BY DOUG McKENZIE
Staff Writer
Had they played in any other division than the Shore’s Class A Central, the Rumson-Fair Haven boys tennis team would likely be battling for a division title right about now.
Unfortunately head coach Don Russell’s Bulldogs, that is not the case. The fact is, they do play in A Central, which is also home to the Holmdel Hornets, who many feel may be the top team in the state, and just happen to be the only team to beat Rumson so far this season (4-1 and 3-2).
“Holmdel is the best, no doubt about it,” said Russell, now in his 24th year coaching at RFH. “And Ocean Township [13-0] is definitely No. 2 right now. I guess that would make us No. 3. We’re a strong three, though, maybe a two. But I also think there are some other Shore teams that could give us a run for our money.”
But based on the Bulldogs’ success against everyone other than Holmdel, some would argue that Rumson could very well be the second-best team in the Shore.
“On a good day, maybe we can beat [Ocean],” Russell said. “They’re very strong at first and second singles, but I think we’d have a shot.
“Hopefully, we’ll see them in the Shore Conference Tournament,” he added.
That tournament got under way on Monday with the preliminary round. The Bulldogs are the three seed, and will meet Monmouth Regional (a 4-1 preliminary round winner over Brick on Monday) in the next round, with the winner likely to see ninth-ranked Toms River East in the quarterfinals.
A win there for the Bulldogs would most likely result in that aforementioned showdown with Ocean in the semifinals.
“We beat them last year, 3-2, but that was in the SCT quarterfinals,” Russell said.
And there’s very little question, at least in Russell’s mind, who will be waiting for the winner in the final.
“Holmdel’s the end of the bracket, no question about it,” the coach said. “As long as they’ve got [senior Lawrence] Zakrevsky they’re just about unbeatable. Even without him, they’re very tough.”
At 11-2, the Bulldogs have certainly played up to their coach’s expectations. Coming off a 20-4 season that resulted in the team’s third straight Central Jersey Group II title, Rumson returned just about everyone from a season ago, and they’ve certainly picked up where they left off.
Sophomore Sean Pahler is back at first singles, where he has played to a 11-2 mark, with his only losses coming to Manasquan’s Jarred Smoke and Holmdel’s Zakrevsky.
“Sean’s improved a lot, especially in the mental part of the game,” Russell said. “He’s matured to the point that he has much more control of his game.”
At second singles, Rumson features the third and final Rodilosso brother, senior Chris, in what has been an eight-year run of Rodilosso boys on the RFH team.
“He’s a very solid two, who’s 13-1,” the coach said. “His one loss came against a fill-in in the first Holmdel match. The second time around, he came back and beat their regular No. 2.”
“Sophomore Clarke Maloof has been what Russell described as a “pleasant surprise” at third singles, losing just one match so far this spring.
“His loss came in the second match against Holmdel,” Russell said. “He’s done a real nice job. He made the cut last year but was not in the lineup. I knew he has the potential, but with so many guys back I thought he’d be lucky to crack the doubles lineup.”
Russell said that now that he’s established himself as a solid singles starter, Maloof’s future with the team is a bright one.
“As long as the learning curve doesn’t catch up to him,” the coach added.
The first doubles team of juniors Dave Seide and Nick Kelly returned this spring after playing at second doubles last year, and are 9-3 thus far, with a loss to Freehold Borough and a pair of losses to Holmdel’s top doubles team.
Meanwhile, at second doubles, seniors Nick Miller and Paul Szerlip, who played first doubles last year, have just one loss (to Holmdel), but haven’t played in every match this year due to senior obligations, such as college visits.
A third doubles team consisting of freshman Ben Kelly and Greg Bach have impressed their coach with their solid play this year, and appear to be the future of the program, along with Pahler and Maloof.
“They’re right behind the other doubles teams,” Russell said. “There’s not a lot of daylight between them.”
The Bulldogs’ depth has Russell excited about the future of the program.
“It’s nice because you don’t have to take a real big hit in the next year,” he said.
Not that he’s looking past this season’s potential.
“We’re beginning to set our sights on a fourth CJ Group II title,” the coach said. “But it’s going to be tougher this year, now that Summit is in Central Jersey. Summit will be a real obstacle. They’re ranked 16th and we’re not even ranked. I think they may be as good as Holmdel.”
But before he can worry about the state tournament Russell is concentrating on getting his team ready for tournament play.
“At this point, we haven’t peaked yet,” he said. “You don’t want to peak too soon. But it’s about time we started getting serious.
“I’m very happy with the singles play, and the doubles teams will get there,” the coach added. “Our singles players have been very solid, but we still have to win some doubles matches along the way if we’re going to get anywhere.”
One thing’s for sure, all of the RFH players will be battle-tested once the state tournament rolls around.