Wu’s return sparks team
by Rudy Brandl, Sports Editor
Steven Wu made a triumphant return to the tennis court last week. Wu’s presence also made a big difference for the Hillsborough High team.
The HHS sophomore first singles player, who missed nearly a month with a broken elbow, still isn’t in top form but was good enough to win his first match and lead the Raiders to a strong showing in the Somerset County Tournament last weekend.
Hillsborough tied Pingry for second place in the team standings with 16 points. Ridge, which is ranked fourth in the state, won the county team championship.
All five Raider positions advanced to the semifinal round in Saturday’s long session at the Green Knoll courts in Bridgewater. While only the second doubles team of Kevin Le and Trevor Bierwirth represented Hillsborough in Sunday’s county finals, the Raiders performed well from top to bottom.
”We played well,” HHS head coach Larry Johnson said. “Everyone played a tough opponent in the first round and handled their business. I’m definitely pleased with everyone advancing.”
Wu, who returned to action in the middle of the week with a victory over Watchung Hills, began county tournament play with a 7-5, 6-2 triumph over Jon Leighton of Gill St. Bernards. Top seed Grant Schuman of Pingry eliminated Wu in the semifinals by a 6-1, 6-4 score.
”He’s a very good player and he really gets every ball back,” Johnson said, referring to Schuman. “You really have to finish your points against that kid. You need to be fit to beat that kid. Steven’s fitness still isn’t there, so that was a tough match for him right now. But he’s playing well. I like what I see. I’m glad he came back to play in the tournament. He’s still working his way back. This is like the preseason for him.”
Wu’s return has made the HHS lineup deeper. Sam Klein and Stefan Apostolos have moved down to second and third singles, respectively, while freshman Mike Zhang is now at first doubles with Tim Le. Johnson went back to Kevin Le and Bierwirth as the second doubles unit and that team responded with a solid tournament.
The Bierwirth-Le tandem ousted a team from Gill by a 6-2, 6-3 score in the quarters and survived an early scare from Watchung Hills to advance to the finals. Hillsborough had beaten Watchung with Le and Nick Guida at second doubles but Johnson went back to the old team for the county tournament. Watchung had a stronger second doubles team entered in the county with Zack Lerner and Brian Nguyen playing together but Bierwirth and Le knocked them out with a 7-6 (7-1), 6-3 victory.
”Kevin and Trevor were the only ones to stay together and they were the only ones to advance to the finals,” Johnson said. “We had a couple days of challenge matches mixing up different combinations and I settled on Nick and Kevin, but they didn’t play that well against Watchung. Kevin and Trevor have learned how to play together already. They handled a better Watchung team more easily.”
Johnson liked the team’s draws at second doubles and second singles. Klein, the third seed, began SCT play with a 7-6, 6-1 win over Rutgers Prep’s Eric Osman. Zack Bender of Gill St. Bernards eliminated Klein in a grueling semifinal, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.
”Sam had his opportunities,” Johnson said. “He’s very disappointed because he could have beaten that player.”
Apostolos, also seeded third, knocked out Gill’s Alex Meade 6-3, 6-4 before falling to Ridge’s E.J. Fernandez 6-1, 6-1. Johnson expects Apostolos to be a real strength for the Raiders at his new position for the rest of the year.
”Stefan playing third singles for us is almost illegal,” Johnson said. “That should be our lockdown point in every match. I’d put him up against 90 percent of the No. 1s in this area.”
Hillsborough’s first doubles team of Zhang and Tim Le defeated Watchung’s Matt Lerner and Chad Tabikh 6-2, 6-1 but lost to another talented duo from Ridge in the semifinals. Merritt Branch and Bobby Gorzacowski, the eventual county champs, beat the Zhang-Le team by a 6-1, 6-3 score.
The Raiders blanked Watchung Hills to improve to 5-3 in the conference and 8-3 overall in Wu’s first match back on the court. Wu defeated Justin Homilda 6-3, 6-3 to set the tone.
Klein prevailed in a tough three-set battle vs. Erik Claussen 7-6 (7-2), 3-6, 7-5 at second singles. Apostolos cruised to a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Jason Scalera at third singles.
The Zhang-Le team beat the same unit they’d face a few days later in the counties, while Kevin Le and Guida needed three sets to complete the Raider sweep.
HHS also posted a 3-2 victory over Hunterdon Central last week. Third singles player Zhang and the two doubles teams came through with victories. Tim Le and Guida took a tough 7-5, 7-5 win at first doubles in the swing match.
The HHS boys went 7-3 without their best player in the lineup. Energized by Wu’s return, the Raiders should be a force for the rest of the season.
”Now we start the second round of the conference and our state run,” Johnson said. “There’s definitely an optimistic air right now.”