The Verona Boys Tennis team has gotten off to an impressive 13-3 start to the season boasting a couple key wins against schools like Kinnelon and Caldwell and a shutout of rival Cedar Grove.

The group started off white hot with an 8-0 start, until dropping a match against a Group 4 Columbia team. The Hillbillies are carried by senior leadership in Bobby Hofmann (third singles), Chase Kaltner (first singles), and Connor Silvia (first doubles)

Other starters include Andrew Siegel at second doubles, Henry Noren at first doubles, and Max Batson and Brian Feury as the second doubles team.

Verona’s most impressive win came over Caldwell on April 17 when they defeated the Chiefs 3-2. Wins came at both doubles positions and a big win at third singles by Hofmann sealed the win.  

“Losing all starting positions last year we knew this year would be challenging, but we have a lot of talent on the team this year. We can all compete at a high level and look forward to continuing success. We hope to achieve something similar to the soccer and basketball teams,” said Bobby Hofmann, who was a part of the boys soccer team’s championship season, in which they captured a share of the Group 1 title.

Coach Jonathan Thai is eager and hopeful about what his team might be able to do in the post-season. “We’ve had some quality wins over some solid teams, but we know our stiffest competition is yet to come in states. We are hoping to compete for a sectional title, which we haven’t won since 2012, and maybe play for a Group 1 championship.

“States start May 12 so it’s crunch time for us now as we prepare for the tournament,” said Coach Thai.  If the team can have the kind of success they aspire to, they would be bringing home Verona’s third state championship of the year.