John Dewey High School boys table tennis is currently the top team in their division with 10 wins and 0 losses. It took a powerhouse in Stuyvesant High School to take out our Dragons.
The John Dewey High School Table Tennis Team is participating in the playoffs with higher hopes than usual. The boys have been unstoppable this season, beating many powerful teams.
“I don’t know if you know this, but last year we had a similar winning streak- we finished fourth in the city the past two years. If we lose this upcoming match, it will mark three straight years ranking fourth overall,” said senior and captain of the boys table tennis team, Sai Mon Pyae.
During the regular season they delivered outstanding performances, winning against teams that were heavily favored.
John Dewey’s Table Tennis Team had lost their game against Stuyvesant on Wednesday, February 11th. It is John Dewey’s first loss in the 2025-2026 season, which affects their winning streak.
They lost in the semifinals, but they have the opportunity to play in a consolation game against John Jay. If they win this game, they will place 3rd overall in the city this year—an impressive feat for one of our teams.
The semifinal game against Stuyvesant resulted in a 5-0 loss, which was the first loss of the season for the Dragons in the 2025-2026 year. Although the game seems to be one sided, the team realizes that playing against one of the best programs in the city means that they have to keep improving and learning. The loss has actually motivated the players.
Senior captain Sai Mon Pyae believes there are still areas the team must improve if they want to compete at the highest level.
“We have to work on a lot of stuff. Basically, the difference in skills is huge, but we have to analyze their strengths as a team and adapt to their playstyle to beat them. Right now, they have a slight edge, but I believe that we can possibly beat them and face Brooklyn Tech in the finals,” said Pyae.
Pyae also acknowledged that Brooklyn Tech is widely considered the favorite to win the championship.
“Brooklyn Tech is the favorite to win the championship because they are extremely balanced. You may be able to beat them in one position, but not all of them.”
Handling pressure has also been an important factor this season. With several younger players on the roster, leadership during tournament play becomes crucial.
“They know how well they are, but it’s hard for them to advance any higher than they did,” Coach Marc Gross said.
Although the semifinal loss was disappointing, there have been many moments to be proud of throughout the season. Dewey has won key games against teams they were expected to lose to, showing they have what it takes to compete with the best programs in the country as long as they stick to their plan.
“The moment I am most proud of is that we ended up winning against teams that were heavily favored,” Pyae said.
The team has also faced challenges throughout the year, especially when competing against schools with much larger programs.
“We will go against the powerhouses with 50–60 kids,” Coach Gross said. “I show up with seven kids. It’s tough. But three years in a row, they know who we are.”
With a consolation matchup against John Jay ahead, the Dragons remain confident in finishing strong and possibly securing third place in the city.
No matter the final outcome, this season has shown that Dewey is no longer just aiming to compete — they are striving for a championship.