Cougars’ Roeper and Szakats were perfect match
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Emily Roeper and Kim Szakats had been hoping they would have the chance to play together.
Given the opportunity in their final chance, they made the most of it. The Montgomery High School first doubles tandem put together a season for the ages marked by a quiet dominance.
The Cougars duo assembled quite a resume in their only season together on the court. Roeper, a junior, was in her third year at first doubles, while Szakats, a senior, moved up from playing second doubles last year to join her this season. Each accomplishment in itself was remarkable and together they spoke volumes about their chemistry and determination.
”They were the two remaining doubles players that were left over from last year,” said MHS head coach Erik Tavel. “It was a natural thing that they could play together. I felt it, they wanted to do it, and it just took off from there.”
Roeper and Szakats didn’t take long to show they were a perfect match. They won their flight at the Somerset County Tournament.
”That definitely helped a lot,” Szakats said. “I kind of like how counties are early in the season. It’s kind of a motivating boost. Once you have that, you have a lot more confidence behind you. It helped me a lot to have that win.”
That win would be joined by many more. No MHS opponent could figure out how to knock off the pairing. Their regular season earned them the No. 2 seed for the state doubles tournament, and the Cougars marched to the finals where they won in straight sets over Montville.
”I didn’t think of it before it actually happened,” said Roeper, who had reached as far as the quarterfinals before. “You don’t think of it because it’s such a big tournament and so many good people are in it. I’ve never been seeded second before, so that was a surprise.”
Their finals win epitomized everything about the team. They were tested by Montville early, but the Cougars never strayed from being positive with each other and never stopped working together. They pulled away to wrap up a 25-0 season in which they never even lost one set while becoming just the second Montgomery High state champions.
”They get a banner in the gym,” Tavel said. “Their names are going to live on forever. They did something a lot of kids can’t say they ever did.”
Emily Roeper and Kim Szakats are the Princeton Packet Girls Tennis Players of the Year.
”I think being able to play with one of my best friends and being able to go so far with her is what I’ll remember,” Roeper said. “We’ve developed a relationship on and off the court that is everlasting. Getting to play with Kim, and going unbeaten and winning states, I wouldn’t have wanted to do it with anyone else.”
Szakats was blown away as well by the level of success that the two had together. It was more than she could have even dreamed.
”I thought it was amazing how the whole season we didn’t lose one match,” Szakats said. “I thought that was great. We had so much motivation. I was amazed we did all that.”
Montgomery High feels honored to have had a second state champion in doubles. It was a rare combination that keyed this year’s title team.
”That’s the X factor — they got along,” Tavel said. “Their personalities were a perfect mix. When Kim’s struggling, Emily was there. And when Emily was struggling, Kim was there.
”With Emily, it’s rare to find someone at that young age that’s that confident and comfortable in her own shoes. And with Kim’s improvements, that’s what madethem good.”
The two had been hoping they would at least have the chance to play together once in their careers. They had been at different points on the MHS ladder over the last two years, Szakats just starting out with JV as a sophomore and then rising to play varsity second doubles last season while Roeper was adjusting to new first doubles partners in her first two seasons of high school.
”I’ve known Kim for three years and we’ve been playing together that long,” Roeper said. “Having that friendship already built, it was easier to play with her. We’re close in and out of school. The chemistry was already there, so we didn’t have to spend time working at it. And we had practiced playing together before thisseason.”
While Roeper already knew what to expect at the first doubles level and just had to adjust to another new partner, Szakats had to figure out how to play with a new partner and a tougher position.
”There’s definitely that pressure,” Szakats said. “Of course, in the beginning of the season, it was like, what if I hold her back? But we practiced together.”
Szakats and Roeper saw their work pay off with the county title and early success in a difficult conference. They were comfortable with each other and how they were going to play to win.
”Emily definitely helped me,” Szakats said. “This was my first time playing first doubles. Emily is obviously very experienced at the position. She helped me grow up and adjust to being at first doubles.
”It was definitely more competitive and I had to become more consistent. Throughout the preseason I worked on trying to become more consistent. I think thatpaid off and helped me do well at first doubles.”
Roeper’s experience combined with her skills would have made her a good partner with anyone.
”Emily brings everything,” Szakats said. “She’s consistent and she hits such amazing shots. She’s so consistent and that helped us a lot. And she’s so strong. Her power definitely helped.”
Roeper, too, could appreciate what Szakats brought to the partnership. Roeper had been playing first doubles and had enjoyed solid seasons in her first two years, and playing with Szakats helped raise the level of doubles another step.
”Kim has amazing net strokes,” Roeper said. “She has that mindset that she just wants to win. She never gives up on me. She’s always good to have. She’ll never give up on you and she wants to win. Her net play is amazing. She can finish off the point. I don’t have to ever worry about her at net.”
Both are far more polished in doubles after gaining experience over the last two years. Both of them benefited from their previous seasons.
”I think it’s definitely matured my game,” Roeper said. “I’ve learned a lot more how doubles strategies work. It’s not just getting better at hitting and working on your shots, it’s mentally preparing. Playing doubles is a lot of mental game. I got a sense of how the physical and mental side works on the court and that prepared me to go further and further each year.”
How doubles tandems work together may be more critical than any skill. For Roeper and Szakats, it was a strength.
”The thing that helped me and Emily, no matter what we high-fived after every point,” Szakats said. “I feel like that definitely brings you some energy again. In between that, we talked about if we could switch our strategy, and the high-fiving between every point helped us.”
There were plenty of high-fives over the course of the season, and there was every reason to celebrate by the end of a special year.
”I think our confidence got stronger and stronger as we went along,” Roeper said. “Winning counties definitely helped our confidence. It showed we could beat some good teams. Going into states, we had the feeling we were going to go all out and felt like we had nothing to lose. We were playing our best tennis.
”Our coach always says he thinks we played the best tennis he’d ever seen from us in the state final.”
Tavel watched as his duo grew into the best team in the state. They won under pressure, in big spots, against anyone throughout the season.
”I was lucky to be along for the ride,” Tavel said. “It was one of those years that you look back on and it was a magical year. It didn’t happen on its own. They meshed well game-wise and even more importantly, personality-wise.
”Their confidence grew and they put themselves in a good position for a high seed, which is important. It doesn’t get tougher until later in the tournament with a high seed. The top seed went out in the semi, and even when we scouted them and the other teams we could play, I didn’t think we didn’t have a chance. We were confident if we played our game and were prepared, we had a shot.”
The Cougars were challenged along their route to perfection and the perfect ending. There were closer matches, but MHS always pulled them out. By the end of the season, there wasn’t anyone in the state better than Emily Roeper and Kim Szakats.
”After counties, I thought, we can do this and do well in our conference,” Szakats said. “I thought we’d go far in the state tournament, but never as far as we did. It’s still unbelievable to me.”
Added Roeper: “It’s still settling in now as we’re being recognized by a bunch of different people. It’s kind of hard to believe we could do that.”