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Bronxville Boys Win Second Consecutive NYS Tennis Team Championship

The Bronxville boys’ tennis team after winning the NYS Championship. Photo courtesy of @BronxvilleTenn1.

By J. Murrer and S.Q DeJoy

June 12, 2024: The boys’ tennis team captured the New York State D2 Team Tennis Championship on Friday at the USTA National Tennis Center. The Broncos, the defending State Champion, handily defeated Cazenovia 5-0 in the semifinals in the morning and took the Championship with a 3-2 win over Friends Academy in the afternoon.

“We had a great run to the State finals match, and once again our depth proved to be too strong,” said Coach Steve Klurfeld. “It was a great State Title win for us.”

Bronxville’s regular season was somewhat of a struggle mostly because three of their top players were injured. The Broncos did manage to make the post season as the No. 6 seed, and as the players got healthier, the team became much stronger.

Sophomore Patrick Kenny, the most talented player in the league and one of the most talented players in the entire state, sat out much of the regular season with a shoulder injury. His return in time for the Sectional semifinal match against Byram Hills gave the Broncos the boost they needed. Also injured were singles player sophomore Max Monogenis, who started the season with a broken foot, and freshman Rhys Brown who was rehabbing a broken shoulder. All three received All-League, Honorable Mention.

The Broncos are a very young but very talented team. High school tennis teams play two singles matches and three doubles matches when competing against other teams for a total of eight players in the lineup. Some teams have one or possible two players who drill year-round and play in tournaments outside of school, but the Broncos have six players dedicated to the sport.

Also starting for Bronxville are All-League players freshmen Rohan Bala and Jackson Fino and junior Co-Captain Harrison Brown. In the third doubles position are senior Charlie Hodulik, the only starting senior, and sophomore James Nay.

Harrison Brown has been on the team since 7th grade and earned MVP this year. He was a versatile player who stepped up to many positions during the regular season.

“With so many injuries, Harrison was asked to play 1st and 2nd singles, and 1st and 2nd doubles, with 4 different partners,” said Coach Klurfeld. “He never said a word, never a complaint, nor a worry.”

Brown, along with Co-Captain senior Tony Tao, worked hard during the regular season to bring the young team together.

“This year, we didn’t have a group of seniors but lots of young players,” said Brown.  “It took a little while for us to gel, but once we got into the playoffs, we were full strength, and it really came together.” 

The outlook for next year’s team looks good with so many returning players, but unfortunately this is Coach Klurfeld’s last year as he is retiring from both teaching and coaching.

“Coaching has been a real thrill for me and has added another dimension to my experience at Bronxville,” commented Klurfeld.  “I've been able to watch and be around very motivated players who have a real love of this sport, and that’s half the battle. I've enjoyed every minute of it.”

The Bronxville tennis teams have had tremendous success in the past few years. The New York State Team Tennis Championships are only three years old, and the Bronxville boys have won it twice.  The girls’ tennis team, also coached by Klurfeld for the past few years, won the Team Championship last fall. Top singles player Victoria McEnroe has been to the New York State Championships as an individual for the past two seasons and won the State Championship in 2022.

Coach Klurfeld, who mostly coached the boys’ team during his tenure at the Bronxville School, has had the good fortune to coach many incredible players. At the Spring Sports Awards evening last week, Coach Klurfeld recognized some standout players from past teams.

“I am so lucky to have found this village and had so many successful players over my 25 years at Bronxville including:  Liam Krall who just graduated from SMU, Jimmy Purdy who played at Villanova, Robbie Simon at Johns Hopkins, Peter Davis at Bowdoin, Rich Bonfiglio at Middlebury and now coaches UPenn, and Tim Kofol, who won the State Tournament for Bronxville in 2000, who played at Princeton and many, many, more. I thank them for sticking with this sport.”

Klurfeld’s closing comments at Sports Awards summed up his time at Bronxville. 

“I can safely say, after 29 seasons, I wouldn't change a thing,” said Klurfeld.  “I’ve always tried to instill sportsmanship, fair play, and a love of this sport. Finally, I am very thankful for these guys on the stage, because without them, I’m at home, watching jeopardy.”

Go Broncos.

 

 

 

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