The girls’ tennis team after winning the Division II Sectional Championship on Sunday. Photo courtesy of @BronxvilleTennis.
By S.Q. DeJoy and J. Murrer
Oct. 18, 2023: The Bronxville girls’ tennis team collected two Sectional Championships last week. At the beginning of the week, Victoria McEnroe won her first ever Section 1 tournament by defeating Eastchester’s Selmie Petrie 6-2, 6-2. McEnroe, who is the defending New York State Champion, sailed through the tournament without losing a set.
“It felt amazing to win sectionals my senior year after making section finals the past three years,” said McEnroe. “It was great to finally get that match after past years where I did not always perform my best or lost tight matches.”
Victoria McEnroe with the Section 1 Championship trophy. Photo courtesy of @BronxvilleTennis.
At the Section 1 tournament, over 50 girls competed at Harrison High School over a four-day span. McEnroe played five matches including a 6-2, 6-1 quarterfinal win over Somers’ Chloe Monachelli and a 6-3, 6-1 semifinal win over Scarsdale’s Charlene Dong.
“I was super happy with and proud of the way I played and competed for the entire tournament,” said McEnroe. “The energy at sectionals is always so special because of the teammates and friends that can come watch since its closer to home.”
Coach Steve Klurfeld, who coaches boys’ tennis in the spring and girls’ tennis in the fall, could not have asked for a better outcome.
“Victoria is obviously really talented,” said Coach Klurfeld. “She is just a really tenacious fighter and has a remarkable reserve of resilience and focus.”
McEnroe will head to the New York State Championships on October 26th- 28th at Sportime in Schenectady to compete against the best in the state.
Later in the week, the team won the Division II Section 1 Team Championship. The Broncos received the No. 5 seed, in part due to their 5-5 regular season record. Bronxville had faced tough competition during the regular season playing Division I schools including Horace Greeley and Mamaroneck, and that seemed to work to their advantage.
The team defeated Hendrik Hudson on Thursday, Croton on Friday, and then had to play two matches on Sunday because (surprise!) it rained on Saturday. In the final against defending State Champion Byram Hills, the score was tied at 2-2 with just one match to play.
“It was very, very dramatic,” said Coach Klurfeld. “It came down to the results of the 3rd singles match.”
In that match, Bronxville’s Hannah Shammas and her opponent were both very consistent and the points were long, but Shammas pulled off a 6-2, 6-2 victory to give the Broncos a 3-2 win over the Bobcats. It was the Broncos first Section 1 Team Championship.
At team sectionals, McEnroe won at first singles and Annette Dani won her match at second singles. Also competing at the tournament were first doubles team, Isabel Haller and Madeleine Brandes, and second doubles team, Rose Woolery and Astrid Pulkkinen.
The girls’ team will compete in regionals against the winner of Section 4 and 9. The New York State semifinals and finals will take place on November 3rd at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
“I’m really excited for states and the chance to defend my title there,” said McEnroe, “as well as moving forward into regionals with my team who just won sectionals for the first time too!”
Go Broncos.