Yegya-Raman wins 2d state tennis crown

Cherry Hill East's Ravi Yegya-Raman capped his scholastic tennis career yesterday by successfully defending his NJSIAA state singles title with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Ocean Township's Mike Lampa at Mercer County Park.

The win enabled Yegya-Raman to join Moorestown's Mike Sell, Northern Highlands' Phil Stolt, Newark Academy's Jamal Parker, and Scotch Plains-Fanwood's Jeff Miller as the only players to win the state singles crown twice.

Yegya-Raman, undefeated the last two years, finished his career with a 100-4 record.

"He's the greatest player we've ever had at East," Cougars coach Ralph Ipri said. "I've never seen a kid like him - he's a once-in-a-[coaching]-career player."

Yegya-Raman, the top seed in the tournament, played error-free tennis in defeating Lampa (29-1).

"Ravi doesn't beat himself," Ipri said. "His biggest strength is that he makes an opponent work for every point.

"He mixes his shots and serves hard enough to set other things up. Today he put the ball corner to corner and back deep."

The Princeton-bound Yegya-Raman and Lampa impressed Ipri with their sportsmanship.

"It was a match unlike any final I've ever seen," Ipri said. "Both players were gentlemen on the court. They never argued over calls and even agreed on a shot and overruled the umpire. It was a great match to watch."

- Bob Cabnet

NJSIAA TOURNAMENT

State Group 1 Championship

At Toms River South:

Robbinsville vs. Lyndhurst, 11 a.m.

State Group 2 Championship

At Toms River East:

Allentown vs. Mahwah, 2

State Group 3 Championship

At Toms River North:

Wall Township vs. Old Tappan, 2

State Group 4 Championship

At Toms River South:

Hunterdon Central vs. North Hunterdon, 2

State Non-Public A Championship

At Toms River North:

Don Bosco vs. Christian Brothers, 11 a.m.

State Non-Public B Championship

At Toms River East:

St. Rose-Belmar vs. St. Mary-Rutherford, 11 a.m.

NJSIAA TOURNAMENT

State Group 1 Championship

At Toms River North:

Pennsville vs. High Tech, 11 a.m.

State Group 2 Championship

At Toms River East:

Sterling vs. Kittatiny, 11 a.m.

State Group 3 Championship

At Toms River East:

Kingsway vs. Kennedy-Iselin, 1

State Group 4 Championship

At Toms River North:

Williamstown vs. Ridgewood, 3

State Non-Public A Championship

At Toms River East:

Red Bank Catholic vs. Immaculate Heart, 3

State Non-Public B Championship

At Toms River North:

Mater Dei vs. Montclair Kimberley, 1

TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS FINAL

At Rutgers University:

Delbarton vs. Mountain Lakes, 1

TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS FINAL

At Rutgers University:

Moorestown vs. Chatham, 3

First Team

P: Tim Kerr, Collingswood

P: Jake Rifkin, West Deptford

P: Nick Alloway, Gateway

C: Rick Ponto, Gateway

C: Joe Knazek, Collingswood

IF: Steve Rizzo, Audubon

IF: Dom DePasquale, Gateway

IF: Steve Jakubowski, West Drptford

IF: Scott Renauro, West Deptford

IF: Collin McGowan, Sterling

OF: Ian Lindsay, Haddon Township

OF: Zach Fadio, Audubon

OF: Vince Marchese, Sterling

OF: Wade Gies, Audubon

Utility: Rob Harrington, Haddon Township