They couldn’t have drawn it up any better than this. The men’s tennis team traveled down to Orlando, Fla. at the start of break with the somewhat daunting task of playing seven matches in only four days. Besides this pressure, rainy weather upon arrival prohibited the team from practicing at all prior to the first match. However, the team proved it was up to the challenge by pulling out a victory in every match and demonstrating the depth and talent necessary to continue the historic run.
“Our results in Florida prove we have the depth to succeed and that we can win with different lineups,” noted junior Michael Glen ’13.
The winning seems to be infectious. The men’s 7-0 start to the spring, coupled with their 5-1 fall season, garners them a 12-1 record. This easily marks the best start any men’s tennis team has ever assembled at Wesleyan. Heading into the NESCAC portion of its schedule, the team certainly has hit its stride at the right time.
Every player on the squad stepped up at the most opportune moments during the trip to Orlando. Whether it was junior Donald Kleckner’s five huge victories in both singles and #1 doubles, or Glen’s impressive seven victories in singles and doubles, it was obvious from the get-go that the Cardinals came to Florida with the drive to win. Not to be outdone, the seven freshmen on the team all performed well when given the occasion. Highlighting the play of the young guns were Stephen Monk ’15 and Donovan Suh ’15. Monk emphatically won every singles match. Suh showed the poise and determination the team was looking for with two three-set singles wins on the first day of matches.
Two close 5-4 victories over Monmouth University and Drew University on the same day, followed by five emphatic wins over the next three days, have given the Cardinals they confidence they have been searching for against their more polished upcoming conference opponents.
“We’re happy with our results in Florida, but all of us recognize the challenges that lie ahead this spring,” acknowledged Jon Coombs ’15.
Adding to that sentiment, Alex Rachlin ’15 pointed out the team wishes to “show the NESCAC that we are a new force to be reckoned with.”
The first opportunity comes at home against a 14th-ranked Bowdoin squad on Saturday. The next day, the team will travel to Boston in order to take on another conference foe in Tufts University. With back-to-back matches, the team will again be forced to show its depth and talent. Though judging from the trip to Florida, it seems the Cardinals are more than up to the challenge.
The team will rely heavily not only on the seven freshmen, but probably most upon #1 seed Jeff Legunn ’13. Hoping to see more of the superb baseline play he demonstrated while in Florida, the tennis team is confident it can better the lone conference victory it amounted last season. Most importantly, the Cardinals are not satisfied or complacent following their early success.
“We need to keep this momentum going forward in order to have a successful NESCAC season,” remarked Glen.
The road ahead will be difficult, but the Cardinals are savoring the opportunity that awaits them.