By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
LINWOOD – For not playing for nearly two years, the Mainland Mustang boys tennis team started out the season not missing a beat, shutting out Ocean City in the season opener and barely giving up a game later in the week to Vineland.
“I’ve been very lucky because we’ve had phenomenal players during my tenure and before it,” coach Chris Connolly said last week as his team took to the courts for the first time since 2019 for a match against Ocean City April 20. He said the Mustangs have had talented players for the past 20 to 30 years. “I’ve been blessed,” he added.
Connolly said the team set high goals this season, just as it has in the past, last year’s canceled season due to the pandemic notwithstanding.
“This is our first match in two years so there is a lot of stuff we can do and hopefully improve as the season goes on,” he said.
“We’re going to try to get better every game. We want to win our conference for the Cape-Atlantic League. We want to do well in Group III,” the coach said. “We’ve been there five of the last 10 years and we want to try to be there more and compete.
“I’d like to see my singles and doubles compete for the CAL title. That’s something that would be great for them, he said. “Obviously we set our standards high, but the kids work hard. Everybody works hard. Hopefully we can learn to compete and play better.”
The coach offered a rundown of his 2021 lineup.
First singles is Daniel Wise. “He is a senior and our captain,” Connolly said. “He was first doubles for two years, freshman and sophomore years. Last year he would have been second singles if we played. He’s a great kid to have. He is a soccer player and a tennis player and it’s going to be tough to lose him (to graduation). He’s been a great asset for us.”
Second singles is Michael Walton, a junior. “He was our third singles his freshman year but broke his arm before the season started,” the coach said. “Last year he was third singles again, then corona hit, and now he’s our second singles. He has very good strokes, he’s a very good tennis player. It’s his first varsity match. He has a lot of things to work on, but skills-wise heis just brilliant.”
Third singles is Alex Wise, Daniel’s younger brother. “He’s another soccer player,” the coach said. “He is a sophomore. He probably would have played second doubles for us last year before the corona aspect. This is his first match and he played very well against teams from the Atlantic Conference, against the Lenape guy. Lenape’s always a solid team, and Cherokee. Hopefully he can continue and grow with everything.”
First doubles is Jack Palaia and Aaryan Deshpande, both juniors. “They’re just great,” Connolly said. “They were second doubles two years ago. They weren’t going to be together the way things were going, but they’re together now. So it’s two seasons in a row. It’s nice. They’re both juniors and I’m thankful to have them for another year. They complement each other. They’ve known each other for so long. They play and hit in the off-season together. We’re lucky to have them. They’re one of the top teams and hopefully they can compete for the Cape-Atlantic title.”
Second doubles is two juniors, Joe Dib and Evan Himmelstein. “They were JV but they worked hard the last two years,” the coach said. “We’re thankful to have them another year as well. They’re doing pretty well. I’m happy with the effort.
Mainland 5
Ocean City 0
1st Singles: Daniel Wise, Mainland, def. Charles DiCicco 6-4, 6-3
2nd Singles: Michael Walton, Mainland, def. Kraig Redmond 7-5, 6-3
3rd Singles: Alex Wise, Mainland, def. Jackson Barnes 6-0, 6-3
1st Doubles: Aaryan Deshpande and Jack Palaia, Mainland, def. Chris Ganter and Sawyer Lomax 6-0, 6-0
2nd Doubles: 2nd Doubles: Evan Himmelstein and Joe Dib, Mainland, def. Evan Cho and Evan Leeds 6-0, 7-6 (7-2)
Mainland 5
Vineland 0
1st Singles: Daniel Wise, Mainland, def. Mark Baranovsky, 6-0, 6-0
2nd Singles: Michael Walton, Mainland, def. Shivam Thakur, 6-0, 6-1
3rd Singles: Alex Wise, Mainland, def. Rorcik Zapanta, 6-0, 6-1
1st Doubles: Aaryan Deshpande and Jack Palaia, Mainland, def. Henry Conde and Austin Bushman, 6-0, 6-0
2nd Doubles: Joe Dib and Chris Guillen, Mainland, def. Gregory Burgess and Michael Cagno, 6-0, 6-1.