The Bayport-Blue Point Phantoms captured their first-ever New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Division 2 Girls Tennis Championship with a 4-1 victory over Edgemont at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be given to us, and that we had to go take it,” said Lily Castka. “If we weren’t focused, it wasn’t going to happen. We knew we had to go out there and play our best.”
With that mindset, the Phantoms defeated Honeoye Falls-Lima 5-0 in the semifinals to reach the Championship for the second straight season and face Edgemont. Eden Romano, who clinched the Long Island title earlier in the week, won 6-1, 6-1 at second singles to open the scoring for Bayport-Blue Point.
“I’m super impressed by Eden. She was a big doubles player all season and joined our singles lineup late,” said head coach John Selvaggio. “That decision paid off.”
Evie Romano and Leila Rogers then won 6-2, 6-4 at first doubles to bring the Phantoms within one win of the title. In fitting fashion, that final point came from Castka, the Suffolk County singles champion who had also clinched the team’s county crown.
Castka sealed the championship with a 6-1, 6-3 win at first singles.
“I was definitely a bit nervous toward the end, but I kept telling myself to breathe and finish,” Castka said. “It feels amazing. I don’t think our school has ever done this, so it’s cool to be part of it.”
At third doubles, Jordana Heller and Julie Wellems won 6-4, 6-2. Edgemont’s lone point came from Isabella Jee and Seren Fowler at second doubles, who won 2-6, 6-2, 7-5.
The district added in a social media post, “Congratulations to the Girls Varsity Tennis Team on securing their State Title.”