Calu nets Ram girls’ tennis coaching job

By: John Chester
When he saw the opportunity was available, Matt Calu acted quickly.
   After seeing an advertisement that Hightstown High School was seeking a head coach for the girls’ varsity tennis team, Calu picked up the telephone.
   Calu proved to be the successful candidate and has succeeded Linda Petraglia as head coach.
   The Hightstown girls’ varsity is Calu’s first coaching job at the high school level. He brings a wealth of tennis experience to the program — approximately 20 years as a player (junior, high school and college) and teaching professional — as well as love of the game.
   This past Wednesday (August 15), Calu presided over Hightstown’s first practice. For Calu, the practice began a new chapter in his tennis career that began approximately 20 years ago.
   "When I saw the ad for the Hightstown job in the paper, I called right away," said Calu. "Coaching (at the high school level) is something that I’ve always wanted to do. I am excited about the opportunity. I enjoy working with kids and teaching the game."
   Calu, age 30, is not a member of the Hightstown High faculty. He is Program Director at the Lawrence Township Recreation Department. In that position, Calu is responsible for the recreation programs, including tennis, offered by the township for youngsters and adults in the spring, summer and fall.
   "Matt has been involved with teaching tennis for many years and is energized to be coaching his first team," said Gary Bushelli, the athletic director at Hightstown High School. "I believe Matt’s pleasant personality and ability to express his love for the game will make him well-liked and respected by this year’s girls’ tennis team."
   Calu said he began playing tennis around the age of nine or 10. He soon found he had a knack for the game. Adding to the enjoyment factor was the fact that some of his friends were playing tennis.
   As a youngster, Calu played in the United States Tennis Association’s National Junior Tennis League. His home court was Moody Park in Ewing Township.
   Winning the singles championship of the Mercer County Junior Tournament at age 12 was a highlight of Calu’s early years as a player.
   Calu went on to play varsity tennis at Lawrence High School and York College of Pennsylvania. Located in York, Pa., York College is Division III in tennis. At Lawrence, Calu played doubles as a freshman and singles as a sophomore, junior and senior. At York, he played singles.
   Calu graduated from York College in the Class of 2000 with a degree in recreation administration. He then immediately began his work career with the Lawrence Township Recreation Department.
   Calu had begun his association with the Lawrence Township Recreation Department during his college years, teaching tennis during the summer. His prior teaching experience also included serving as head tennis instructor for several years at Rambling Pines Day Camp, Hopewell, NJ.
   Calu is grateful to the Lawrence Township Recreation Department for being flexible about him taking the girls’ varsity job at Hightstown.
   "The reality with my job is that the office is very busy in the spring in advance of all our summer camps. It is the fall when things are a little slower. So I thought this was a good opportunity," Calu said.
   In the first practice this past Wednesday, Calu found his teaching instincts reacting immediately.
   "I found myself starting and stopping the action a lot," he said. "When we were going through a drill, I felt it best to stop and make a suggestion to a player if she wasn’t using the correct mechanics, for example, and then move on."
   The good news, according to Calu, is that his players are eager for input.
   "I think the nice thing about players at this level is that if you give them direction when they make a mistake, whether it is to stand a certain way, to get the racquet back early or to keep their feet moving, they’ll try to correct it immediately," he said.
   Calu said he wants his players to feel he is approachable and realizes that it will take some time for the players to get used to working with a new coach. He added that he has two objectives heading into the season.
   One is for the girls to develop team enthusiasm. "I want them to have an enjoyable season playing tennis," he said.
   The second objective is for the players — whether they are on the varsity or junior varsity — to see improvement in their game over the course of the season.
   During the first few weeks of practice, Calu said all players will work in one group. Then, he’ll split them into the varsity and junior varsity.
   Laura Casey is working with Calu as an assistant coach. A French teacher, Casey will have primary responsibility for the junior varsity. In 2006, Casey was an assistant coach with Petraglia.