Bronxville Tennis Team Reflects on Transitional Season

Peter Davis is completing his sixth year as a member of the Bronxville tennis team. So he speaks from experience when describing just how different this season was.

"As a team I thought we did a pretty good job of balancing an inexperienced team with the fact that we moved into a much tougher league," Davis said. "It was pretty good considering what we were up against and where we were coming from."

Davis was the only senior and one of just three upperclassmen on the team, while Section 1's realignment meant that the Broncos had to face schools three times their size.

"Last year I won most of the league matches and the season was kind of a breeze," said Davis, who played No. 1 singles. "This year the majority of my matches were against kids I play against in Eastern USTA tournaments."

Bronxville finished the regular season with a 6-9 record, including 3-7 in a league that included Scarsdale and Mamaroneck, tennis powers which have around 1,000 more students.

The heightened competition may end up helping the young team in the future.

"It was an eye-opener for our students, and that's been a positive," said coach Steve Klurfeld, who anticipates having a very strong team two years from now.

Rounding out the singles lineup this year were freshman Brian Forst and seventh grader Jimmy Purdy.

Frost, who lived in London and Boston before coming to Bronxville this year, is a great all-court player who isn't afraid to come to the net. Purdy is a grinder who is extremely consistent and can outlast opponents from the baseline.

Next up for the players is the conference tournament Tuesday at Anthony F. Veteran Park in Greenburgh. Davis and Purdy will be playing singles, while Forst and fellow freshman Chris Davis — Peter's younger brother — will be playing doubles. If those players advance far enough in the conference tournament, they will make it to sectionals.

Peter Davis, who lost in the first round last year in his first-ever appearance, is hoping for one more run in the postseason before heading to Bowdoin.

"For me I felt like it was a good balance between academics and athletics," Davis said. "I know I'll get a really good education and at the same time I'm really excited to play and it's a great group of guys."