By: Joseph Harvie
For the second year in the row, senior Frank Senatore will be playing against the toughest competition in the state.
The Falcons’ tennis team captain has qualified for the NJSIAA State Singles Tournament, where he could face some fierce competition. He opens against North Bergen’s Tom Kennedy at 1:30 p.m. on June 5 at Hamilton Township’s Veterans Park. The winner gets West Orange’s Alan Williams, who’s alpha-placed 9-16.
"This is the second year in a row I made it and I feel more comfortable and I know what to expect and know how tough the competition is," Senatore said. "We don’t play or see the teams that are at the tournament during the regular season, so I’m more familiar with them this season, so I know how to prepare myself better."
Senatore finished the regular season with a 14-7 record and said over the next two weeks he will prepare for the tournament by focusing on some specific aspects of his game to be better prepared for the level of competition he will be up against.
"In particular I’m going to focus on my return of serves, making sure my second serve is gong to be affective and working on my consistency with different spins on the ball," Senatore said.
Falcons tennis coach Jim Kushner said he will be practicing with Senatore personally everyday after school next week and every other day for the remainder of this week starting this past Thursday.
"He is up against the best players in New Jersey. He’s got to serve well, be aggressive, dictate the tempo of the game and concentrate," Kushner said. "If he can do those four things he is going to be tough to beat."
Senatore said making it to states has also made him think of his past four years at the high school because this will be the last sporting event he will play in his high school career.
"It is kind of bitter-sweet because its nice to be playing the singles state tournament but at the same time it’s sad and reminiscent that it is going to be the last game I will be playing in high school," Senatore said.
Kushner said he is proud of Senatore for making it to the states, as well as being named to the All-White Division, another accolade he has taken for second year in a row and for being named scholar athlete at the high school.
