By Bond Brungard
Newburgh’s boys’ tennis opened the season Tuesday, March 26 with a 5-2 victory over New Paltz after replacing its singles lineup.
Troy Steiner, who missed last year with an injury, returned this season as the top singles player, and he picked up his first victory of the season when he beat Noah Kalus 6-2, 6-3.
“That year’s absence is always a little worrisome when a player comes off an injury,” said Dennis Maher, Newburgh’s coach, of Steiner. “I am just watching him and making sure he is OK.”
Aarov Shah, at third singles, and Jahari Blake, at fourth singles, also won their matches in straight sets.
Newburgh’s first doubles team lost in three sets, and the second doubles team won by a forfeit. Maher said those teams are expected to work hard this season to establish themselves.
“We have a lot of new players, and getting them acclimated, especially on doubles, will be a challenge this year,” he said.
The Goldbacks finished 14-4 last season with a divisional title. In the postseason, seniors Jack Clayton and Matt Reinhold, second and third singles players, lost the sectional finals as a wildcard doubles team.
“I knew they had the potential to go really far because they were improving,” said Maher. “But they kind of came out of nowhere.”