PRINCETON: Time has come for Sussman

PHS senior set at third singles

By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
   For someone who started the game of tennis early, Alex Sussman had to wait a long time for his chance to impact the Princeton High School boys team.
   Now a senior, Sussman is getting his first full shot at the PHS varsity.
   ”I was pretty confident,” Sussman said. “We had five seniors graduate. I knew I’d be one of the better players returning. Plus, I was one of the seniors and I knew I’d be one of the leaders.
   ”I’ve been playing tennis for a long time,” he added. “It was nice to see I finally made the team and am on singles.”
   Sussman, PHS’ regular third singles player, has won his first four matches of the season to help the Little Tigers start 4-0. That total is already better than his 3-0 record last year as a fill-in for varsity. He was their fourth best singles player, just out of the lineup.
   ”It was pretty hard,” Sussman said. “I was definitely upset that I wasn’t good enough to make the team. We had a lot of seniors. I knew where my position was. When someone was absent, I played. I was pretty successful.”
   Sussman’s confidence has risen with each match this season going into today’s biggest match to date. The Little Tigers will play West Windsor-Plainsboro North on Monday after facing Steinert today.
   ”The North match is definitely going to be the biggest of the year,” he said. “They always have a good team.”
   Sussman is looking forward to his chance to contribute to a revamped PHS lineup. Kevin Cen has moved from second to first singles this year, Aaron Wishnick climbed from second doubles to second singles and Sussman is at third. The doubles teams are completely new to varsity.
   ”I think we all realize there’s going to be some rebuilding,” said PHS head coach Sarah Heyman. “We lost five starting members of the team last year. The guys that are back this year have the potential to step up and play well. It’s just going to take a little time to get used to the new positions and the pressure of varsity for those of them that haven’t been there before. Over half haven’t played varsity before.”
   Sussman just has spot experience from last season.
   ”It’s definitely different,” he said. “I was a little nervous at the beginning. I started to get more confidence. I know I’m a good player and I can do it. We haven’t played against a team that’s really great, but getting these matches in has shown me I’m a good player and I can definitely succeed.”
   And the more he succeeds, the more the Little Tigers will. PHS finished 18-2 last year and won the Central Jersey Group III sectional. The players may be different, but Sussman doesn’t want the standards to change for his final scholastic season. He sees another strong group that gets along well together.
   ”We still have the same goals as ever,” Sussman said. “We definitely have a good team. We definitely have the potential. Maybe there’s a confidence drop, but we have the same potential.
   ”Kevin Cen is really good. He has a lot of talent. Wishnick is really talented. I think I have a lot of talent. The doubles have a chance to be up there in the CVC.”
   The Little Tigers are gaining momentum with every match. They are gaining the experience they need to put together another strong year.
   ”I think this is going to be a team that the wins are going to come from whoever is playing well that day,” Heyman said. “It sounds funny. Some years, you just count on your third singles and your two doubles. Some years, you absolutely count on your singles. This year, it depends on specific matchups — who can pull through for us each day.”
   Sussman agreed: “I think we’re pretty balanced. It may come down to the doubles. They’re working up to a high level. We had a really high level of doubles last year. If they keep playing, they’re going to get up to that level. Every player wants to win. You have to concentrate on your match. If you win, it makes it easier for the team as a whole.”
   Sussman has been working on his backhand to make it as big of a weapon as his forehand has become. As it develops throughout the season, he should be an even tougher opponent.
   ”He’s worked hard the past three years,” Heyman said. “He’s gotten increasingly better. Last year he was very close, but with all the senior talent that had been there a while, he was just a little short of making it. It’s great this year that he’ll get that chance.
   ”He’s a steady player. He can move the ball around well from the baseline and he can hang with anyone.”
   Sussman is looking to finish his scholastic career strong. He will enroll at Vanderbilt University next year where he hopes to at least play at the intramural level. He is hoping to make the most of his final season, and though it is his first on varsity full-time, Alex Sussman is being looked to as a leader for the Little Tigers.
   ”Having been a part of the team, he’s seen how the matches go and he’s seen what it takes,” Heyman said. “Hopefully that will be able to help him out in any tough matches later on in the season.”