Ren, Chang capture singles titles
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
The Montgomery High School boys tennis team’s tie for the Somerset County Tournament championship felt like a win.
The Cougars entered Sunday’s finals with just two finalists, while front-runner Hillsborough had four flights in the finals. Only one of Hillsborough’s flights won, and Montgomery’s Mitchell Ren and Justin Chang captured the second and third singles titles, respectively, to earn the Cougars a tie for the team title, their first since 1999.
”It was such a great feeling,” said Chang, who wrapped up the tie when he beat Bernards’ Danny Haut, 7-6 (7-5), 2-6, 6-1. “Everyone was pretty much down going into it. Last night (Saturday), we ended up around 11 p.m. and got home around 11:30. We were devastated. Both our doubles lost in three sets, 7-5. We were down a point. We were going into the final with only two finalists and Hillsborough had four. There was a slight chance. It was like a miracle.”
The door was opened when Ridge’s Alex Ruderman won at first singles and Pingry’s first doubles won.
”Just as things didn’t go our way the day before, they did today,” said MHS head coach John Arnold. “The only thing that Hillsborough got through was second doubles. We sort of got in on the back door.
”We got a lot of help from a lot of people,” he added. “Pingry won first doubles. Ridge won first singles.”
Hillsborough did win the second doubles crown, but Ren had control of the Cougars’ destiny with a head-to-head matchup with Hillsborough’s Mike Zhang. Ren pulled it out, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 in exhausting heat. Ren led, 5-1, in the last game before Zhang rallied to 5-4. Ren started and ended the decisive game with an ace. It was the sophomore’s second county crown after winning at third singles last year.
”The reason it’s more meaningful is because we were able to tie Hillsborough for first,” Ren said. “Whereas last year, we got second, this year my win contributed to the team effort which was good.
”We were really hoping that a bunch of the Hillsborough would lose. We got lucky pretty much.”
That left it in the hands of Chang, a junior in his first year in the singles lineup, to earn one more point for the Cougars to secure the tie. Chang learned from teammates how much his match meant at the break before his third set.
”They told me that destiny is in my hands,” Chang said. “It’s a ton of pressure. I knew second doubles won for (Hillsborough), and first doubles Pingry took and Ruderman won. I knew Mitchell was going to win. I knew I had to step up. It was such a great feeling.
”It was so important,” he added. “I was the clinching one to tie. I felt great that I could do it for the team.”
Mike Goldman and first doubles’ Shehab Saad and Nate Seto and second doubles’ Clark Chapman and Alessandro Sclapari had all reached the semifinals to set up the Cougars final day.
Chang played second doubles two years ago, then moved up to first doubles last year where he reached the semifinals before losing. The year in doubles was a benefit as Chang has proven.
”I think he’s a real plus,” Arnold said. “That year in doubles has helped him get some confidence at the net. He knows how to play doubles, so it was a real loss when he had to go up to singles. He knows how to play the net, and he’ll throw that in now and then and it makes his matches go faster than some third singles matches.”
The county final didn’t go quickly, but Chang didn’t mind the pressure of having control of the flight, and the tying point, in his hands.
”It’s such a different game,” Chang said. “I actually like singles a lot. You have to be independent. You can’t rely on your partner to back you up. I like it a lot more because it’s more challenging.
”I guess I was feeling pretty confident going in. I’m playing some pretty good tennis now. He was the 1 seed so that scared me a bit. I knew if I played my game, everything should go well.”
It went as well for Ren and Chang as could be expected. Arnold had faith in his final two flights.
”I felt good about their chances,” he said. “They were definitely a little down getting on the bus, but I told them, all we can do is do what we can on the two courts that we have going. It almost came all the way to our way.
”We didn’t have control,” he said. “We had to hope for other situations. It really shows them that anything is possible at any position. If first doubles stumbles, which they haven’t until counties, somebody has to pick up the slack. It shows we’re solid, not spectacular, top to bottom. We can play with anybody. It also shows how tough our county is.”
The Cougars have been tested all season. Every match, they carry the target of being ranked No. 1 in the state, and so far through 11 matches, they have been unbeaten, including 3-2 wins over Hillsborough and Moorestown.
”It actually feels kind of cool,” Ren said of handling the pressure of the ranking. “Last year, we were the underdogs a lot of the time. I think having the ranking, it gives us a lot of confidence. It gives us a lot of pride. We know we’re No. 1 in the state. We have to go out there every day and defend that. I think it’s good for us.”
The Cougars delivered a county crown despite unlikely odds. It sets them up going into the second half of their Skyland Conference schedule and the state tournament beyond it.
”Now that we know we’re at the top of our county, we can go far in states,” Chang said. “I hope we can show people in the state that we’re a pretty good team.”