Junior is top second singles player in SCT
By: Justin Feil
Illinois might be a leading exporter of machinery manufactures, but Montgomery High School considers the state a great source of tennis players.
Three years ago, Ryan Dennie moved to Montgomery and for two seasons he was a solid second singles player for the Cougar boys’ tennis team. Dennie’s move to doubles play this year came in part because of the influx of another Illinois import, Matt Pierson.
Pierson, who was living in Southern Illinois, is a little different story. He is a Montgomery native. He lived here until he was 8, during which time his father, Keith, taught at Princeton Racquet Club. Pierson moved back with his father when his father returned this year to become director of tennis at the Cherry Valley Country Club.
The Cougars have been thrilled to have Pierson return. He was the lone MHS player and first since 1999 when the team won the Somerset County Tournament to capture a flight at the SCT on Sunday. Pierson defeated Scott Van Dorn of Bridgewater-Raritan, 6-3, 7-5, to help the Cougars finish second to Bridgewater in the team standings.
"It’s been really nice," Pierson said. "Just being able to help the team and make them even stronger, it’s a really cool thing to be a part of."
With the win, Pierson remained unbeaten this season. He has not lost a set, though he figures to be tested today when the Cougars host Mercer County Tournament champion West Windsor-Plainsboro South. Van Dorn came about as close as anyone has to derailing Pierson, but he had help.
"I ate Wendy’s," Pierson explained. "I had two junior bacon cheeseburgers and a medium frosty right before I played. I went up, 3-0, and then started feeling really bad and couldn’t serve anymore.
"It definitely didn’t help me. It was a pretty bad decision. I underestimated Wendy’s junior bacon cheeseburger."
Dave Thomas’ finest not withstanding, it’s been tough to find a weakness in Pierson’s play. He was home-schooled last year so he could spend more time traveling for tournaments. He played challenging matches against four of the nation’s three players ranked in the Top 60 in the country. He even split sets with the then-No. 20 ranked player in the country.
"He’s got a big solid serve," said MHS head coach John Arnold, "and he can handle and dish out the pace without difficulty. He’s a good all-around player. And his dad is a teaching pro, so he gets a lot of court time. That doesn’t hurt."
Added Pierson, "Any time I get in any kind of trouble, I can serve out of it. I can serve 115 to 120 (miles per hour). I clocked it around 117 last year. I’m just working on being more consistent from the baseline. I can be consistent. I haven’t been pushed to this point to hit long rallies. I know I have to have that to fall back on, especially if I want to do well in states."
Pierson began playing soon after he started walking. His father has been his only coach since then. Keith Pierson has been pleased with the results since the move back to Montgomery.
"He was really excited having me come out here," Matt said. "He wanted me to have really good competition. I haven’t had to work amazingly hard to win, but it’s better than I would have had even playing one singles in Illinois. If I stayed back there, I would have had no one to play with. I would have had a big problem going into states there."
As much as Pierson’s return has benefited MHS’s tennis team, he’s also been helped by his teammates who have proven to be quite good players themselves. In the SCT, first-singles Jeremy Eckhardt became the first player this year to take a set off George Laffey of Ridge before falling to Laffey in the final. The first doubles team of Vincent Chang and Dennie also reached the final, but lost to Bridgewater-Raritan in three sets for the second time this season.
"You’ve got to hope for the best," Arnold said. "This was kind of what was expected. We performed to what was expected. We did what everyone thought we could do. It would have been pretty big if we took it from Bridgewater-Raritan. We had a couple disappointing losses at third singles and second doubles. Statistically, if they won their first matches, it would have been closer."
Pierson has gotten over the initial disappointment of falling to Eckhardt in a three-set challenge match to become one of the top second singles players in the state. He would like to chance to show he’s among the top tier of any player in the state.
"Once I realized I was going to be in second singles," he said, "I figured I’d try to get in state singles and get a seed if possible.
"Today (Sunday) I didn’t play great, but I’ve been really happy for the most part. I’ve given away lots of games to people who aren’t great. But when I play the good players, I do well."
Even days off really aren’t much of a break with such a wealth of talent on the team. Pierson can hit with Eckhardt or any number of players on the team to practice.
"That’s definitely improved both of their play," Arnold said. "And Dan (D’Agostino) at three is pretty solid. Ryan at first doubles can hit with the best along with a freshman, Vinnie Chang. Vincent Chang has turned up well at first doubles."
After Monday’s scheduled match against Voorhees, they face the Pirates in the final day for singles and first-doubles teams to qualify for the state tournament. The Cougars are looking to build on their strong showing at the county tournament and tune up for a big finish to the season in the state team tournament and the individual tournament.
"That is our goal," Pierson said. "Jeremy and I want to do quite well. We have a shot to do well. I have to win these next two matches on Monday and Tuesday to ensure I can get into states."