By Noah Poser
Atticus Peterson and Jake Gentzen. Henry Alessia and Eduard Liberzon. William Anthonisz and Tsz Chuen Zeng.
Those three doubles pairings carried Young to the 2026 CPL Boys Varsity Tennis Championship on Friday, May 15. In the process, the Dolphins ended Lane’s reign at Riis Park, denying the Champions a fourth straight city title.
It was a testament to Young’s depth, said Peterson, a sophomore who earned redemption by winning No. 1 doubles after falling in last year’s No. 2 doubles final.
“It means we have a strong team where everybody’s able to contribute,” Peterson said. “And not just the best one or two players.”
Young’s sweep of the three doubles brackets was just enough to offset Lane’s two singles titles. The Dolphins finished with 25 points, followed by Lane with 22 and Payton with 18 to round out the podium.
Between the three schools, they accounted for all 10 individual bracket finalists.
“It feels good,” Dolphins coach Carl Abram said. “We had to have a little bit of help from some other teams, but overall I was very happy with all of the guys’ performances. They all played their part in the team being successful.
“It took an effort from each and every one of these players, not just today but all season long. Enduring all the rainouts, cold-weather practices – it just really builds team camaraderie. There’s a real team element with these guys. They all work really well together, and I think that’s been our biggest hurdle in the past.”
Peterson and Gentzen defeated Lane’s Andrew Choi and David Gallo 6-1, 6-3 in the No. 1 doubles final. They joined teammates Alessia and Liberzon, who beat Payton’s Ari Shah and Abhinav Balaganesh 6-1, 6-4 in the No. 2 doubles final, in not dropping a set during the tournament.
The victory extra sweet for Alessia and Liberzon, who lost in last year’s No. 3 doubles final.
This year’s No. 3 doubles champions were Anthonisz and Zeng, who defeated Payton’s Killian Stevens and Will Glunz 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 to complete Young’s doubles sweep.
Meanwhile, Lane senior Feriyadi Hasnovi, the No. 2 singles champion the past two years, took up the mantle from former teammate Marko McRae and extended Lane’s run of No. 1 singles titles. Hasnovi’s calm demeanor carried the day in a 6-1, 6-3 win over Payton’s fiery Yash Kaushik.
“I definitely have a rock I have to carry in terms of the Lane culture and tradition,” Hasnovi said. “I was trying to preserve that in my last year and keep it going. What Marko did the last few years, it’s been really nice.”
Hasnovi, who reached the third round of the consolation bracket at the Illinois state tournament as a sophomore before falling in the sectional quarterfinals last year, entered this postseason with lighter expectations.
“With it being my senior year, I have a different mindset coming into sectionals,” he said. “Last year I put a heavy emphasis on battling and just winning matches, but this year it’s been more about taking it slow and having a little bit of fun.
“Obviously winning is always nice, but having fun in my last year is my biggest goal.”
Hasnovi would make it to the fifth round of the consolation bracket this year before bowing out.
Speaking of fun, Lane’s Nino Pinto appeared to be enjoying himself as he advanced through the No. 2 singles draw. The sophomore posted a pair of double bagels in his first two matches before dropping just three games in a 6-1, 6-2 win over Young’s James Ward in the final.
Pinto’s performance gave him momentum entering sectionals, but it wasn’t enough to dislodge Young from the top spot on a sun-filled afternoon at Riis Park.
After winning the girls tennis city championship last October, Young now actively holds both titles.
“Every person who comes to Whitney Young is a part of our program,” Abram said. “Whether they’re the top player on varsity or the bottom player on JV, everybody is a part of it. They come out and support at home matches and even some away matches. And I think that says a whole lot about not just the tennis team but the Whitney Young community in general.”
And now that community, and especially the team itself, gets to celebrate.
“It would be the perfect freshman year,” Gentzen said as the final matches wrapped up. “To win city in my first year, it would be great. I’d love to go out to team dinner and just have some fun.”
Hopefully Gentzen, Peterson and the rest of the team feasted accordingly.
Photos by Joey Gelman/OSA
