Sports
Boys Tennis Seeks Direction Under New Head Coach
Hilltoppers open season today at home versus Cranford at 4 p.m.
The boys tennis program seeks new leadership and new direction from first-year coach Peter Tierney as it opens its season today at home versus Cranford at 4 p.m.
"We have a really young team this year. Our first singles player is a freshman and we have only one senior starting," Tierney said, who had been the junior varsity coach for the past 18 seasons. "We have a big program with 12 kids on varsity and 24 on JV."
Tierney is looking to 6-1 freshman Maxwell McDonald to lead the way at first singles.
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"He is a competitor who loves the game," Tierney said. "He brings strength to the program and comes from a tennis family, so the experience is there."
Three starters return from last year's squad including junior Gabe Risman, sophomore Matthew Celona and senior Eric Hermann.
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"We scrimmaged Watchung Hills and we were competitive with them, which is a good sign we can compete. A lot of matches will be close this season, like 3-2 or 2-3 decisions. We have a challenging schedule, they have been working hard, practicing everyday and that’s all you can ask for," Tierney said.
"Last year, we placed ninth at the Union County Tournament. Our goal this year is to get back into the upper group in the county, a third or fourth position."
2011 Summit Boys Tennis Roster
Freshman Maxwell McDonald (1st singles), junior Gabe Rissman (2nd singles), sophomore Matthew Celona (3rd singles), junior Levi Glick (1st doubles), junior Drew Osborne (1st doubles), senior Eric Hermann (2nd doubles), junior Andrew Gilbert (2nd doubles).
2011 Summit Boys Tennis Season Schedule
April 1: at Cranford, 4 p.m.
April 6: vs. Dayton, 4 p.m.
April 8: at Governor Livingston, 4 p.m.
April 13: vs. Westfield, 4 p.m.
April 15: at Scotch Plains, 4 p.m.
April 19: vs. New Providence, 4 p.m.
April 27: vs. Johnson, 4 p.m.
April 29: vs. Cranford, 4 p.m.
May 3: vs. Chatham, 4 p.m.
May 4: at Dayton, 4 p.m.
May 6: vs. Governor Livingston, 4 p.m.
May 11: at Westfield, 4 p.m.
May 13: vs. Scotch Plains, 4 p.m.
May 18: at New Providence, 4 p.m.
May 20: at Johnson, 4 p.m.
