2000 Boys Tennis Team
The 2000 Boys Tennis Team was Glen Rock High School’s most successful boys tennis team.
Hall of Fame Inductee Harry Comiskey took over the boys tennis program in 1988. In every one of the next 13 years, Glen Rock’s tennis teams won a B-PSL Divisional Championship (often with an undefeated record) and often competed for a Group Sectional Championship.
The 1996 Team, led by senior Justin Moore, reached the Group 2, Sectional Championship, before losing to Wallkill Valley by a score of 3-2. The 1997 Team, led by its first doubles team of seniors Dan Jemal and Nick Kenyon, won the Group 1, Sectional Championship defeating (three-time defending champion) Hasbrouck Heights by a score of 4-1. Unfortunately, it was then defeated by Montgomery in the Group 1, North Jersey Championship. The 1998 Team, now led by first singles sophomore Greg Lou, reached the Group 2, Sectional Semifinals before losing to Ramsey by a score of 3-2. It finished with a 15-1 record and Coach Comiskey was named Coach of the Year (by The Record). Then the 1999 Team reached the Group 2, Sectional Championship Final, before being defeated by Leonia.
Most of the members of the 2000 Boys Tennis Team had played on one or more of those earlier teams. In addition to senior Greg Lou returning for his third year as first singles, the team had the following other returning seniors — Kane Milbauer (third singles); Rob Ferreri & Sachin Nanavati (first doubles); and Paul Lee & Ed Kim (second doubles) – as well as junior Brenton Stewart (second singles) and freshman Nirmal Despande (doubles). As a result, they began the season with great confidence and determination.
That confidence was not misplaced.
In addition to winning the school’s 13th straight league divisional championship, the 2000 Team won the school’s first Groups 1 & 2, Bergen County Championship in over a decade. That victory was led by Kane Milbauer winning the third singles competition and Sachin Nanavati and Paul Lee (with Paul filling in for the ill Rob Ferreri) winning the first doubles competition, Greg Lou finishing second in the first singles competition (for the second year in a row) and Brenton Stewart reaching the semifinals in the second singles competition.
Glen Rock then entered the Group 1, State Championship. It defeated league rival Waldwick by a score of 4-1 to win the Sectional Championship and then Rumson by a score of 3-2 to win the North Jersey Championship — with Greg, Brenton and Rob & Paul (with Paul filling in for Sachin) winning their matches. It now faced Mountain Lakes in the Group 1 State Championship. In a thrilling match, Glen Rock won the crown by a score of 3-2 with Greg, Kane and Rob & Paul prevailing over their opponents.
By winning that championship, they became the first boys tennis team in school history to win a Group State Championship.
At the end of the season, the team was named the #1 Team in Bergen County in Groups 1 & 2. In addition, Sachin and Paul were named to the First Team, All-County and Greg was named to the Second Team, All-County.And Coach Comiskey was named Coach of the Year.
Head Coach Harry Comiskey
Nirmal Deshpande
Russell Falk
Rob Ferreri
Alex Fuchs
Dan Gastaldi
Marco Giandomenico
Eddie Kim
Paul Lee
Greg Lou
Kane Milbauer
Sachin Nanavati
Jarret Nichols
Andrew Rogers
Brenton Stewart
Kevin Turner Joe Valicenti