Bayport-Blue Point boys tennis' Aidan Apicella, Nick Byman clinch Suffolk championship
The Bayport-Blue Point tennis team with their trophy after defeating Port Jefferson during the Suffolk small schools team championship on Wednesday May 27, 2026 at Shoreham-Wading River High School. Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
Bayport-Blue Point had made four consecutive trips to the county final and came up short each time. After its fifth straight appearance, it made sure to celebrate accordingly.
The second-seeded Phantoms defeated fourth-seeded Port Jefferson, 4-0, in the Suffolk small schools boys tennis championship at Shoreham-Wading River High School Wednesday.
Aidan Apicella and Nick Byman defeated Tucker Stanton and Max Gordon, 6-2, 6-3, at first doubles to clinch the match. Bayport-Blue Point (15-0) won all four doubles matches before any singles matches ended, leading to the stoppage of those matches.
“The adrenaline was up for us,” Apicella said. “We’ve lost here the past four years, so that’s a brutal feeling. We’re just happy to finally get the championship.”
Bayport-Blue Point was originally scheduled to play the Ross School in the championship on Tuesday. Due to an eligibility issue with one of Ross’ players, the team was disqualified and the championship was moved back one day, giving Port Jefferson (9-6) — which lost to Ross in the semifinals — a chance to compete.
“I think a lot of us were shocked at first,” Byman said. “This morning, we all came to our senses and just started to focus on the task at hand. We knew we’d still have a tough match.”
Bayport-Blue Point will face Wheatley (14-2) in the Long Island championship at Syosset High School 4:30 p.m. on Thursday.
“I told my players before this match that this isn’t just about them,” BBP coach John Selvaggio said. “This is about everyone the past few years. Tomorrow we’re just going to go out there and try to keep it going.”
Harborfields wins first county title since 1978
With Harborfields just one match from victory, senior Caleb Thaler and freshman Cole Vegna started to feel the pressure, but refused to let it affect them.
Thaler and Vegna defeated Half Hollow Hills West’s Jack Weissman and Sidh Puri, 7-6, 6-3, at fourth doubles, clinching third-seeded Harborfields’ 5-2 victory in the Suffolk Large School championship at Shoreham-Wading River.
“I think toward the last two or three games I started to realize we could win it,” Thaler said. “I started counting in my head and assumed we could end it. We started to feel some pressure, but we got through it.”
Harborfields Tennis doubles partners Caleb Thaler and Cole Vegna celebrate their victory over Hills West during their Suffolk County large schools team final today at Shorham -Wading River High School May 27, 2026. Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
“I relied on Caleb a bit,” Vegna said. “We used a few different strategies and I’m just happy we were able to get it done.”
Will Rocco added the final victory, defeating Niko Koulettas, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, at third singles. The team stormed the court, celebrating the program’s first county title since 1978. Half Hollow Hills West finished 13-3.
“We knew today was going to be a challenge,” Harborfields coach Justin Stybel said. “We took practice seriously to prepare for these high-level teams. We just played our game and didn’t try to do too much.”
Harborfields (15-1) will face Syosset (16-1) in the Long Island championship at Smithtown East Friday.
Christopher Matias covers high school sports for Newsday after spending time in Athletic Facilities and Operation at St. John’s and in Sports Information at CUNY York college.
