By: Ken Weingartner
Ken Stanley is usually a slow starter, whether it is in a tennis match or a season. For that reason, the Monroe High senior isn’t too worried about his 1-3 record this year.
Stanley, playing his second season at first singles for the Falcons, might be ready to start heating up now anyway. He’s coming off a 6-0, 6-0 win Tuesday against New Brunswick. Monroe won the match 5-0 to improve to 3-1.
"I think I’m playing pretty well," said Stanley, who has lost two matches in three sets. "I’m still making some of the same mistakes as last year; a lot of volley mistakes and coming in on shots that I shouldn’t come in on. I have to get back into the groove. It’s just a matter of time before things start falling into place for me again."
Last year, Stanley struggled early in the campaign before coming on strong to finish with a record just under .500.
"My goal this year is to come out with a record well over .500," Stanley said. "Hopefully, I can still salvage it. I think I’ll be all right."
Stanley spent the offseason working primarily on improving his groundstrokes.
"I wasn’t able to stay in points last year," Stanley said. "I didn’t have the patience or the groundstrokes to do that, but now I do. It’s just a matter of practice, working on mechanics. And finding someone to rally with for long periods of time."
Stanley lost his opening match of the season in three sets against John F. Kennedy. The match was halted because of rain with the score tied 1-1 in the third and completed the following day.
"It usually takes me a few games to get my momentum going and I didn’t have the luxury that day," Stanley said about resuming the match. "By the time I found my groove, it was over. The last few games of the second set, which I lost, and again in the third, I started playing better. I felt pretty good. I think I would have had a much better chance to win if we finished the first day. If I would have pulled it off, I can’t say."
Darren Goldberg, at second singles, is 4-0 after winning in two sets against New Brunswick and in three sets over Perth Amboy. The Falcons defeated Perth Amboy 4-1.
Also winning in Monroe’s past two matches were Jasmin Laferriere at third singles plus the doubles teams of Matt Sepe-Kevin Murtha and Lov Patel-Sam Saxena.
The Falcons, who were 15-6 last year, are idle until next week. Stanley and Goldberg, who played third singles last season, are the only returning starters.
"We lost a lot of players, but I think our singles and doubles teams are going to be pretty good," Stanley said. "Jasmin has a lot of potential. He’s going to be a good singles player; he hits with a lot of topspin. It’s just experience that he lacks, and he’ll get enough of that this year."

