Ranked #1 in this season’s NJ.com preseason poll, the Newark Academy boys’ tennis team is looking to defend its reputation as the top team in New Jersey this season. Newark Academy, the 2022 NJ.com Boys’ Tennis Team of the Year, finished last year with a perfect 24-0 record, capturing the last-ever Tournament of Champions (ToC) title. Not only did the boys win the sectional, state and ToC titles last season, but they were also conference and county champions. With those wins, the team notched its 11th consecutive state championship title and its 15th ToC title. Head Coach Lou Scerra, who has been with the program since 2007, will return again this season with plans on maintaining the program’s dominance of the state.

The team will be led by key returners, captains, and All-State First Team, All-State, All-Flight First Team, All Non-Public First Team, All-Super Essex Conference (American) First Team selection Josh Mandelbaum ’24, All-State Third Team, All-State All-Flight First Team, All Non-Public First Team All-Super Essex Conference (American) First Team selection Andrew Kotzen ’24 and All Non-Public Second Team, All-Super Essex Conference (American) First Team selection Ethan Polen ’23. Additional key returners include All Non-Public Third Team and All-Super Essex Conference (American) Honorable Mention Jean-Luc Marchand ’24 and All-Super Essex Conference (American) Honorable Mention Ian Zhang ’23.

The team will have to navigate the loss of recent graduates and All-State First Team, All-State, All-Flight Third Team, All Non-Public First Team All-Super Essex Conference (American) First Team selection Nicolas Kotzen ’22, All Non-Public Second Team, All-Super Essex Conference (American) Second Team selection Andy Nagpal ’22 and All Non-Public Third Team and All-Super Essex Conference (American) Second Team selection Saif Prabhu ’22.

This season the team will be competing in the Super Essex Conference American division against Millburn, Montclair, MKA and Livingston. The Minutemen open up at home on Monday, April 10th against Livingston at 4 pm.


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