Reiter-Tropiano key CSH's LI tennis title
Jensen Reiter, left, and doubles partner Alex Tropiano celebrate after their victory over Eric Bertuglia and Zain Ali of Half Hollow Hills East in first doubles during the Long Island boys tennis team championship. (June 1, 2011) Credit: James Escher
Cold Spring Harbor's first doubles pair Jensen Reiter and Alex Tropiano stood alone.
With the Long Island team championship tied at three matches apiece against Suffolk champion Half Hollow Hills East, the duo understood the circumstance. Up one set and tied at two games in the second against East's Zain Ali and Eric Bertuglia, Reiter leaned over to Tropiano and uttered some last words of wisdom.
"Let's enjoy this moment because being in the championship, being the decider, doesn't happen too often," Reiter told him.
They thrived as "the deciders," winning, 6-4, 6-3, as the Seahawks (19-0) won, 4-3, for their fourth straight Long Island title.
While the Reiter-Tropiano tandem appeared calm, the nerves were churning with a perfect season at stake.
"The nerves, I could do without," Tropiano said. "I just wanted to stay calm and not waste energy getting too excited over each point."
The match began with victories from the Seahawks' Conor Dauer and Josh Levine at third and first singles, as Hills East coach Tom Depelteau elected to save his top three singles players for doubles.
Depelteau's players rewarded his strategy when the third- doubles tandem of Alex Ricciuti and Jeremy Schnapp were victorious.
After a win by Cold Spring Harbor's Eric Ambrosio at second singles made it 3-1, Hills East (20-1) needed its three remaining doubles teams to prevail.
Alex Schnapp and Jeff Cherkin won at fourth doubles to slice the lead to 3-2. When Chris Hunter and Sam Goldberg won at second doubles, all eyes turned to the last men standing and Reiter and Tropiano didn't disappoint.
