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Boys’ Tennis Captures 14th All-Time Tournament of Champions Title

The Newark Academy boys’ tennis team concluded its season in dominant fashion, capturing its state-leading 14th all-time Tournament of Champions title. This triumph added to the Minutemen’s list of impressive accolades throughout the 2021 season, including the Non-Public State Championship title, Non-Public North Sectional title, the Essex County Tournament title and the Super Essex Conference title.
 
The undefeated Minutemen (25-0) was ranked between No. 1 and No. 3 nationally by Universal Tennis Rating (UTR) throughout the course of the season and held its No. 1 preseason rank in the State of New Jersey.
 
“I’m super proud of our entire team,” Senior Captain Sam Goidel told NJ.com. “We’ve worked so hard throughout the season. It’s been a long road and we’ve had a lot of tough matches, but I’m proud of the way we’ve persevered.”

Goidel has committed to play NCAA Division III tennis at the University of Chicago and teammate Andrew Zabelo will go on to play for the Beavers at California Technical Institute in the fall.

“It’s great being a part of this team that achieved so much this season,” senior Andrew Zabelo told NJ.com. “We left a legacy.”

Upon conclusion of the team’s season, the Minutemen also saw success in the NJSIAA state singles and doubles individual tournament.

The duo of freshman Andrew Kotzen and sophomore Ethan Polen defeated Chatham to claim the NJSIAA state doubles tournament victory.
 
“It’s awesome to win, especially as a freshman and a sophomore,” Kotzen told NJ.com. “It’s cool to come out here my first year of high school tennis and win it. The experience was great.”
 
In the singles competition, junior Nicolas Kotzen capped off an impressive season with a second place finish in the state.
 
The Minutemen are led by Head Coach Lou Scerra and Assistant Coach Rich DiBianca.
 
“I would say this group is up there with the best teams we’ve had,” said Scerra to NJ.com. “I’m proud of our guys.”
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An independent school for students in grades 6-12