By Jimmy Allinder
Josh Marchalik is the defending NJSIAA boys tennis champion and has been in the crosshairs of every opponent he’s faced this spring.
So far, the East Brunswick High School senior has successfully thwarted all 11 opponents he’s faced, captured another Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Tournament title and appears ready for what will be another challenging run at winning the states.
Meanwhile, his team is trucking along with an 8-3 record, with the only bumps in the road being a pair of losses to GMC Red Division rival J.P. Stevens High School and an out-of-conference defeat to state power Montgomery High School. The Bears also finished runner-up to the deep and experienced Hawks at the GMC championships.
Before the NJSIAA state team and individual tournaments are held later this month, the Bears were scheduled to visit perennial state power Westfield High School May 11. The Union County Blue Devils are the top seed in North Jersey, Section II, Group IV, while East Brunswick has received the third seed in Central Jersey, Group IV and will host the winner of the match between 11th-seeded Hillsborough High School and sixth-seeded Monroe Township High School.
Marchalik has been almost automatic when it comes to winning his matches, but he’s also received strong support from the rest of the Bears’ starting lineup. At second singles and heir apparent to Marchalik when the top singles spot becomes vacant is freshman Abhinav Bhamidiapati, who has shown maturity by putting together an 8-3 record in his initial varsity season. At third singles is another underclassman, sophomore Vikas Dalah, who is also 8-3.
The first doubles team of seniors Christopher Choy and Harold Trakhman are 8-3 and the second doubles has featured a rotation of players: senior Akshay Malavade, freshman Kameron Wang and sophomore Isaak Elkind. The trio has combined to record a 7-4 mark.
Guiding the fortunes of East Brunswick is Allison Clay, who understands most, if not all, of her players arrive at the high school already tutored in the fine points of tennis. As a result, much of her coaching strategy involves strengthening their mental resolve.
“We strive for our players to step on the court with a game plan and then execute it,” she said. “That builds confidence in their abilities and enables them to tap into those assets in tough match situations. That mentality, I believe, is what has contributed to our team winning matches against quality opponents.”
A successful tennis player, Clay believes, is one who is constantly thinking and adapting strategy to anticipate the opponent’s next shot and react accordingly.
“Possessing the ability to make it to a tough ball does not define a great tennis player,” Clay said. “Making it to that tough ball and recovering to get back into the point separates the good players from the great ones.”