Grosso made history — again
Captured first singles title for Blue Streaks
Athlete of the Year: Nick Grosso, Saratoga Springs
Before reaching high school, Grosso took part in a first for the varsity program. In his final scholastic season competing for the Blue Streaks, the senior achieved another first.
Not only was Grosso part of a doubles team with David Romano that captured the team’s first sectional title in 2017, but he also became the first Saratoga singles player to secure a sectional title this spring as he defeated top-seeded Will O’brien from Albany Academy in straight sets.
“It was a nice way to go out,” Grosso said. “To be able to pull things together was very rewarding.”
“The individual accolade is so richly deserved because he put in so much hard work. I am super proud of him,” Saratoga coach Tim O’brien said.
Grosso, who reached the Section II singles final for the first time as a freshman, had his junior season wiped out because of the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, which resulted in the entire spring season being canceled. He also battled a wrist injury in the latter stages of his varsity career that required surgery.
“He used a one-handed slice backhand for a while. As the season started, he was able to hit his two-handed backhand again. It elevated his game that much more,” O’brien said. “His groundstrokes are so tough, he is a solid retriever and a smart
player on the court. When you combine those things with a lost season, Nick was really ready to go out and get it done every time on the court.”
Grosso, who is set to major in economics and play tennis at Hobart, finished 16-0 in his final season with the Blue Streaks.
“It is hard to explain (what the sectional title means) because it hasn’t entirely set in yet,” Grosso said. “To get out on a win like that, which would have been very unlikely at the state tournament, actually was a really nice way to end.”
“He just played two incredible matches in the semifinal and final,” O’brien said.
Grosso first defeated O’brien during the Class A team tournament semifinals.
“It helped incredibly to be honest,”
Grosso said. “We have been friends and played together growing up. Will and I were always neck and neck during our junior careers. He had a pretty large jump while I was injured for a while, so he leaped ahead of me a couple of steps. To be able to come out with a win in that first team match was a major confidence boost.”
Grosso said he tapped into his experience winning the doubles title with Romano, who was a senior in 2017. He characterized sharing the court with Romano as beneficial.
“Most people like to look up to the big professional players. For me, it was looking up to some of the local guys that I was able to play with from time to time,” Grosso said. “Someone I looked up to greatly was my doubles partner David.”
First team Singles
Nick Grosso, Sr., Saratoga
Springs: A varsity member since the seventh grade, Grosso added his first sectional singles title in his final varsity season to the doubles crown he helped capture as an eighth-grader. In each case, Grosso became the first sectional champion in school history.
Will O’brien, Sr., Albany Academy: After teaming with his brother Aidan to capture the 2019 Section II doubles title, O’brien focused on singles this season and was seeded No. 1 for the sectional tournament. Lost to No. 2 seed Nick Grosso in the title match.
Ashrith Rao, Jr., Bethlehem: Helped lead his team to the Section II Class AA title, matching those won in 2019 and 2018. He advanced to the sectional singles semifinals, losing to eventual champion Nick Grosso in straight sets.
Doubles
Graham Hardiman, Sr., and
Hayden Brown, Jr., Bethlehem: Key components in the Eagles once again winning the Section II Class AA team title, Hardiman and Brown teamed up for sectionals and advanced to the semifinals. The duo captured the consolation final with a win in three sets over Andrew Blaha and Vincent Devito from Saratoga Springs.
Dhev Jammula, So., and Zain Magdon-ismail, Jr., Albany Academy: The Cadets’ No. 2 and No. 3 singles players, respectively, during the regular season, Jammula and Magdon-ismail proved to be unstoppable as a tandem as they captured the Section II title in straight sets.
Wesley Poe, Sr., and Rupin Pradeep, Jr., Shenendehowa: Seeded second in the sectionals, Poe and Pradeep played to their ranking as they advanced to the final, in which they lost to the Albany Academy duo of Dhev Jammula and Zain Magdonismail.
Coach of the Year Steve Smith, Bethlehem:
Smith always has his team primed for sectionals and this spring was no different. Bethlehem captured its third straight Section II Class AA title with a 5-4 triumph over Saratoga Springs in the final.
Second team Singles
Mahen Bitkuri, 8th, Guilderland
Ean Lantzy, Jr., Ichabod Crane Masami Surisawa, Fr., Albany
Doubles
Andrew Blaha, Sr., and Vincent Devito, So., Saratoga Springs
EJ Cabahug, So., and Damien Ceniza, So., Albany
Jacob Joslin, Jr., and Markus Rankins, So., Shaker