This season marks the 28th and final go-around for Clifton head boys tennis coach Andrea Bobby, who will retire as the Mustangs’ leader following the season. She and her players will look to conclude her long, successful tenure with a playoff appearance just as they did a year ago. Clifton went 16-6 last spring, just a year after going winless. The Mustangs even won a game in the state tournament before bowing out in the second round against Montclair, surprising even Bobby herself. This year, they will hope to overcome some youth and inexperience to do it once again. “This is a great group, and they come every day and work to get better,” Bobby said. “If we can pull off some matches that we didn’t think we could, that would be great. It would be a nice send off.” Senior Heath Patel figures to lead the way in the first singles slot. Possessing a multi-faceted, stong overall game, Patel is a year-round tennis player. His vast array of skills makes him more of a chance-taker, but he has good form and plays with confidence. Senior Kishan Mehta will join Patel as part of Clifton’s singles group. Steady and strong in his defensive game, Patel rarely misses. Junior Omar Abufasha will play singles, as well, after playing doubles in his first two varsity seasons. Abufasha is big and strong and is working to increase his mobility on the court. Juniors Jonathan Martinez and Johann Game—a first-year player—will play first doubles, while the second doubles duo will be juniors Stephano Cespedes and Sebastian Colorado.
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April 2018 • Cliftonmagazine.com
Back row (from left): Payal Rana, Jonathan Martinez, Omar Abufasha, Heath Patel, Diego Ordonez and Tiffany Cheng; front row (from left): Kishan Mehta and Johann Gamo.
CHS
Tennis April 2 @Passaic
10am
April 4 @PCTI
4pm
April 6 @JFK
4pm
April 9 @Bergen Tech
4pm
April 12 @Lincoln Park JC
4pm
April 13 Eastside
4pm
April 16 @Wayne Hills
4pm
April 18 @Fair Lawn
4:15pm
April 19 @Bloomfield
4pm
April 20 @Passaic
4pm
April 23 JFK
4pm
April 25 @Eastside
4pm
April 27 @ Bergen Tech
4pm
April 30 @PCTI May 2 @West Milford
4pm 4:15pm
May 3 @Passaic Valley
4pm
May 4 Don Bosco
4pm
May 7 @ Wayne Valley
4pm