Boys High School Spotlight on Josh Levine of Cold Spring Harbor

March 15, 2011 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

Josh Levine started playing tennis for Cold Spring Harbor in the eighth grade. Now a junior, he has yet to play a season that didn’t result in a Long Island Championship for the Cold Spring Harbor Seahawks. Josh has moved his way up the team’s depth chart playing second singles in eighth grade and ninth grade, and first singles in 10th grade. He will lead them in 2011 in their attempt at a fourth straight Long Island High School Boys Tennis Championship.

Individually last season, Josh had a fantastic year as well, but came up just short in both the Nassau County Individual Championship finals where he fell to Zach Morris of Garden City, and also in the New York State Boys Individual Championship finals where he was beaten by Jeremy Court of New Rochelle, N.Y. These defeats have Josh hungry for the upcoming season as he pursues the titles that eluded him just one year ago.

Josh finised USTA Boys 16s nationally ranked 30th and ranked third in the Eastern Section. Having started the 18s this past September, Josh is currently ranked 143rd nationally and fourth in the Eastern Section. He is already looking toward college tennis with his eyes on Division I schools across the country. Sometimes, a player of Josh’s caliber with a lofty USTA Junior ranking chooses not to play high school tennis, but Josh sees many benefits of the high school tennis experience.

“The players that play first singles at other schools are just as competitive as my opponents in USTA matches, who are, many times, actually the same players,” said Levine. “I also feel that, when I go to college, I will be more prepared in adjusting to the college tennis game and being on a college team. My favorite part of playing for my school is definitely the camaraderie and team atmosphere.”

Admittedly, Josh has a unique situation at his school though. Cold Spring Harbor boasts seven ranked junior players, as most teams are lucky to have one or two, so not only can Josh play tough competition in matches, but also in his practices.

“For me, it is definitely worth going to practice every day with the team because I have six other guys who can challenge me and push me everyday,“ said Levine.

Josh has a family full of tennis players, as his older sister, Alison, who played four years varsity at Cold Spring Harbor, as well as his mother, Patty and father Barry, who played four years of college tennis for SUNY Albany. He started playing with his family in mixed-doubles matches on family vacations and things often get very competitive. While that may have been his start, Josh’s current coach, Salomon Levy Bromet, has really brought his game to the next level. Josh thinks his best attributes on-court are his “competitive nature and determination, along with his backhand and serve.” With two years to go until college tennis begins, Josh will continue to work with Salomon to develop his game, while playing both juniors and high school tennis.

The future for Josh is looking very bright!

 


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Century
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