The streak is 50 and counting for Greenwich High School’s varsity boys tennis team.

The Cardinals entered their 2025 season winners of 44 consecutive matches dating back to the 2023 season and are currently 6-0 this spring, extending their impressive success streak to 50 matches, which include two straight FCIAC and CIAC Class LL state tournament championships.

Win No. 50 for Greenwich came against its biggest rival over the years, a team that always gives it a highly competitive match – Staples High School, based out of Westport. In a matchup between two premier squads in the state, Greenwich hosted Staples on April 24 and like most of the times when the Cardinals and Wreckers duel, it was a tight, eventful match featuring fantastic tennis.

Winning three of the four singles matches, host Greenwich edged Staples, 4-3, to continue its winning streak and undefeated season. Coached by Ray Marschall, the Cardinals earned a record of 22-0 on their way to capturing conference and state titles in 2023 and 2024.

“Fifty wins undefeated is pretty incredible,” said Greenwich senior captain Alexander Salib, who played at No. 1 singles, Two years ago when we started my sophomore season, I assumed that we would lose a match between now and then. But we are making history by staying strong and winning every time.”

Salib was instrumental in another GHS win. He was victorious in his match at first singles against Derek Hafiz, a highly ranked player. Salib won the No. 1 singles matchup, 6-2, 7-5.

“Going into the match I didn’t have the highest hopes because Derek Hafiz is a great player, highly-ranked, No. 17 in the country and pretty quickly I found my rhythm,” Salib said.

Salib hit his shots well throughout his match against Hafiz, while also exhibiting a consistent serve.

“I found my rhythm. I played my game, I have to credit my strong serves and strong returns,” Salib noted. “Overall, I played solid and got the job done.”

Indeed, Salib has been working up to filling the role as team captain – a role he learned from previous captains.

“I’ve been on the team since I was a freshman and I’ve gone through many different captains and now that I have the opportunity to lead the team it feels great,” he said. “My work through this program is definitely coming through. It’s great to be a leader on this team and mentor the younger guys.”

Second singles saw Greenwich’s Manuel Galli Specos, also a senior captain, defeat Staples’ Noah Wolff, 7-5, 6-4. Galli Specos’ victory was the fourth win of the match for the Cards, clinching the triumph against their main rival.

“The first set, it was really tough he was not missing at all, so I I was starting to be more aggressive,” Galli Specos said. “He was really tough, he’s a good player. I knew it was going to be like that, so getting that 7-5 was crucial.”

With the score tied at 1-1 in the second set, Wolff experienced leg cramps and needed a 10-minute medical timeout before the match resumed.

“That was tough for him of course, but also for me,” Galli Specos noted. “With all the adrenaline, just standing there not knowing what’s happening was tough. I had to get myself back together and hold serve, which was key. To be able to break at 4-4 (in the second set) was amazing.”

The match at Greenwich on April 24 was a rematch of the championship matchup of the 2024 CIAC Class LL Tournament, which Greenwich won against Staples, 4-1.

“We have a lot of seniors and the need to finish undefeated is there,” Galli Specos said of the mission the Cardinals are on, along with facing the Wreckers. “That includes regular season, so we knew this match was going to be tough but very important.”

The No. 3 singles match was also competitive. Robert Jacob of Staples won the opening set against Greenwich’s Owen Kwon, 6-4. Kwon, a sophomore, was ahead, 4-3, in the second set yet had to retire after experiencing leg cramps.

At fourth singles, the Cardinals received a decisive 6-0, 6-0 victory from junior Elias Orrell. Orrell earned the straight set victory against Kieran Anand.

“I was trying to play my game, I think I got him off his rhythm and I was able to take advantage,” Orrell said. “He was a solid player, but I think I was able to hit through it, so I was able to clean it out the first set.”

“The second set he got a bit ahead of me, I think he reset himself and started to gain his confidence,” Orrell noted. “So, I had to think about a reset and make sure to get him back off of his rhythm and I sort of took the momentum back.”

Greenwich’s No. 1 doubles team of senior Rohan Mittal and senior Cole Frumin posted a 6-3, 7-5 win over Brett Lambert and Lucas Ceballos-Cala. The Cards’ top duo displayed effective teamwork and shot making en route to registering another win.

The Wreckers (6-1) were victorious at second and third doubles. Matthew Guadarrama and Sebastian Elizondo edged Greenwich’s Pierre August (a senior) and Will Neuenfeldt (a sophomore) in the first set, 7-6 (5), then won the second set, 6-4.

The No. 3 doubles match was also an exciting, well played contest. Alekos Vergakis and Shreyas Gorre of Staples pulled out a 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4 victory in comeback fashion against Greenwich’s Ishan Ambastha (a senior) and Daniel Lee (a senior).

The victory against their rival completed another winning week for coach Ray Marschall’s Cardinals, who also topped New Canaan, 5-2, on April 22. The Cards’ win versus the Rams was a rematch of the 2024 FCIAC Tournament final won by GHS.

“It’s been really brutal this week, it’s been tough physically as well,” Orrell said. “Just to get that match done was very rewarding.”

Greenwich looks every bit like a championship team, but knows it has plenty more to accomplish before earning such a title. Their lineup, as has been the case for numerous seasons, is deep and talented.

“The season is going great, we have a really great group of freshmen and we’re just continuing what we had for the past two years,” Orrell said. “We’re rivals with Staples, so going in, we know it’s a big match. We know that their lineup got noticeable better as well, so it was a bit nerve-wracking as well. But once I got on the court, I was more comfortable, more familiar.”

As for his experience as a member of Greenwich’s storied varsity tennis program?

“It’s great, I’m the only junior and I was one of the only sophomores last year as well,” Orrell noted. “I’m very grateful for it. I get to be more experienced than some of the freshmen and sophomores, but I get to learn from the senior captains and hopefully, step into their role next year.”

Greenwich has another busy week coming up. The Cardinals will visit Trumbull on Monday, host rival Darien Tuesday, then travel to Danbury on Thursday.