This week in New Jersey high school boys tennis, fans are set to witness a series of thrilling matches and tournaments that will test the skills of some of the state's top players. From fierce rivalries to first-time encounters, these events promise excitement and intense competition. Notable matchups include a showdown between two heavyweights at the Moorestown Classic final, an intriguing clash between Jackson Memorial and Brick Township, and a season-defining encounter between Pingry and Ridge. Additionally, the week features several other significant contests, including prep school rivalries and undefeated teams going head-to-head.
On Monday, April 28, the Moorestown Classic final sees No. 1 West Windsor-Plainsboro South (WWPS) face off against No. 13 Montgomery at Mercer County Park. Both teams have shown impressive form leading up to this match, with WWPS yet to drop a set and Montgomery winning each of their previous matches 4-1. This is the first meeting between the two since 2021, when WWPS narrowly edged out Montgomery in the Central Jersey, Group 4 Tournament quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Jackson Memorial takes on Brick Township in another key matchup, where both teams boast seven wins apiece. The second-singles duel between Gabe Walters of Brick Township and Trey Arico of Jackson Memorial will be particularly compelling.
Tuesday brings more exciting action as No. 3 Pingry visits No. 9 Ridge. In their earlier meeting, Pingry won 4-1, but the second-singles, third-singles, first-doubles, and second-doubles matches were closely contested, even requiring tiebreakers in the doubles. Ethan Liu and Suvid Bordia from Pingry will again face tough challenges from Elijah Glaze and Nikhil Narsi of Ridge. Another notable game on Tuesday involves Point Pleasant Boro and Southern, two previously unmatched Constitution-Division rivals. Both teams have only lost once this season, making this encounter all the more intriguing.
Wednesday highlights a prep school showdown between Blair and Pennington. With Blair currently unbeaten and Pennington having just one loss, their past history adds extra spice to the contest. Last year, Blair ended Pennington's 40-match winning streak in a dramatic four-hour battle. Thursday sees two undefeated teams, No. 11 Bergen Catholic and No. 15 Christian Brothers, lock horns. Junior Vincenzo Caruso of Christian Brothers will go up against sophomore Steven Komoto of Bergen Catholic in a crucial first-singles matchup. Cresskill also plays Park Ridge in what could be a decisive Patriot-Division clash.
The weekend continues with the Gloucester County Open finals, postponed from last week due to weather conditions. Teams such as Woodstown, Clearview, Delsea, Deptford, and Kingsway aim to follow in the footsteps of last year’s champion, West Deptford. Furthermore, the Haddonfield Invitational gathers local talent for doubles-focused matches, featuring schools like Haddonfield, Moorestown, Christian Brothers, and St. Joseph Prep (PA).
As the week unfolds, these matches promise not only to entertain but also to shape the standings and reputations of participating teams. Fans should keep a close eye on standout performances, especially in pivotal singles and doubles encounters, which may well decide the outcomes of these critical games.