FTTC Squad Finds Success at the 2020 Public School Athletic League (PSAL) Table Tennis Individual Championship

FTTC Players William Song, Nehemiah Yu, and Beryl Sin, and FTTC coach, Michael Song, made city history at the PSAL Individual Championship.

The PSAL Individual Championship was open to those that competed on a school team in the PSAL. This was the 2nd out of 3 postseason competitions for NYC high school students.

Girls Doubles

Coach Song, coaching on behalf of the Bronx High School of Science Girls team, coached Bronx Science 1st Doubles Pair of Chloe Guerreo and Lara Belton to yet another city title. After advancing from their group stage with wins against Flushing High School, Francis Lewis High School, and FDR, all 3-0, the Bronx Science pair won against Junqiao Pan and Liang Ping Zhu, 1st doubles pair from Seward Park, in the quarterfinals 3-1 (8-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-8). In the semifinals, the Bronx Science pair eliminated the 1st doubles pair from Francis Lewis High School, Kimberly Zhao and Christina Huang (11-2, 11-5, 9-11, 11-7), before meeting up with the pair that caused the Bronx Science duo grief at the team championships, the 1st doubles pair of Brooklyn Technical High School, Abigail Isakov and Nicole Chan. With such a tight score last time, could Brooklyn Tech get revenge?

Sadly, it was not to be.

After extensive preparation with coach Song the week prior, the Bronx Science pair was more than ready. The pair dispatched their Brooklyn Tech opponents in 3 straight games (12-10, 11-8, 11-6).

Winners of the 2020 PSAL Girls Doubles Individuals Event- Chloe Guerreo/ Lara Belton (The Bronx High School of Science)

Girls Singles

In the Girls Singles Category, the final was an all Bronx Science affair between Jasmine Lo and Gina Seo. In the semifinals, Jasmine defeated Jane Medved of Brooklyn Technical High School (11-7, 11-2, 12-10). Gina Seo beat Stuyvesant’s Larissa Yue (11-2, 11-4, 11-4) to claim her place in the historic final: it was the first time a PSAL Individual Final featured two players from Bronx Science. Ultimately, the steady and controlled defensive play from Lo won out against Gina’s all out attacking style in 5 games (9-11, 11-5, 10-12, 12-10, 11-8). This was the first time Lo has won a PSAL Individuals event after two previous attempts, congratulations!

Not to be overlooked, congratulations to FTTC’s Beryl Sin, who, seeded 20th made it all the way to the quarterfinals!

Congratulations to Bronx Science for their success at PSAL Individual Championships!

The Winner of the 2020 PSAL Girls Singles Individuals Event- Jasmine Lo (The Bronx High School of Science)

Boys Singles

On the boys side, Brooklyn Tech and FTTC player William Song swept all of his opponents 3-0. In the semifinals, he played his teammate, Rensong Wan, and won in 3 straight games, (11-8, 11-5, 11-7). In the final, Song won out against Matthew Ioffe from Edward R. Murrow in lightning fashion, (11-9, 11-7, 11-8), to take his first ,and last, PSAL individuals title on his fourth attempt. Congratulations!!

Lastly, FTTC Player Nehemiah Yu took 4th place in the Boys Singles event. After making the semifinals, he unfortunately experienced losses to Matthew Ioffe in the semifinals and Rensong Wan in the 3rd place match, he beat his record of getting to the previous year’s quarterfinals. Congratulations!

The Winner of the 2020 PSAL Boys Singles Individuals Event- William Song (Brooklyn Technical High School)

Coach Song could not have been happier with the performance of his school and his club mates:

“Gina and Jasmine proved to be the best two girls in the city. They both played spectacularly and I couldn’t be prouder of their performance! Lara and Chloe showed the entire city that their win last year was no fluke. To be a part of their continued success was immensely gratifying and I couldn’t ask for more.Seeing my younger brother, William, take the title was a dream. He’s tried so hard and has come such a long way from his freshman year that this win is only the tip of the iceberg. Hopefully he can continue playing in college too.
It was sad for Nehemiah to have not clinched a trophy this year, the growth he’s shown from the previous year is unparalleled. Good on him as well!”

Congratulations to the FTTC squad on their success at the 2020 PSAL Individual Championship!

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