MacArthur boys tennis wins first conference crown in 20 years

MacArthur boys tennis coach Phil Machmer left Friday’s Conference IV-A championship match soaked in cold water, and that’s just the way he wanted it.

The top-seeded Generals ended a 20-year title drought by beating No. 2 Bethpage, 5-2, to earn their first conference championship since 1993.

The match of the day came at fourth doubles, where Matt Bellacosa and Justin Rouzier defeated Sam Romano and Brandon Johnson 7-6(5), 6-2. MacArthur finished the season 13-1 while Bethpage fell to 11-2, after the two squads split their two regular season meetings.

"It's very exciting. The kids threw the ice on top of me and everything,” Machmer said. “All the other sports team’s championships are posted on our gym wall, and I think we had the longest dry spell."

They’re certainly not dry anymore.