Freshmen help Cougars start quickly
By: Justin Feil
Having four freshmen in the lineup could be a sign of good or poor team strength.
For the Montgomery High School girls’ tennis team, it looks like a good sign as four freshmen have contributed to a 2-0 start. Having that many freshmen on the team is a departure from the norm for the Cougars, who departed from the norm last year in struggling to a 3-14 season.
"It’s pretty rare," said MHS head coach John Arnold. "I think we had it with the boys’ team in ’96."
Leading the fab four freshmen is Ayla Rasmussen, whose family moved to Skillman from Annapolis, Md., in July. She has ascended to first singles and topped senior Tara Walsh in the Cougars’ 3-2 win over North Hunterdon to open the year and then defeated junior Natalie Nolte of Ridge in a 4-1 MHS win Monday.
"I knew about Montgomery and I knew I wanted to attend the school," Rasmussen said. "They have very good schools. And I knew I wanted to try out for the tennis team."
Rasmussen knew nothing of the Cougars tennis program, and only recently learned of last year’s struggles. Today’s opponent is Hillsborough, and the MHS rivals should present the Cougars’ toughest test yet. Rasmussen knows little about them.
"They’re supposed to be our enemies," she said.
Though Rasmussen was ranked nationally in the Top 30 of the 12-and-unders, she wasn’t sure where she would fit in the Cougars’ lineup in her first year of high school play. She has slid into the top spot of the lineup, while fellow freshman Brittany Foxx is second singles. Returning first singles’ Michelle Lu, a senior, is playing third singles, while the first doubles tandem has freshman Julia Goldman and junior Emily Eckardt and the second doubles team consists of freshman Taylor D’Agostino and senior Caitlin Rogers.
"I really didn’t care if I was first singles or second singles," Rasmussen said. "I just wanted to play on the team and have fun. There are a lot of great girls on the team.
"We’ve already played two matches," she added. "I’ve gotten good competition. Any school’s No. 1 is going to be good player. Also, I get good competition from players on my team, from the other varsity players and the JV players. Everyone is a good player."
Being at the top is a pressure spot for anyone. Rasmussen is young for her grade she won’t turn 14 until next month but she carries the high-stakes experience of a veteran.
"It is pressure," she said, "but I’m used to handling pressure from being ranked highly in the nation and from expectations of friends and family. I thrive off of pressure."
Arnold believes that the freshman may have surprised her first two opponents, who saw only her youth on a team that won just three matches last year. He is sure that future opponents won’t underestimate her.
"It’s not a surprise to anyone now," Arnold said. "I think people will face her with more respect. They will not take her lightly."
Anyone that sees her play can see the skill immediately. She has the ability to contend with the top players in the conference.
"She’s just real solid from wherever she decides to play," Arnold said. "She still has room to improve. Her serve has picked up. I don’t think she has shown her A game yet.
"She’s an all-courter. She plays tennis well. She knows what to do when. She knows when to make the right shot."
Rasmussen has always played tennis with her father, and grew up watching her older brother Jacob’s tennis matches. He was nationally ranked as well until he developed epilepsy at age 14. About a year and a half ago, Rasmussen started taking the game more seriously and started climbing the national rankings. She has continued to impress since moving up to the 14s division. She reached the quarterfinals of the USTA National Open in Largo, Fla., in February. Playing those sorts of high-level tournaments has helped her develop her strongest attribute.
"I really think my mental attitude," Rasmussen said. "I don’t get frustrated easily and when I play, it’s a big advantage. When I’m losing, I can come back which is hard for a lot of people."
Rasmussen came into the season hoping some older opponents would help her continue to improve mentally and physically. And, as a new student at MHS, she was hoping the team would help her fit in.
"I knew it was going to be a great way to meet people since I just moved here," she said. "I’m great friends with all the girls on the team. I’ve met a lot of people through the tennis team.
"We’re really lucky to have a good team. There are also a lot of good juniors, seniors, sophomores. We have a great lineup of girls."
There may be four freshmen in the lineup now, but the Cougars are showing that isn’t stopping them from winning. They are one victory away from tying last year’s win total, and there seems to be little doubt that they will surpass it while opening some eyes along the way.
"The girls were incredible last year," Arnold said. "They still had a lot of fun. They were still having pasta parties at the end of the season even though we weren’t winning. I told them that a big thing is having fun and winning are not mutually exclusive. It’s starting to dawn on them that they can win with these freshmen."