Tennis Team Prevails Over Plainfield 3-2

After the first six matches of the 2010 season, the Cranford boys' tennis team stands at a 3-3 record with a  young squad.

The Cougars defeated visiting Plainfield 3-2 on Monday behind the stellar doubles play of senior Derek DeCagna and freshman Danny Buono. Both athletes posted a convincing straight set victory 6-0, 6-0.

"It was a good win today," said DeCagna. "We're definitely getting there as a team. I can speak for my doubles team, Danny's definitely starting to learn as a freshman. We're starting to learn each other's tendencies. As a whole, everyone is getting some more match experience, and it's going good."

"I thought they played pretty consistently," said Cranford coach Richard Goldstein. "The first doubles team is really coming along. Danny and Derek have been a fantastic duo."

Junior Alex Heucke has been taking on the "best of the best" in the county at first singles, and while he knows his success will come down the line, he's all smiles when he talks about the team's success.

"I'm very happy with the team's performance today," said Heucke. "We obviously got off to a good start, with the second doubles handicap."

"I think by him playing these more experience players, it's going to make him want to work a lot harder, and it's going to improve his game tremendously," Goldstein said.

Freshman Christian Woo got the job done again, winning for the fourth time in six matches this season. His consistency is a big reason the Cougars are playing .500 tennis.

"I'm a little bit hesitant about moving him up on the line because I don't want to take away his confidence at such a young age," said Goldstein. "He is competing against people, it's not like he's shutting them all out, so he is learning a lot be being at third singles. As a freshmen, with him being on the team for another three years, he's only going to grow."

The Cougars will play at home against Somerville this afternoon before a road match Wednesday at Scotch Plains. The Union County Tournament kicks off Thursday at 9 a.m. in Plainfield with the winners advancing to Friday's finals.

"The kids are excited," said Goldstein. "They're pumped. Derek's record is now 4-2, Christian's 4-2, so hopefully they'll get a nice seed. Seedings are Wednesday night at 7 p.m."

"I enjoy that every year," said DeCagna. "It's one of the few times where you get to see every single school from the county represented at the same time, so this year, I hope we can go real far, farther than the first day."

"I'm very excited for counties," said Heucke. "A lot of our guys are going in with good records. We'll get some good seeds for the counties, so I expect to see a lot of advancing."