TENNIS: NHS Team Made It To State Finals
• Coach Valerie Martin Optimistic About Next Season's Prospects
May 16, 2010 – The Nutley High School Tennis Team's record does not tell the story of what was a successful season, according to Coach Valerie Martin. The team was 12-10 all around and 7-5 in its division, not overly impressive sounding but a closer look reveals something more.
"We were in the finals in the consolation round of the Essex County Tournament and made it into the State tournament, losing in the second round to Millburn," Martin said. "The team played progressively better with every match. I was so happy to see the improvement of all of the players."
Matt Salerno and Derek McMullen made first team in the division for first and third singles respectively. Anthony Sbarra made the second team and Alex Bruno and Phil Lam made honorable mention for their efforts as the second doubles team.
"All in all, I am very pleased with the way the season went both on and off the court," Martin said. "They are a bunch of great kids, very respectable and received many compliments from other teams and their coaches on how nice and sportsmanlike we were. It's great to get that from another team at the end of a
match, win or lose. It's an important aspect of the game, and to be recognized for it, is just a great feeling."
The coach said she "will be very sad' to see the two captains, Phil Lam and Anthony Sbarra, leave the team this year. Both are seniors and have dedicated a lot of their time to the team in many ways.
"They were so helpful and motivated all of the time both on and off of the court. I will also miss the other seniors Alex Bruno and Jon Konel," Martin said. "Both were a great asset to the team. Alex in second doubles who improved tremendously throughout the season and Jon as my manager, who also worked hard and improved to win the last match of the season."
Julian Gruttadauria, Michael Blasi, Kevin Robinson and Ron Ramirez will be returning next year, along with some of the new players that made the team, but didnot get to play. The did however, come to the matches and play the extra players from the other teams and gained a tremendous amount of experience, the Coach said.
"I think if they play all summer and maybe some tournaments, we will have another strong, solid team again next year," Martin said. "I'm happy to have Matt and Derek return next year as seniors. They are strong players now, and I'm sure they will come back even stronger next season."
So after a season of improvement, another year could bring even more victories for the NHS Tennis Team in 2011.
Score of Nutley Millburn march held May 17 here
Nutley's varsity tennis players will face top-rated Millburn Monday (May 17) in the quarterfinals of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Association's North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 boys tennis tournament.
Millburn is top-seeded in the tournament and won the NJSIAA title last year.
Nutley has already played one game in this year's state tournament,defeating Somervillle 3-2.
This past Friday (May 14), the team lost matches at Verona High School, 3-1. Nutley's only victory came the first singles whenMatt Salerno defeated Paul Corrente, 7-5, 6-0.
Other scoring at Verona -- 2nd singles: Mike Streifer (V) defeated Anthony Sbarra 6-2, 6-4; 3rd singles: Norah Herman drew with Nutley's Derek McMullen, 6-1, 1-1. In the first doubles: Verona's Will Schenkel and Matt Tuorto defeated Julian Gruttadavria and Kevin Robinson, 6-3, 6-1.
Verona won the second doubles, Mack Kirby and Brian Farrell defeated Nutley's Philip Lamand Alex Bruno, 6-3, 7-5.
Nutley ended the day with a 9-8 season record while Verona is 15-3 for the year.
Nutley 4, Glen Ridge 1, on May 11 at Glen Ridge
Matt Salerno continued to excel for Nutley's varsity tennis team taking both his matches at Somerville High School yesterday (Thursday, May 13).Salerno faced Harsha Honasage in first singles, 6-4,7-6 (13-11).
The Raiders' Derek McMullen won the third singles match and Nutley's other score yesterday came in the second doubles when Philip Lam and Alex Bruno defeated Ryan Douma and Austin Rose, 6-3,6-3.
Other scoring May 13: 2nd singles - Mike Finlan defeated Nutley's Anthony Sbarra, 0-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4.
1st doubles - Dillon Karg and Adam Morris won over Nutley's Julian Gruttadavria.
Nutley's record now stands at nine wins against six losses. Somerville's record: 11-6.
Nutley 4, Glen Ridge 1, on May 11 at Glen Ridge
1st Singles: Matt Salerno (N) defeated Jesse Shapiro (GR), 6-3, 6-2.
2nd Singles: Anthony Sharra (N) defeated P.J. Cherico (GR) 6-2, 6-2
3rd Singles: Gene Mulrenan (GR) defeated Derek McMullen (N) 6-2, 6-1.
1st Doubles: Alex Bruno and Philip Lam (N) defeated Pranav Vaid and Rob Brandell, 6-0, 6-0.
2nd Doubles: Ronald Ramirez and Kevin Robinson (N) defeated Sam Goodchild and Loukas Theodoreau, 6-3, 7-7.
Caldwell 3, Nutley 2, on May 10 at Caldwell
1st Singles: Ethan Flint (C)defeated Matt Salerno, 6-0, 6-4.
2nd Singles: Anthony Sbarra (N) defeated Dylan Silver, 6-2, 6-1.
3rd Singles: Derek McMullen (N) defeated Neil Shulman, 6-3, 6-4.
1st Doubles: Andrew Lucila and Michael Melchione (C) defeated Julian Gruttadavria and Michael Blasi, 6-2, 6-1.
2nd Doubles: Dylan Abraham and Mike Stern (C) defeated Philip Lam and Alex Bruno, 6-2, 6-2.
Nutley 4, West Orange 1 on May 4
Nutley's tennis team now has a winning season with its 4-1 victory over West Orange High School yesterday (May 6). Matt Salerno came through with a 6-4,6-1 win over Brian Liu in the first singles to begin the day that ended with the Raiders' seventh season victory against 13 starts.
Other scoring from the West Orange matches:
Greg Ehrlich (WO) defeated Anthony Sbarra in the 2nd singles, 6-1, 6-1.
Derek McMullen won over Will Talbot in the third singles, 6-2, 6-2.
In first doubles, it was the Nutley team of Michael Blasi and Julian Gruttadavria scoring over Pete Deegan and Chris Davis of West Orange, 6-2, 6-4.
In the second doubles, Nutley's Philip Lam and Alex Bruno tied one match and won the two others. Nutley's record now stands at 7-6, West Orange has won two of its dozen matches so far this season.
Nutley 5, Bloomfield 9 on May 4
Nutley tennis players celebrated a shut-out victory Tuesday (May 4), 5-0, at Bloomfield High School. Matt Salerno, Anthony Sabarra and Derek Mullen, respectively, won the first, second and singles matches.
Alex Bruno and Philip Lam defeated Bloomfield's Steve Sawyer and Jordan Mabalatan in the first doubles, 6-0, 6-1. And in the second doubles, Ronald Ramirez and Kevin Robinson defeated Bloomfield's David Fine and Jonathan Parrish, 6-4, 7-5.
The victory evens Nutley's season mark at 6-6. The Raiders travel to West Orange for matches today (Thurs. May 6).
Verona Wins Nutley Matches - Game 2 of Season
Verona blanketed the Nutley boys' tennis team Friday, April 19. The loss was Nutley's second of the season after four starts. Verona has a strong team year with the win over Nutley their seventh win of the season against one loss.
The scoring:
1st Singles: Paul Corrente (V) defeated Matt Salerno,6-4,7-5.
2nd Singles: Mike Streifer (V) defeated Anthony Sbarra, 6-4, 6-3.
3rd Singles: Noah Herman (V) defeated Derek McMullin,6-2, 6-2.
1st Doubles: Will Schenkel land Matt Tuorto of Verona defeated Julian Gruttadavria, 7-5, 6-0.
2nd Doubles: Mack Kirby and Brian Farrell of Verona defeated Philip Lam and Alex Bruno, 2-6, 7-5, 7-6.
