By: Ken Weingartner
Lov Patel and Kevin Wohltman bring different styles to the tennis court, but their results have produced a comforting sameness win after win.
Playing at second doubles for Monroe Township High School, the juniors have gone 11-1 in their first season paired together for the Falcons.
"We have pretty good chemistry," said Patel, who played doubles with Samyak Saxena last season. "I’m more aggressive and he’s more consistent; we work together well. We played together in the summer and practiced together and we pretty much figured we would do well together."
Patel and Wohltman have been key contributors for the Falcons, who were 10-2 after beating South Plainfield and New Brunswick this week. Monroe was scheduled to play Spotswood yesterday and Bishop Ahr today before tackling perennial power Princeton in the quarterfinals of the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III team tournament Monday.
"We’re contrasting players," Wohltman said. "He’s more aggressive than me; I’m more about angling shots instead of powering them. We work pretty well together like that. We’ve definitely gotten stronger the past couple matches working together; we’re communicating better as a team.
"We’re pretty good at serving, so we can put our opponents on the defensive. When we get to the net, we can usually put the ball away. We try to keep the points short."
Last year, Wohltman played two varsity matches as a substitute at third singles. He’s more comfortable in his current role with Patel.
"Actually, I started as a doubles player before I went to singles," Wohltman said. "I’m not too big a fan of singles; I just think I’m more of a doubles player. You have someone that can keep you going and you can boost their confidence, too. You’ve got someone to work off."
Monroe won 5-0 over South Plainfield and 4-1 over New Brunswick. Jasmin Laferriere, Saxena and Amol Gandhi won at singles while Kevin Murtha and Matt Sepe joined Wohltman and Patel in winning at doubles. Against New Brunswick, Saxena, Gandhi and both doubles teams won.
The Falcons are seeded fourth in the state tourney and will host No. 5 Princeton. Monroe, which is 41-13 over the past three seasons, hopes to advance to the semis for the first time in recent memory.
"Unlike some of our other teams, this year we’re equal all around; there’s not much difference in ability," Patel said. "Not a lot of teams are as well balanced and have the depth we have. We’re looking forward to states on Monday; I think this year might be the one. I think the team has matured and we’re looking forward to giving a fight against Princeton and seeing how it goes."
If it goes the way nearly all of Patel and Wohltman’s matches have gone so far this season, the result will have the feeling of sameness.
