Kemelman steps into top spot for Chargers By lindsey siegle A
Graduation has taken a serious toll on Coach Gary Floyd’s team and this year’s squad will have to rely on some freshmen and sophomores as it plays a schedule that includes some of the tougher
opponents in the Greater Middlesex Conference.
Fortunately, the Chargers have experience at all three singles positions.
Senior Eric Kemelman will hold down the No. 1 spot with classmate Lance Feldenkreiss at No. 2 and junior David Baum at No. 3.
All played varsity last season on the doubles squads, but that experience should help them with their play at the net, Floyd noted.
"Eric has been solid for a couple of years," according to the coach. "He has been itching to step into the singles lineup so this is his chance."
The senior should have the game to contend with the GMC’s best.
"He’s got very powerful ground strokes from both sides," Floyd said. "And a nice big first serve. He’s really a baseliner, but hopefully he’ll use his doubles experience of the last few years to win some easy points with his power. He just has to develop some consistency at the net."
Feldenkreiss played second doubles with Baum last year, and may be more aggressive than most second singles players because of the development of his net game.
Floyd noted that he is very aggressive and looks to come to the net at every opportunity.
Baum’s big serve should work well for him, according to the coach, but he is an all court player who is comfortable from the baseline to the net.
The Chargers’ list of experienced high school players ends with Marc Cantora, a sophomore who saw some action at doubles last season.
He has nailed down a spot in the doubles lineup, but he will be paired with an inexperienced player.
Adam Narkiewicz, the only other 10th-grader on the team, is a likely candidate for a doubles spot and at least two of three freshmen — Bob Coffey, Bryan Nesi and Mike Hager — also will take the court for Spotswood.
Floyd noted that Narkiewicz is much improved from a year ago, when he was with the team but did not log any varsity appearances.
The coach noted that his veterans have helped create a positive atmosphere in practice.
"The three guys at the top have been extremely helpful with the new guys," Floyd said. They’re running practices, and helping them with their stroke development.
"We work on every facet of the game and these guys are very familiar with all the shots," he added. "They’ve been taking lessons and they’ve been able to show the guys the footwork and grips and different things like that. They’ve been on some good teams in the last couple of years and they know they situation."
The Chargers’ schedule, which begins on April 6 against Monroe, includes North Brunswick, St. Joe’s of Metuchen, Edison, and John F. Kennedy Memorial of Woodbridge.