May 22, 2012
Secaucus' Halpern wins second-straight title |
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Secaucus' Josh Halpern repeated as First Singles champion, defeating Andro Mossad. (Photo: Jason Bernstein) |
| Click Here for photos from 2012 HCIAL Championships |
By Jason Bernstein Editorial Director |
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JERSEY CITY - It's a testament to the supreme confidence of Joshua Halpern that the Secaucus senior felt no pressure heading into his match for the First Singles Championship.
That combination of confidence and skill were more than enough to carry Halpern to his second-straight Hudson County First Singles Championship as he defeated Bayonne's Andro Mossad 6-1, 6-2 yesterday at Saint Peter's College.
"There's no pressure. I had no pressure going into this," Halpern said. "I just played my game and felt relaxed the whole time."
With the way his shots were on point, Halpern had no reason to feel any nerves. He won the first four games of the match.
Halpern was able to take advantage of any Mossad errors, while playing a near-flawless match with few miscues.
"I did not double fault once the whole entire match," Halpern proudly said. "He didn't break serve the whole entire match. I placed every ball really well and I think that's a big key.
"I have just been doing it all year. I have the strategies that I want to use and I used them out there today. I have the same strategy and it's just to motivate myself and dedication."
Halpern also credited his Secaucus teammates for giving the senior an added boost in the match, his third career Hudson County First Singles Championship.
"Just having them here, smiling at me just motivates me," he said. "High school tennis is a team game and we've become such a family this year. It's just a great feeling whenever any of us wins."
Halpern and Secaucus weren't the only team to leave with that great feeling. St. Peter's Prep had four entries in yesterday's championships, winning three of them.
Jay Malik disposed of North Bergen's Paolo Oquendo 6-0, 6-4 in Second Singles. Aaron Jaskowitz took home the Third Singles crown after defeating Bayonne's Joshua Octaviano 6-2, 2-6, 7-5. In First Doubles, the Marauders' team of Matt Jasko and Connor Golway knocked of Memorial's tandem of Alejandro Rodriguez and Hugo Lima.
The lone Prep defeat came in Second Doubles as McNair's duo of Oleh Nabyt and Jan Miranda defeated Andrew Cabrera and Drew Walther 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.
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Aaron Joskowicz (Third Singles) was one of three St. Peter's Prep entries to win. (Photo: Jason Bernstein) |
| Click Here for photos from 2012 HCIAL Championships |
| Hudson County Singles and Doubles Championships |
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First Singles |
Joshua Halpern (Secaucus), def. Andro Mossad (Bayonne), 6-1, 6-2. |
Second Singles |
Jay Malik (St. Peter's Prep), def. Paolo Oquendo (North Bergen), 6-0, 6-4. |
Third Singles |
Aaron Joskowicz (St. Peter's Prep), def. Joshua Octaviano (Bayonne), 6-2, 2-6, 7-5. |
First Doubles |
Matt Jasko/Connor Golway (St. Peter's Prep), def. Alejandro Rodriguez/Hugo Lima (Memorial), 7-6, 6-4. |
Second Doubles |
Oleh Nabyt, Jan Miranda (McNair), def. Andrew Cabrera, Drew Walther (St. Peter's Prep), 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. |