Mark Sherman has coached Bradford High’s boys varsity tennis
team for 22 seasons.
It goes without saying there is a certain level of fortitude in
being able to coach teenage boys at least five days a week every
spring for more than two decades.
This season, Sherman is looking for as much staying power from
his players.
“Being so inexperienced in singles, patience…patience is going
to come first,” Sherman said. “We know we have to cut out our
unforced errors and stay consistent with all our strokes. This is
what I have been preaching at practice. And, the serve plays a big
part in that.”
Out of five spots for singles, Sherman lost his top three
players to graduation after last season. By far, those losses
consume most of Sherman’s attention.
“Everybody is going to have to move up three spots (in the
lineup). Working in practice with the kids this year we’re finding
out we have a lot of work to do at the first three spots,” Sherman
admitted.
With doubles, Sherman’s not as worried. That’s because in 2009 a
solid number of his netters had gained experience in the two-person
game.
Still, as the scramble continues to fill slots for singles
players, something Sherman says he needs is unwavering maturity and
direction from his upperclassmen.
Out of 13 current members on BHS’ roster, there are five
returning letterwinners – senior Pug Fuhrman and juniors Dylan
Nuzzo, Andrew Carroll, Andrew Eliason and Dan Tingley – sought to
do just that.
“We’ll need leadership from Pug. He was a great addition last
year, getting some singles play at fourth singles,” Sherman added.
“And I’m looking at the junior class with Nuzzo, Carroll, Eliason
and Tingley, who all got singles play last year. The burden might
be on their shoulders this season.”
Those juniors, along with Max Asinger, Charles Fair, Angel
Achor, Josiah Gould and Noah Hurrle, make up approximately 60
percent of the Owls’ roster.
Then, there are senior Dom Franco, sophomore Tyler Stratus and
freshman Conner Nickel. Along with Gould and Fair, Stratus and
Nickel are new to the program.
In essence, Sherman has 13 players for eight spots, as those
athletes playing in singles matches, once determined, are allowed
to “repeat,” meaning they can participate in doubles during team
competitions.
The numbers are there. But, Sherman still is aware of the
learning curve ahead for a majority of those players.
“There are going to be bumps in the road,” Sherman said, “but as
long as we improve our play and start to be consistent, we can be a
pretty good team by the end of the year.”
The Owls begin their season Tuesday hosting St. Marys.
