Baldwin seeking tennis history

It’s been a long time since Baldwin won a conference championship in boys’ tennis.

It was 1994, to be exact, but that could change if the Bruins can secure a couple of more victories after winning 11 of their first 12 matches. A 13-1 record would at the very least secure a share of the Conference 4 title with Freeport, which shared the top spot with Malverne last spring.

“We had 10 wins last season and it would be great to win the conference,” Baldwin coach Jane Hayes said. “So many kids put the time in during the offseason and we added two freshmen who play USTA tournaments. This is the biggest improvement we’ve made from one year to the next.”

The Bruins, who played home matches at Baldwin Park in 2022, returned to the high school this season after the long-deprived courts received a much-needed facelift. The new turf surface is “beautiful,” Hayes said, and provided the team with a bit of an advantage since opponents are not used to the slower pace.

“The new courts were an adjustment and it’s a very different game than playing on hard courts,” Hayes said. “But the kids have gotten used to them and they really look nice.”

Baldwin has been unbeatable in singles. Freshman Brandon Firth and Chad Iles earned the top two slots while senior captain Angelo Guerrero holds down No. 3. All three are undefeated through 12 matches.

“Brandon and Chad play year-round and Angelo improved 100 percent with all the work he’s put in,” Hayes said. “Tennis is Brandon’s and Chad’s sport. They’re great players and great teammates.”

Firth, the coach noted, hadn’t lost a set until the 11th match. “He’s a mentally tough kid who can really dig deep when he needs to,” Hayes said. “He hits hard and has a strong serve but can also play a finesse game.”

Iles is keen when it comes to reading opponents’ strengths and weaknesses and attacking the latter, Hayes said. “He’s able to make adjustments during matches and plays with poise and consistency,” she said.

Guerrero has been on the team four years and played a lot last summer to take his skills to another level. “He’s one of the nicest kids I’ve ever met and on the court he does a great job of fixing his mistakes quickly,” Hayes said.

It took the coach weeks to figure out the best doubles pairings. When the dust settled, junior Abiel Cervantes and sophomore Lucas Mokund formed the top tandem and rattled off nine straight wins. Cervantes is an accomplished singles player with height and a strong net presence, and Mokund excels from the baseline.

At second doubles, experienced junior Christian Piche and hard-serving sophomore Jordan Diouf are unbeaten in seven tries. Sophomore Ava McKenzie and freshman Lucas Duet locked up third doubles, while the primary fourth tandem includes junior Franklyn Williams and freshman Jerome Wallace. Seniors Rae St. Clair and Endrick Amedee, as well as freshman Steven Rivera, have also contributed.