The Livingston High School boys’ tennis team opened its 2023 season with a loss to Montclair, 4-1, in a Super Essex Conference match. Livingston senior Jake Einzig lost first singles, and freshman Arjun Bansal lost third singles both in straight sets.This was Bansal’s first varsity match. Second singles and both doubles were three set matches. At second doubles, Montclair’s Teddy Ogden and Matthew Vincente defeated junior Jacob Goldstein and sophomore Jared Melamed 6-1, 5-7, 6-2.Rainen Solomon of Montclair defeated senior Atiksh Kotikalapudi 6-4, 2-6, 7-5 at second singles.Livingston’s Holden Baris, senior, and Jake Hershkin, junior, fought off match points in the third set tiebreaker to defeat Max Korenbaum and Jasper Spoor 6-1, 5-7, 7-6 (119). The 2023 Lancer tennis captains are Baris, Einzig, and Kotikalapudi.Prior to the match, Livingston assistant principal Mary Kate Pretto was honored in the annual “Serving Out The First Ball Ceremony.” Pretto is the 53rd honoree since 1982. That year, former superintendent of schools Mel Klein was the first honoree.There have been 42 boys’ tennis team honorees and 12 girls’ tennis honorees since 2011. At that time, former principal and current assistant superintendent Mark Stern gave the honor.
