Future looks bright for Monroe

MHS returns every starter next season

By: Ken Weingartner
   As the 2003 boys’ tennis season came to an end, Monroe High coach Jim Kushner stressed to his team its future potential.
   The Falcons will retain their entire starting lineup, a group that finished the campaign 9-9 overall and placed fifth out of nine teams in the Greater Middlesex Conference White Division.
   "We beat the teams we were supposed to beat and the best teams in the division beat us," Kushner said. "For the amount of experience we had, we did a good job. I know we improved as the season went on. We feel great, the whole team. Maybe we could’ve done better, maybe not. But we have a real good chance next year. I made that clear to them. I think they’re going to try to go get them."
   Frank Senatore, a junior, stepped into the first singles spot and went 13-7 while qualifying for the NJSIAA Singles Tournament and earning all-division honors. Senatore, who was 10-9 at third singles a year ago, got beat in the first round of the state tourney, but Kushner was very pleased with his performance.
   "He played very well," Kushner said. "There were a ton of deuce games. I’d never seen him play better. He really stepped it up."
   Junior Tal Falk went 5-13 at second singles while classmate John Ronan was 8-10 at third singles. The two were in their first year of singles action, having played at second doubles last season. The first doubles team of junior Matt Sweeney and sophomore Kris Worman went 9-7, as did the second doubles squad of sophomore Justin Bauman and freshman Ken Stanley.
   "We struggled at second and third singles, and I’m not really sure why," Kushner said. "Tal has the best strokes on the team. But neither had played singles before. Hopefully, they use it and learn from it and get better. It all depends on what they do in the off-season."
   Part of the struggles probably could be blamed on the weather. With so many players in new positions, the Falcons were hurt by the spring’s seemingly constant rain, which cut into practice time.
   "It was horrible," Kushner said. "I don’t think we had three practices in the last month. I think all around I saw some things we could’ve worked on, but we just didn’t get the opportunity. But they never used that as an excuse. They have a great attitude when it comes to that."
   In addition to his seven returnees for 2004, Kushner feels good to have several other players — including Zach Worman, Ashesh Patel and Darren Goldberg — waiting in the wings, ready to push the starters.
   "They’re part of the reason our doubles got better as the season went on," Kushner said. "They challenged those guys all year. I’m real happy with our depth and we have good athletes. I feel real good about next year."