Defections hinder Monroe tennis team

By: Al Wicklund
   Monroe Township High School girls tennis coach Trudy Marmorek was looking forward to a banner season — until the bad news started.
   "We had lost only one member of last year’s winning team through graduation and things were looking good, but since last fall we’ve lost three players through transfer and moving.
   "Now, it’s a rebuilding season," Marmorek said earlier this week.
   The girls tennis team is scheduled to open its season on the road today (Friday) traveling to the eastern part of the county for a match with Carteret.
   The team, which went 12-8 last year, will open without Kristen Jandola, who played first singles for the Falcons the last two years but transferred to St. Mary’s of South Amboy this year.
   Kristina Cuesta, who played doubles last year and Leah Solebello, another doubles player, have moved.
   The team lost a lot of points at first and second singles, as Jandola had an 11-8 record last season, while the team’s lone graduate, Christina Venetucci, was 18-2 at second singles.
   Ms. Marmorek said the team will open with junior Kaitlyn Schobert, the team’s No. 3 singles player last season, playing No. 1 singles.
   "Two doubles players will move up to play the other two singles. Meredith Blumenstock, a senior, will play second singles. Sophomore Lorin Mordecai will play third singles," Marmorek said.
   Monroe’s doubles teams will be selected from among junior Kim Gobac, sophomores Ashley Widmer and Surina Patel, senior Lindsey Abramowitz, and freshman Robin Romm. None has played varsity tennis before.
   Monroe plays in the White Division of the Greater Middlesex Conference where Marmorek hopes the team will develop to be competitive.
   Looking at the GMC White Division teams, she sees North Brunswick and Colonia as the top two teams to beat.
   "North Brunswick is always good, while Colonia has enjoyed success in recent seasons," Marmorek said.
   Brooklyn reared and educated (Midwood High School and Brooklyn College), Marmorek is starting her 12th year teaching Spanish in Monroe and her eighth year as coach of the girls tennis team.
   Monroe finished second in the division last year, earning Marmorek White Division Coach of the Year honors, and the team has always represented the school well.
   Win or lose, the girls play hard and enjoy playing," she said.
   She said her squads have won several sportsmanship awards.
   "They’re good kids and I encourage people to come out and watch them play," Marmorek said.