Marshall’s Newman Wins Reunion Match With Mann

There was a closeness between the competitors at the start of the City Section’s individual tennis championships at MountainGate Country Club on Friday.

Last year’s winner, Noah Newman of Marshall High, who said he had grown up playing against--and mostly defeating--Dylan Mann of Taft, beat him again, 6-1, 6-3.

“We had the same coach, and we started hitting with each other when were about 12,” said Newman, 18. “[Mann] has always had a lot of talent, and he can beat me when he’s on.”

Newman, Mann and third-place finisher Robert Williams of Dorsey have met in tournaments for years, including the City finals.

In the 1994 finals, Williams defeated Mann in three sets, and last year Newman grabbed his first title by defeating Williams.

There was even more camaraderie in the doubles final. The team of Adam Pennella and Jung Cho of Palisades defeated Joseph Kim and Ricky Rollins, also from Palisades, 6-4, 6-2.

Palisades managed to take the top three places in doubles when Josh Kraus and Kevin Condon defeated James White and Jason Weissbrod of Granada Hills, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.