Greenwich High boys tennis team tops Amity in Class LL Tournament quarters

By David Fierro on June 3, 2025 • ( Leave a comment )

**Photo by Rachael Stover**: Manuel Galli Specos won his match at second singles in straight sets against Amity in the quarterfinal-round of the CIAC Class LL Tournament on June 2, 2025.

Soaring into the semifinals.

That’s what the Cardinals of Greenwich are doing, as they reached the Final Four of the CIAC Class LL Boys Tennis Tournament, continuing their quest for another state championship and a third consecutive undefeated season.

Top-seeded Greenwich, which sports a record of 20-0 overall and has won 64 straight matches going back to the 2023 season, earned a berth in the Class LL Tournament semifinals with a 5-1 quarterfinal-round victory over eighth-seeded Amity Regional High School on June 2.

The undefeated, two-time defending Class LL state tournament champion Cardinals host fourth-seeded Glastonbury today (June 3) in the semifinals at 4 p.m. Greenwich was tested against Amity in the quarterfinal-round, getting victories from second, third and fourth singles and first and third doubles on its way to another win.

**Photo by Rachael Stover**: Alex Salib of Greenwich gets ready to serve during his match at No. 1 singles in the CIAC Class LL quarterfinals against Amity at Greenwich High School on June 2, 2025. The Cardinals won the match, 5-1.

Senior captain Manuel Galli Specos was involved in a competitive match at second singles for the Cardinals. Galli Specos prevailed against Amity’s Rohan Hebbar, 6-3, 6-3, in a hard-fought matchup.

“He was a great player and it’s great to get it in straight sets, knowing that we have to play tomorrow (June 3) and hopefully, Wednesday as well,” Galli Specos said.

Greenwich advanced to the Class LL quarterfinals by sweeping Brien McMahon in the first round, 7-0. The Cardinals opponent today (June 3), Glastonbury, moved on by defeating Hall in the quarterfinals, 4-3.

**Photo by Rachael Stover:** Owen Kwon of Greenwich High’s varsity boys tennis team in action during his match at third singles against Amity in the quarterfinal-round of the CIAC Class LL Tournament. Kwon won his match in straight sets.

“We know it is going to get tougher from here, but we’re ready for it,” Galli Specos said of the Cardinals’ next round. It was a test, but the team showed that we can do it.”

Owen Kwon, a sophomore, was victorious at third singles for the Cardinals, topping his Amity foe, 6-0, 6-4, while displaying a strong serve and impressive groundstrokes. In the No. 4 singles match, Cardinals freshman Francesco Lindia was a 6-1, 6-0 winner.

“I noticed that he was relatively consistent at the start, he played well low, so I just tried to take advantage of his backhand,” Lindia said. “Just things like that as a freshman, I’m trying to get better on. Overall, it was a good match. It was a better second set than the first because I was able to adapt.”

**Photo courtesy of Rachael Stover**: Rohan Mittal of Greenwich High School’s varsity boys tennis team gets ready to return a shot during the No. 1 doubles match against Amity in the quarterfinal-round of the CIAC Class LL Tournament.

Indeed, Lindia has made quite an impact to the Cards’ singles lineup in his first varsity season.

“I’m thrilled, I was able to climb pretty high in the lineup and I think I can definitely have a shot at starting next year,” Lindia said. “It’s been a great season so far, I haven’t lost. Glastonbury is going to be a good team and if we keep doing what we’re doing I think we should be just fine.”

Amity’s win in singles competition came at the No. 1 spot. Thomas Sirigantho posted a 6-0, 6-2 win over Greenwich senior captain Alexander Salib, who has had a standout season at No. 1 singles.

**Photo by Rachael Stover:** Greenwich’s Pierre August gets ready to return a serve during the No. 2 doubles match against Amity in the quarterfinal-round of the CIAC Class LL Boys Tennis Tournament. GHS won the match, 5-1.

First doubles saw Greenwich senior captain Rohan Mittal and senior Cole Frumin continue their dominating season. The duo promptly won their match at first doubles, 6-0, 6-2. Mittal and Frumin are undefeated so far this season for the Cardinals, who defeated Staples, 4-2, in last week’s FCIAC Tournament final at Wilton High School.

“I feel very strong about going forward,” Mittal said of the upcoming matches. “We’ve worked on everything we could as a team. We’re coordinated and powerful.”

“The confidence level is really high, we haven’t lost yet,” Frumin said. “We’re good friends on and off the court, so we have good chemistry.”

**Photo by Rachael Stover:** William Neuenfeldt of the Cardinals in action at No. 2 doubles vs. Amity Regional High School.

Winning another state championship would be a thrilling finish to the season for the Cardinals, especially for the senior members of the squad.

“It would be a great way to end up my last four years on the team,” Mittal noted. “We’ve won the last two years, so ending off on a high note would be great.”

The No. 2 doubles match between GHS senior Pierre August and senior Ishan Ambastha and Ashwin Menon/Jordan Haas of Amity was not completed. Amity won a tough first set, 7-4 and was ahead in the second, 4-3.

**Photo by Rachael Stover:** Greenwich’s William Neuenfeldt in action at second doubles in the Class LL quarterfinals.

Sophomore Jake Orbanowski and freshman Ryan Stanton were 7-5, 6-0 winners at third doubles for the Cardinals, as they dictated the action throughout their match.

“It was a slow first set, we didn’t have much energy and once we got the momentum in the second, we just rolled on,” Orbanowski said.

“Going into the FCIAC final, we were confident and undefeated,” Stanton noted. “We took a tough loss in the final, but we regained our confidence and we feel good.”