Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Hewlett boys’ tennis team continued to play at a high level this spring, earning a second straight Nassau County playoff berth behind dominant doubles play and key lineup adjustments made throughout the season.
After winning just five matches two years ago, Hewlett put together another strong campaign under second-year coach Gail Weintraub by going 11-3 for the second straight season. The Bulldogs closed the regular season with victories in nine of their final 11 matches before falling in the finale on May 8.
In that loss, the doubles teams of Justin Kim and Darren Chen, Hunter Link and Deep Aryal, and Maayan Ben Simon and David Hanono accounted for Hewlett’s three victories. Those performances continued a pattern that lasted through much of the season.
The Bulldogs recorded six 6-1 victories and posted a 7-0 sweep over Farmingdale late in the season. The team’s doubles depth consistently delivered in tight matches, including 4-3 wins over Lynbrook on April 16 and Farmingdale in the teams’ first matchup on April 28.
Kim and Chen emerged as Hewlett’s most dependable tandem, finishing the season undefeated together at 9-0 while playing primarily at fourth and second doubles. Weintraub said the pairing quickly developed chemistry on the court.
“They got along really well on the court,” she said. “They just clicked so well.”
Aryal and Link also emerged as one of the county’s top doubles teams by finishing 13-0. They dropped just one game on two separate occasions and only two games against Valley Stream Central on March 27.
Weintraub said the sophomore duo is expected to receive All-Division recognition.
“They did very well,” she said. “They will be all division.”
Hewlett also benefited from several younger players stepping into expanded roles after two singles players left the team during the season. Weintraub frequently adjusted her lineup and credited the team’s depth and flexibility for helping stabilize the roster.
One of the biggest moves came when Weintraub shifted freshman Andrew Levin from doubles into singles play while moving senior Daniel Ayzenberg into doubles, where he paired effectively with freshman Michael Abelev.
Levin responded with one of the team’s best records, finishing 9-2 in singles play. His most dominant performance was a 6-0, 6-0 victory over South Side’s Ronan Franco on May 5 and he also rallied for a 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 triumph over Lynbrook’s Jake Frankel.
“He worked really hard and he's serious,” Weintraub said of Levin. “He puts his mind to it and he's determined.”
Ayzenberg and Abelev grew into a major force in doubles, winning their first five matches together – all in straight sets – before having their winning streak snapped in the finale against Calhoun.
Weintraub also praised Ben Simon and Hanono for stepping into larger roles as the season progressed. Hanono, who was brought up from the JV, quickly became a valuable contributor.
“I watched one of the JV matches,” Weintraub said. “I was very impressed with his playing. I said, ‘I need you.’”
