Asbury Park Press from Asbury Park, New Jersey • Page 52

PAGES MARLBORO-MANALAPAN REPORTER ASBURY PARK PRESS THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2003 003 GROUP IV ll lit lj I I I I I 29-win season Mustangs live up to hype, finish mm i.i.iii I. I mi mi i 'V-W'y, CI'' A BY BRAD STRATTON Staff Writer From the first day of the season, the Marlboro boys tennis team was designated as the team to beat in the Shore Conference. The Mustangs' first doubles team of Landon Goodman and Jason Schwartz was returning after an All-Shore performance in 2002. Sophomore Andrew Sharnov was back after reaching the state quarterfinals as a freshman, and highly touted freshman John Boym was expected to work wonders at first singles. The Mustangs lived up to the preseason hype, decimating their Shore Conference competition and running over some of the top teams in the state on their way to a Group IV tide.

In the end it took Newark Academy, the team that won the Tournament of Champions title and boasted the best doubles team in the state, to derail the Marlboro Express. The Mustangs finished the year 29-2, their only two losses coming to Newark Academy. They played the Minutemen three times this season and went 1-2. At the Delbarton Invitational on April 27, they fell 4-1. But then, in the finals of the Newark Academy Invitational on May 3, the Mustangs knocked off the perennial state power 3-2.

Marlboro and Newark Academy matched up one last time, in the Tournament of Champions semifinals. Without Boym, who was playing for the United States in the Junior Davis Cup in Europe, the Mustangs fell 5-0. "We knew we had to win at first singles, first doubles and second doubles, because we couldn't compete at second and third singles," Marlboro coach David Kretzmer said. "Mentally, there was a lot of pressure on the kids. Once we lost one of those matches, the kids would lose some energy and zeal to win.

"If we had Boym there, we probably pick up the win at first singles, and then, if Sharnov beats (Newark Academy's Andy Magnes), it's 3-2. That would have changed a lot more about the match." Although Boym's absence was a factor in Marlboro's defeat, the Mustangs played well without him through the latter half of their state tournament run. His last match was in their 4-1 win over East Brunswick in the Central Jersey Group IV Marlboro was strong at first and second singles, with freshman John Boym (above) and sophomore Andrew Sharnov (below) leading the way. (ABOVE PHOTO: DARYL STONESTAFF; BELOW PHOTO: BRIAN FERREIfWSTAFF) final on May 20. Without him, the Mustangs beat Ridgewood, Westfield and Summit However, the Mustangs are left wondering what would have happened had Boym, who just returned from Europe on Monday, not left the team.

"If Boym hadn't gone off to Europe, Marlboro might have finished as the No. 1 team in the state," Ocean coach Stan Friedman said. "But we'll never know." Although Marlboro fell short in the Tournament of Champions, the Mustangs razed their Shore Conference competition. They were 17-0 against conference opponents and won their seven matches against teams in the final Shore Conference Top 10 poll by an average Going into the majority of our matches, we knew we were going to win. There are certain matches that are just good for you and good for the team.

We had a few kids who were above and beyond the competition. DAVID KRETZMER MARLBORO TENNIS COACH 0 April 2 Marlboro 5 Howell 0 April 10 Marlboro 5 CBA0 April 14 Marlboro 5 Midd. North 0 April 15 Marlboro 4 Free. Twp. 1 April 28 Marlboro 5 West Essex 0 April 26 Marlboro 3 Princeton 2 April 27 New.

Acad. 4 Marlboro 1 April28 Marlboro 5 Manalapan 0 April 30 Marlboro 5 Howell 0 May 1 SCT 2nd Round Marlboro 4 Brick Mem. 1 May2 Marlboro 3Vi Ocean VA May 3 Marlboro 3 Summit 2 May 3 Marlboro 3 tMbarton 2 May 4 Marlboro 3 New. Acad. 2 May 5 SCT Quarters Marlboro 5 Karitan 0 May 6 Marlboro 5 Midd.

South 0 May 7 SCT Serais Marlboro 4 Rumson 1 May 9 SCT Final Marlboro 4 Ocean 1 May 12 Marlboro 5 Midd. North 0 May 13 CJIV Quarters Marlboro 5 S. Brunswick 0 May 14 Marlboro 4 Manalapan 1 May 17 CJ IV Semis Marlboro 3 Bridgewater 2 May 19 Marlboro 4 Ocean I May 20 CJ IV Final Marlboro 4 E. Brunswick I May 27 Group IV Sends Marlboro 3Vi Fidgewoodl'a May 27 Group IV Final Marlboro 3 Westfjcld2 May 23 TOC Quarters Marlboro 3 Summit 2 May 29 TOC Semis New. Acad.

5 Marlboro 0 lime 5 Marlboro 5 Long Branch 0 June 6 Marlboro 3 CM 2 lane 9 Marlboro 5 Long Branch 0 1 LlL ft iff THE MUSTANGS ft r. score of 4-1. "Going into the majority of our matches, we knew we were going to win," Kretzmer said. "There are certain matches that are just good for you and good for the team. We had a few kids who were above and beyond the competition." In the Shore Conference Tournament, the Mustangs defeated Brick Memorial 4-1, Raritan 5-0 and previously unbeaten Rumson 4-1 en route to a battle with Ocean for the conference crown.

As with Newark Academy, Marlboro faced Ocean three times. The Mustangs got the better of the Spartans on all three occasions. "The toughest team we played in the Shore was probably Ocean," Sharnov said. "They were a little easier than Newark Academy, but still pretty difficult. But we felt we had an advantage at second singles and both first and second doubles.

Although (Boym) lost a couple of times (to Ocean's Gal Horovits), that match could go either way." The Mustangs had some quality players competing in the year-end state singles and doubles tournaments. Goodman and Schwartz won two matches to get into the fourth round of the doubles tournament before losing in three sets to the eventual state runners-up from Millburn. Sharnov advanced to the round of 16 before eventual state runner-up Viveck Sub-ramanian of East Brunswick stopped him in three sets. Although pleased with his 29-3 record, Sharnov would prefer to be playing first singles and will try to earn that distinction next season by beating out Boym. Marlboro's challenge matches might be some of the best tennis at the Shore all season next spring.

"It's going to be tough, because (Boym's) going to be working just as hard as me," Sharnov said. "But whether it's me or him, we'll both be solid at that spot." Aside from Boym and Sharnov, much of the team will be back next season. Schwartz and second doubles player Evan Harris graduated last week, meaning there will be a revamping of the doubles teams. One possibility could be Goodman teaming with junior Alex Fleyshmakher at first doubles. At singles, while Boym and Sharnov will fight for first two spots, the third singles position will be wide open.

The incumbent, sophomore Steve Morris, had a 13-12 record and will likely face tough competition for that spot. "There are a lot of people that would like to play singles and all of them are going to spend time in the off-season getting better," Kretzmer said. "All of them want to be the third singles player." With the season over and the off-season getting into full gear, Kretzmer and his players can look back and appreciate the success from this season. The Mustangs accomplished their goals and emerged as Group rv champions. "We knew we would be competitive, but we knew our chances to win the Tournament of Champions was slim," Kretzmer said.

"Seeing us do what we were supposed to do is a nice accomplishment" NAME P0S. TR. VikramAshok 11 Seth Berkowitz 10 John Boym 1S 9 Charles Dabati 11 Alex Fleyshmakher 2D 11 Garret Gfassman 10 Landon Goodman 1D 10 Jared Goldberg 11 John Gray 3S 11 Evan Harris 20 12 Paul Jones 20 11 Steve Morris 3S 10 Dan Rabinowta 11 Jason Schwartz 10 12 Matt Schwartz 9 Andrew Sharnov 2S 10 ra Players like first doubles team member Jason Schwartz had to come up with big wins this year to keep Marlboro alive In the postseason, (photo: braoleyj. pennerstafti Head Coach: David Kretzmer (75-15 in four years) Brajl Stratton: (732) 643-4072 or strattonapp.com.