Sports
Good team dynamics bode well for Moraine Valley men’s tennis season
The Moraine Valley freshmen-heavy men's tennis team communicates well and is eager to work hard in preparation for a successful season.
Head Coach Nick Karczynski is pleased with his Moraine Valley Community College men’s tennis team roster. The freshmen-heavy group communicates well and is eager to work hard in preparation for a successful season.
In his second season leading the program, Karczynski sees an improved team dynamic and a group that worked in the offseason, even staying late at practices because they love the game – and he’s not complaining.
“A few of the guys played all summer and they all like being here. It’s a great team dynamic, and this is a really good group of guys. I’m very happy with the team I have,” Karczynski said.
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Returning to the lineup this spring is last year’s No. 1 singles player Zachary Johnson (Beecher) along with No. 4 Erik Astranskas (Stagg) and No. 6 Dylan Roberts (Andrew).
Joining the sophomores are JoNick Coleman (Homewood-Flossmoor), Malachi Soto (Brother Rice), Mohammad Qawasmeh (Dar-Al-Hekma) and Zachary DeMarco (Lockport).
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Although Karczynski has an idea of the lineup he wants to put out at matches, he said anything can change because of the team’s talent level. “We’re well-rounded, and everyone has a shot. They all work hard, so the lineup can be a tossup,” he explained.
The ambitious goals of any season are to win a conference championship and compete at nationals, but Karczynski is balancing realistic expectations with a healthy dose of optimism, expressing uncertainty about how tough the competition could be.
“I want the team to win as many matches as we can and to love playing tennis,” he noted. “I would really like to win 90% of our matches, but we know some colleges will be tough. The overall goal would be to win everything if possible, but realistically, 90% wins.”
In early practices, the squad is working on hitting against the wind and playing consistently. The women’s tennis team practices with the men on occasion, but otherwise, the guys are grinding on the court as much as they can before the season officially starts. And everyone is ready and eager to go.
“We’re looking forward to the start of matches, and I look forward to seeing how it all plays out,” Karczynski added.
The Cyclones season and home opener is Thursday, April 2, 1 p.m., against Waubonsee Community College. For updates on Cyclones Athletics, visit mvcyclones.com.
