Numbers Are Solid for Hampton Bays Boys Tennis

The Hampton Bays boys tennis team is heading into this season with some solid numbers — 18 players across the board with a good mix of upper and lower classmen — and head coach Tracey Carey is hoping that will lead to future success.

Carey, like she did in the fall with the girls team, is taking over the boys team this spring for Diana Vamvakitis, whom she credits, along with middle school coach Meghan Bishop, for building those numbers up.

“For creating a positive atmosphere where players enjoy the game of tennis,” she said. “My goals for this team are for my players to continue their enjoyment of the lifelong sport of tennis, improve their skill and build a team camaraderie between the players.

“From what I have seen so far, we are well on our way,” she added.

Noah Sanabria, the team’s No. 1 singles player last season, graduated, along with singles player Santi Salazar and doubles player Bobby Casablanca. But seniors Israel Pulla and Moeez Ahmed and juniors Eric Sandstrom, Kael Schoerlin, Santiago Agueledo, Ryan Connolly, Dylan Foley and Daniel Garcia are all returning. Pulla, a co-captain with Shoerlin, will move into the top singles spot for the Baymen.

“His ability and leadership is an asset to the team,” Carey said of Pulla.

Schoerlin will slot right behind Pulla at second singles, Carey said, while Foley, Sandstrom, Connolly and sophomore Christopher Clinton look to fill the two other singles spots in the lineup.

The doubles teams are still working themselves out, but with the number of athletic players on the team, Carey said, she’s confident they will be filled out in quick order. Sophomores Adrian SantaMaria, Alejandro Cebellos Rave, Kevin Sara Panchero and freshmen Cooper Foley, Alexander Rojas, Nicholas Sarria Acosta, Santiago Solerzano, Tyler Terelli and Andrew Japa fill out the rest of the roster. Cooper Foley, Terelli and Rojas are all up from the program’s middle school team.

Hampton Bays will compete in Division IV this season, which includes all schools east of William Floyd Parkway. The Baymen got their season underway this week with a pair of nonleague matches, first at Bellport this past Tuesday and then home against Patchogue-Medford this Thursday, March 23, at 5 p.m. They open the division season this Tuesday, March 28, at William Floyd at 4 p.m.