Former second singles Wu dropping
By: Justin Feil
Jeff Weber and Mike McDonald experienced a rapid sinking feeling Thursday that plenty of Princeton High boys’ tennis doubles opponents will feel this season.
The Steinert first doubles duo were dispatched in 45 minutes by PHS’ Chad Maisel and Greg Wu.
That’s no typo. Wu, the Mercer County Tournament second singles champion last year, a winner 16 times in all last year, is a doubles player this season for the Little Tigers, who improved to 4-0 with a 5-0 win over previously unbeaten Steinert.
"Everyone thinks we’re stacking," said Wu, a senior who will attend Cornell University next fall. "In the CVC at least, everybody knows me. I play in all the clubs around here. They see me dropping, they see me playing second doubles and think it’s shady business. They just don’t believe it."
Wu is among the incredulous, but he won only two of the seven challenge matches that he played. Both wins came over Maisel.
"I felt like I had a good chance coming in," Wu said of remaining in the singles lineup. "Incumbent singles players have to lose two out of three to drop. Everybody got a lot better. Chris (Hoeland, who was playing second singles Thursday) is amazing. But I felt I had a chance."
It isn’t just Hoeland’s improvement that dropped Wu. It’s also the transfer of former No. 1 at Lawrence, Marc Nichols, who is still working his way up the lineup after breaking in at No. 3. Should he beat Hoeland in a challenge match, he’d take on Ilia Shatashvili for the top spot in the PHS lineup. That leaves Wu on the outside of the singles scene.
"Doubles is not set yet, but he’s at doubles somewhere," said PHS head coach David Black, whose squad faces Hightstown today in a make-up. "We didn’t lose any singles players and Chris has improved dramatically. Greg has improved as well. But with the addition of Nichols, it was a little too much."
Leaving Wu at doubles gives PHS some of the best doubles teams in the state again. Last year, the first doubles team of Maisel and Ted Distler was seeded second for the state doubles tournament. Wu would like that same chance, which is why he wants to occupy one of the first doubles spots.
"I always wanted to play in the state singles or doubles tournament," Wu said. "I played JV as a freshman, and I didn’t have enough matches as a sophomore so I’ve never gone. Second doubles can’t go to states.
"I feel I can compete with all these guys. Mr. Black is doing what is best for the team, and I have to go along with that."
Wu has proven he can be successful at doubles and singles play. As a sophomore, he was 9-1 at third singles before going to first doubles with Distler just before the county tournament. He and Distler finished 8-4 in doubles play that season. Wu brings the right attitude to his new position.
"I’ve played a lot of doubles on the side," he said. "I feel that doubles helps your game a lot. It makes you focus on your serve and volleys.
"I’m strengthening the team. I try to be a team player. No matter where I play, I’ll play hard. One of my best attributes is my fighting spirit. I’m not going to say I’m a sore loser, but I really don’t like to lose. I’ll fight to win."
Black is also looking at Wu’s doubles addition as something that can only help the Little Tigers as they aim for a second straight Group III championship.
"Greg’s net game is probably among the best on the team," the third-year coach said. "That’s certainly going to help us not matter where he ends up. His volleys are very strong.
"It’s nice to have some seniors with experience and some leadership down at that position," he added. "We don’t have one of the top players in the state in singles. Our overall strength is our depth. We have to win doubles in practically every match against the top teams. Our doubles should be among the top in the state, both of them."
With that in mind, Black doesn’t want the players who end up at second doubles to miss an opportunity at states. To do so, he’ll have to get the rule changed.
"I’m going to push for the NJSIAA to allow strong second doubles teams to play in the tournament," he said. "These guys are probably able to beat 95 percent of the first doubles teams out there."
On any given day, Black said, any of his players can top another. Maisel, for instance, defeated Hoeland in a challenge match.
"At the start of the challenge matches, it looked like Chris might end up at doubles," Black said. "He lost his first match with Chad. I had no idea how it was play out."
It played out not the way that Wu had envisioned, but it’s something he’s coming to grips with as the season get underway. It’s his final season before going off to college, where he doesn’t expect to try for a spot on the Division I Big Red team.
His competitive spirit would be welcome on any team. It’s what has made him one of the most recognizable faces in the CVC, no matter what position he plays. It’s that attitude that he’s taking into what could be a difficult position if he plays second doubles for the season.
"It’s a big drop," Wu said. "But when I play, I’m going to try hard. I’m going to do my best to win every match."
And in the long run, when PHS faces the best of the best in the state, Greg Wu’s doubles play could be one of the difference makers for the Little Tiger boys’ tennis team. It’s something that teams are learning quickly with the new PHS lineup.

