Spring Sports Previews: Madison Boys Tennis

"I'm expecting a lot," Brian Williams said before tennis practice in the parking lot.  "I would love to beat Chatham. They're our biggest rival."

The Madison High School boys tennis team will be a tough side to beat this year, and the Dodgers know the crosstown competition will be just that, but there is one other contest going on right here at the MHS courts.

"Brian and Alex Wang will be vying for first and second singles spots," head coach Mike Pollard said, looking through the sun onto the courts. "Last year we made it to the second round of states and we have three good looking freshmen. The future looks good."

Does the competition bother Alex and Brian?

"It's always been a good thing," Wang said. "I've always had someone to hit with.  It's always been positive competition."

Though they have been battling for an edge over one another for four years, both Wang and Williams are in agreement: the future looks good, and their final year as Dodgers will be a memorable one.

"We have only two freshmen on varsity," Williams said, regarding the team's age as a whole. "We've got a good team and a lot of depth, and we have a lot of talented freshmen, too. We're expecting big things out of the sophomore class, and first double will be a big part of our team."

When the question turns to doubles, Pollard knows how difficult it is to make a working team out of two individual athletes.

"The hardest part is to develop singles players into doubles players," he said. "They have to get the concept that it is not two singles players, but a team. They have to play in concert with each other.  ninety-nine percent of doubles points are won at the net."

The team has 24 matches this season, and "we'll be in the hunt for a great season this year. If everyone stays healthy we will go to states again," Pollard said.

While team health is certainly a concern, so is the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference realignment that pits Madison against still more difficult teams.

"We just got put into a new conference," Wang said.

In addition to his high expectations for this year, he also noted a certain nearby team he'd love to beat.

"We will be playing better teams this year, and we'll be competitive. We should have a winning season. Beating anyone is good, but Chatham gives us extra incentive."