With a short, yet successful fall 2011 season under its belt and preseason trip to Florida on the horizon, the Wesleyan men’s tennis team is chomping at the bit to begin their NESCAC competition.
“We’ve got to go out there and get better every day,” said Michael Glen ’13 of the team’s trip to Florida.
While most teams would relish the time spent amongst friends and teammates, the Cardinals know they must utilize this time efficiently to gain exposure and experience. After all, the team will have a mere four upperclassmen this spring. Couple that with the fact that seven incoming freshman are expected to make a crucial impact on the season, and the preseason trip is set to be a very important time for the Cardinals to hone their skills.
On the surface, the spring appears to epitomize what would be a rebuilding season for the tennis program. With seven freshmen leading the charge, it would seem unfair to ask for great things from the team. However, following the successful fall where the Cardinals went 5-1, that is precisely what is expected.
“No, it’s not an excuse,” said Alex Rachlin ’15 of the team’s youth. “We know we’re going to do better than last year.”
The squad concluded the 2011 spring season with a 9-9-1 overall record, with a lone win over Connecticut College its sole success in NESCAC play. This year, the Cardinals anticipate improving both their overall and conference records, despite the fact that five NESCAC squads were ranked in the top 12 of the Division III preseason rankings—with Williams and Amherst taking the top two seeds.
While most teams will spend their preseason trips sorting out doubles pairings and organizing the seeds of the team, the Cardinals will have to focus on gaining some crucial experience that will benefit the squad down the road. The hope is that a combination of youthful exuberance and veteran leadership can invigorate and propel the Cards to success.
“We’ll go as far as the young guys can take us,” said Glen of the team’s fortunes. This may not be entirely true, as the leadership of upperclassmen such as top-seeded Jeff Legunn ’13 and lone senior Robert Troyer ’12 may prove invaluable to the spring season. What will not go unnoticed in Glen’s sentiments is that the team is relying heavily on the younger members of the team to carry them toward NESCAC success.
The team starts off its spring season in Orlando, Fla. with a match against Wayne State University on Sunday, March 11. This opener will be followed by another seven matches in just four short days. When the Cardinals return home, the NESCAC portion of their schedule will begin with home opener against Bowdoin College on Saturday, March 31.