Stanley moved quickly up the ranks

By: Ken Weingartner
   Ken Stanley wasn’t expected to crack the starting lineup for the Monroe High boys’ tennis team this season. In fact, to start the year he was well down the Falcons’ depth chart. But, as they say, it’s not where you start, it’s where you finish.
   Stanley, a freshman, broke into the MHS lineup midway through the season, pairing with Justin Bauman to play second doubles. And it’s been nothing but fun.
   "It was really exciting," Stanley said about playing varsity. "I kind of started the year really low and worked my way up. It’s been very enjoyable. It’s not a hassle to go out and play every day. I look forward to it. It’s just fun."
   Stanley has been playing tennis since he was around 8 years old. He picked up the sport from his brother — his younger brother, Kevin — who was about 5 when he started in the game.
   "I watched him play and I liked it," Stanley said. "I started playing and I stayed with it. I like that when you’re playing singles there’s no one else to blame for a loss. You can only blame yourself. It’s just you against another person."
   Even though he prefers singles, he’s learning a lot by playing doubles. He started the season paired with fellow freshman Darren Goldberg, but by midway through the campaign was partnered with Bauman, a sophomore. The two have played around .500 together.
   "Doubles and singles are two totally different things," Stanley said. "But once you get used to it, it’s a lot of fun. There’s another person on the court with you, but you’ve got a lot more ground to cover. Doubles is a lot more fast-paced. It’s a much more aggressive game. You can go for more aggressive shots rather than play defensive or neutral. Next year, I’ll probably play doubles again. But after that, maybe singles."
   On Tuesday, Stanley got to play with his original partner, Goldberg. Although the two lost 6-0, 6-4 against the second doubles team from Colonia, Stanley was pleased with their effort."We hadn’t played together in a while," Stanley said. "We started to make a comeback — we were down 5-1 in the second set — but it was too late. If we had more time to practice together, it would’ve been better."
   Knowing how your partner plays, and communicating with your partner during the match, are keys.
   "If you don’t communicate, you’re at a disadvantage right away," said Stanley, who ran cross country last fall. "You lose points that way."
   At just 5-foot-5, 100 pounds, power isn’t a big part of Stanley’s game. Hustle, he said, is what gets him by for now.
   "It probably gives me a little advantage," he said. "I have a decent slice and I’m working on my topspin. But I just picked that up this year. I most need to improve my serving. I think it would give me a better chance if I had a decent serve."
   Ultimately, his hustle and work ethic helped him get into the lineup. He plans to take lessons during the summer and continue his improvement.
   "Coach (Jim Kushner) liked to see the young kids striving to get better, not being satisfied with their position," Stanley said. "He liked to see them working and pursuing a higher position."
   And as Stanley proved, it pays off.