Port Washington Girls Capture First State Tennis Title in School History
The Vikings defeated Chappaqua 5-2 at the U.S. Open venue, capping a 40-match winning streak in doubles for the seniors.
By Harper Collins ·
Port Washington became the first girls tennis team in school history to win a New York state championship on Friday, defeating Chappaqua’s Horace Greeley 5-2 at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The victory marked the culmination of a season defined by consistency, particularly in the doubles events, and secured a historic title for the Vikings.
The team had already established dominance earlier in the day, beating Clarence from the Section VI region 5-2 in the semifinal. Both matches were decided largely by the four Port Washington doubles teams, which finished the season with 40 consecutive victories. The final point of the championship match was secured by senior Christiana Kent, whose first serve was returned wide by her opponent, allowing her and partner Shoriya Bhat-Bhandarkar to claim a 6-3, 6-2 win.
Head coach Shane Helfner, who has led the program since 2014, noted the team's depth and experience as key factors in their success. Helfner also serves as a band teacher at Schreiber High School and compared the season's arc to the music from the movie “Rudy,” describing it as a mix of uplifting moments and difficult stretches that concluded triumphantly. He said the experience would mostly resemble a majestic brass band performance.
The path to the title required overcoming several tough obstacles, most notably a 4-3 victory over longtime rival Syosset in the county finals. That win gave the Vikings their first county crown since 2022. The team then defeated Scarsdale 6-1 in the regional final before facing Clarence and Chappaqua in the state semifinals and final.
Kent and fellow senior Evie Loewy were members of the 2022 team that lost the state title to Scarsdale, 7-0. Helfner said the experience of that loss informed the team's preparation this year. He stated that while Scarsdale was exceptionally strong in 2022, the current group’s accumulated experience and resilience provided a strong foundation for the title run.
Individual performances were a major driver of the team's success. Iris Kim, playing at No. 3 singles, served a double bagel in the final and lost only two games across her two matches on Friday. Michaela Lin at No. 1 singles and Vanessa Wang at No. 2, both eighth graders, provided strong play throughout the season. Helfner said the Clarence coach described the Vikings as the deepest high school tennis team he had ever seen.
The other winning doubles teams in the final included Loewy and Ruby Siskind at No. 2, Layna Koutsoyiannis and Peri Cooper, and the Hershman twins, Jamison and Lila. The team finished the season with a record of 18-3. Bhat-Bhandarkar, one of three senior captains, said the partnership with Kent lasted three years and that finishing the career together was the ideal outcome.
School officials plan to celebrate the achievement soon. Superintendent Dr. Guarav Passi confirmed that a coronation or party will be held at Schreiber High School. Championship rings may also be presented to the players. The victory adds to the school's athletic history, as the boys golf team previously won a state title in the 1960s according to athletics director Nick Schratweiser.
