known him for a long time and he’s a tough competitor, hits a really big ball, and it’s always hard to play him,” McRae said of Westmoreland. “I’m glad I won. He’s a good player, and we have a really good competitive relationship.”
The No. 1 singles bracket was one of three that went in favor of Lane, as it was also able to capture individual titles in No. 2 singles and No. 3 doubles flights as well. In No. 2 singles, Feriyadi Hasnovi overcame a first-set deficit to defeat Lincoln Park’s Lux Sinha 4-6, 6-1, 1-0 (10-1), while in the No. 3 doubles final, Lane’s pairing of Oren Guttman and Henry Bleck defeated Whitney Young’s Henry Alessia and Angelo Schichiano 6-1, 6-3.
“In the first set, my serve was at a very low percentage,” Hasnovi said. “In the second set, I made a decision to make sure the ball stayed in and to not hit any crazy serves, especially in the tiebreak.”
Hasnovi’s adjustments, and ultimately his win, proved crucial to his team’s success, as Lane’s three victories were just enough to give the school the overall team title with 25 points. Whitney Young was not far behind with 20 points to finish second, while Payton scored 15 points to place a comfortable third.
Whitney Young secured second place behind two bracket championships of their own, winning at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles.
Chetan Cherukuri and Porter Baginski were able to defend their title in No. 1 doubles, beating Payton’s Daniel Garin and Varun Viges 6-0, 6-1. Then, in the final match of the day, the Dolphins’ duo of Patrick Billings and Vinay Patel won a marathon in No. 2 doubles, taking down Lane’s Fletcher Glass and Andrew Choi 6-2, 6-7, 1-0 (10-8). The victory served as redemption for both Billings and Patel, who lost their respective doubles final in this tournament a year ago.
For Cherukuri and Baginski, the outcome was never in doubt.
“We only dropped two games today,” Cherukuri said. “We played really out of our league and forced other teams to make errors. We played our own game.”
Despite the individual triumphs, only one team could win the title, and Lane’s coach Josh Park made it a point to commend his players’ achievements.
“They played absolutely flexibly and overcame a lot,” Park said. “They had to play a bit differently than they’re used to, being in such a high stakes tournament like this. We only do this once a year and they stepped up to the challenge.
“I’m really proud of them.”
Photos by Jim Vincent/OSA
