Share and Follow
Manhasset tennis player Max Golubenko was down on the sport the summer after his sophomore year.
He mentioned that he participated in six or seven competitions but managed to win only one or two matches against opponents with lower rankings. Despite playing almost every day, he was struggling to advance in the tournaments.
Rather than giving up, however, Golubenko, originally of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, doubled down to sharpen his game.
this weekend at Eisenhower Park. Manhasset Athletics
Golubenko shared that incorporating fitness training into his routine made a significant difference in his performance. His passion for tennis even led him to write about the sport in an additional college essay.
Currently, in his senior year, Golubenko is excelling in tennis and holds the top position in the Long Island leaderboards. He has an impressive 13-0 track record as he prepares to compete in the upcoming Nassau County tournament at Eisenhower Park.
“I knew that the hard work would pay off,” he said. “Through those dry streaks and those hard times, they built me to the level that I’m at today. I’m happy and proud of myself … my family is convinced I’m going pro one day.”
Golubenko, who overcame a back injury heading into 12th grade, took third in last year’s tournament, which qualified him for states.
Nevertheless, this year, the Trinity College-bound athlete says it’s win or bust at Eisenhower.
“Last time I was up against opponents physically stronger than me who were playing much longer than me,” said Golubenko, who got serious about tennis at age 13 after moving to the suburbs.
“It was just a starting point … and this is my senior year, so I’m all in.”
The rematch of Long Island’s holy war did not disappoint.
The Friars of Saint Anthony’s High School defeated the Chaminade Flyers 16-12 to capture the boys lacrosse team’s sixth consecutive Catholic League championship, all of which were played against their arch rival since 2019.
Chaminade, which beat St. Anthony’s 11-10 in the regular season, took a 10-6 lead into the half, but a 7-1 third-quarter run by the Friars put it out of reach.
