Montgomery High recipe calls for Reiss

Singles play strengthens with transfer

By: Justin Feil
   The Montgomery High School boys’ tennis team continues to profit from high-quality transfers.
   Four years ago, it was Ryan Dennie who moved in from Illinois. Last year, Matt Pierson moved back after also living in Illinois and reached the state singles tournament quarterfinals. Pierson has moved up from second to first singles this year, and right behind him in the latest MHS transfer.
   Bobby Reiss didn’t come nearly as far to join the Cougars. A Rutgers Prep student the last three years, Reiss’s family moved from Franklin into Montgomery Township. Reiss could have finished out his scholastic career at Rutgers Prep, but chose to join MHS.
   "It would have been about an hour commute every day," Reiss said of the alternative. "It’s not worth the drive. And it wouldn’t be worth that plus paying $22,000 vs. getting a fantastic public school education."
   Reiss has found a bonus in joining a powerful MHS squad that returns Pierson as well as third-year third singles Dan D’Agostino, and has firmed up its doubles lineup even with the graduation of Dennie.
   "I knew the team was a lot better in comparison to Rutgers Prep," Reiss said. "I knew some of the players and knew somewhat the lineup. With watching actual states, I knew we’d be one of the strongest teams. I was extremely ecstatic to join the team."
   The Cougars were equally excited to bring in Reiss. He was no stranger to MHS, which sees Rutgers Prep annually at the Somerset County Tournament. Reiss left a good impression last year.
   "When I walked in the door in September, someone told me we got some help with a guy from Rutgers Prep," said MHS head coach John Arnold. "Then I found out it was Bobby Reiss, and I thought, that’s fantastic. We’re thrilled to have him.
   "I saw Bobby in the final of the Somerset County Tournament at third singles last year. He impressed me then. He went to net and I love to see that. He was composed and I control. He didn’t win, but it went three sets. It was a good match."
   Reiss eventually moved up to second singles for Rutgers Prep last year. There, he won the Prep B state championship, the third of his career. As a freshman and sophomore, he won the Prep B third singles crown. He didn’t have any problem fitting in the Cougar lineup at second singles.
   "I knew more than half the team," Reiss said. "Over the summer, I played with more than half the team at Nassau Racquet club. A few of us played together. That absolutely helped. I felt like I knew some of these guys for a while. They’re really a cool bunch of guys.
   "I didn’t know where I’d be. I didn’t know how good Dan D’Agostino was. I knew Matt would be playing one. I played him all summer long so I knew he’d be leading the pack. My goal was to get the second singles spot. I knew I’d have serious competition from Dan. He’s a fantastic player. I’m just glad I’m on the team."
   The Cougars are off to a 2-0 start with a 4-1 win over Watchung Hills on Wednesday that followed a 4-1 win over Hillsborough on Monday.
   "Hillsborough was a tough test to start out with, and then Watchung Hills was really good today," Arnold said. "We went three sets at three and both doubles went three sets. To start this way, we definitely didn’t start with any easy ones."
   But the Cougars showed some early resilience in pulling out the hard-fought wins. Reiss was a straight-set winner on Wednesday after dropping a decision to Hillsborough’s Chris Ploskin in his Montgomery debut.
   "Chris Ploskin is a really good player," Reiss said. "I was hitting the ball really, really well (Wednesday). It was cold and windy. I kept my head together."
   Pierson remained perfect on the season. After a three-set win on Monday, he was a convincing winner Wednesday. D’Agostino also remained perfect with a three-set win Wednesday. The Cougars are more confident in their lineup — singles and doubles — with the addition of Reiss.
   "It’s really big," Arnold said. "I think we’d still be competitive. We have depth at doubles this year, which we didn’t. Our first doubles I think is pretty good. We’ve had two teams at second doubles, and even though they’ve both come up with wins, I’m not set on them. We can go three or four deep at doubles this year, and that’s a lot different from last year. We only had one and two and that was it last year.
   "Bobby helped quite a bit with that. I didn’t have to use one of those (doubles) guys in singles."
   Reiss is no stranger to filling big shoes. The Cougars lost No. 1 singles player Jeremy Eckhardt, now at The College of New Jersey, after last season, but Pierson slid in nicely and Reiss takes Pierson’s slot from a year ago.
   "I’ve had a lot of years of practice in these areas," Reiss said. "I’ve had to watch a lot of the great seniors that left our team. Moving up another slot on another team wasn’t a problem."
   As a freshman at Rutgers Prep, Reiss played behind current Princeton University men’s players Andrew and Christian Husby. They set the pace for Reiss as he was adjusting to high school tennis.
   "They were big-time leaders," he said. "I knew them before I even came to Rutgers Prep. They were very intense with their training. They set a good work ethic."
   Reiss has worked his own way to a high level of tennis, one that has him in position to continue his career at Monmouth University. He started hitting when he was 5, and by 9, he was playing in tournaments. His experience shows on the court with a well-rounded game.
   "He’s deceptive," Arnold said. "He hits with some nice slice. He has a nice one-handed backhand. He’s tall, so he can reach pretty much anything. And he’s good at net, so he’s an all-courter. And he’s got a big serve, but he hasn’t been able to use it much with the wind like this."
   And for the second straight year, Arnold’s singles lineup is able to help itself improve in practices. Pierson, Reiss and D’Agostino benefit each other.
   "I’m getting old. I can’t hit with those bit shots," Arnold said. "It helps a lot to hit with each other. And I know the game so I can watch them and give them what I see."
   Added Reiss: "Dan is a fantastic player. He’s able to keep the ball in play most of the time. Dan gives me a hard time and gives me a serious run for my money. If I really want a challenge, I play Matt. He knocks me into the ground. I get both sides of the track."
   The Cougars think Bobby Reiss is on the right side of the tracks now after becoming the latest transfer to boost the MHS tennis lineup.