There has always been a great belief that the Cape-Atlantic League is as tough as any in South Jersey in tennis.

Well, if the first 10 years of the 21st Century are any indication, there is plenty of evidence to back that claim.

Consider The Current All Star Boys Tennis Team for the First Decade (2000-09).

Leading the way is Vinay Bhamidipati, the talented 2002 graduate of Egg Harbor Township High School. Bhamidipati was a two-time CAL singles champion, a two-time CAL first team selection, a first team pick on the All-South Jersey team and the only CAL player during the decade to win the NJSIAA singles championship. That makes Bhamidipati the Current Boys Tennis Player of the Decade.

And that is quite an honor, when you consider the other singles players on this decade all star team.

There is Mainland’s Van Homer Pangilinan, a two-time all-conference selection and the 2000 league singles champion. His younger brother, Carlo Pangilinan, who was a four-time CAL first teamer at Mainland, a three-time league champion, two-time All-South Jersey selection and South Jersey singles champion in 2005. Absegami’s Bryan Nguyen was all-conference three times and South Jersey singles champion in 2008. And Keith Goldstein, a four-time all-conference selection, three-time league singles winner and South Jersey champ in 2007.

Quite a talented group.

Then there was doubles. The top two teams, both league champions and both 24-4 that year, were both from EHT. Kevin Lam and Kevin Lau won the 2005 CAL title and were second team, All-South Jersey as a team. A year later, Jeff Steinberg and Dan Yoo were league champs. Steinberg and Yoo played together the year before at No. 2 singles and lost only once.

There are also two doubles players who deserve spots on the team for their success with different partners. Mainland’s Paul Weller was first team all-conference at doubles in both 2004 and 2005. And Ari Lewkowitz accomplished the same fete for the Mustangs in 2007-08.

Boys tennis was especially good in this part of Atlantic County during the First Decade. And Vinay Bhamidipati of Egg Harbor Township was the best of the best.


The Current First Decade Boys Tennis All Stars
Singles - Van Homer Pangilinan, Mainland (2001)
Singles - Vinay Bhamidipati, Egg Harbor Township (2002)
Singles - Carlo Pangilinan, Mainland (2005)
Singles - Bryan Nguyen, Absegami (2008)
Singles - Keith Goldstein, Egg Harbor Township (2009)
Doubles Team - Kevin Lam-Kevin Lau, Egg Harbor Township (2005)
Doubles Team - Jeff Steinberg-Dan Yoo, Egg Harbor Township (2006)
Doubles - Paul Weller, Mainland (2005)
Doubles - Ari Lewkowitz, Mainland (2008)