The last time Wall boys tennis coach Anthony Nardino was this optimistic about his team’s chances, the Crimson Knights brought home a division title in 2005.
“I haven’t had a boys lineup like this for six years,’’ said Nardino, a veteran coach who also heads up the girls tennis team in the fall. “I feel that we've got some good talent out there, and I'm looking beyond our division to the Shore Conference Tournament to see what we can do there.’’
The Crimson Knights will be competing in the newly created Class C Central division under the latest Shore Conference realignment, with local rival Manasquan looming as the biggest obstacle to a division title.
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“This year we get (Manasquan) twice instead of once, so it’s more fun for us,’’ said senior first singles player Rob Kasinow. “It’s going to be a tougher season.’’
Leading the way will be a talented group of singles players, led Kasinow. He finished 15-3 as a junior and was regarded as one of the top 15 players in the area.
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During the offseason he worked on his volleys and his net game in order to help neutralize the effects of the frequent brisk wind on Wall’s home court.
Kasinow returns to head up a group that welcomes back senior Sam Graver in addition to sophomore Conor Ritchey. Graver did not play last season, deciding to take a year off, but the finality of his senior year pulled him back into the fold.
“One last chance,’’ Graver said.
Graver battled Ritchey, who played second singles last season, in a three-match series in the preseason held by Nardino to determine the second singles slot. The third match went to a tiebreaker, with Graves winning 7-5 to earn his position while also illustrating how close the two players are in ability.
That depth should serve Wall well when it faces a team like Manasquan, where trying to secure a point against the likes of standout first singles player MacLane Smoke will be an uphill battle, requiring the other singles players to step up and earn points.
“I think we have a strong team overall,’’ said Graver, who has worked on his serve in the preseason. “Our depth is our strength.’’
“We know we've got a tough situation at first singles, but I think we can be very competitive at the other four positions, so we're not giving up on that one,’’ Nardino said about facing Manasquan in the division race.
The leadership from the singles players also is crucial because Wall will be relying heavily on a group of freshmen in doubles.
Freshman Shane Jeffray will be paired with Brad Notaro, who played third singles last season, in the first doubles slot, while the freshman tandem of Conner Prisab and Tyler Graver, Sam’s younger brother, will be at second doubles.
“The two freshmen had to knock off some upperclassmen to gain that position, so I feel we have some good talent there,’’ Nardino said. “At first doubles, I have a freshman and a player with four years of experience, so we are in a good spot there as well.’’
“We have a lot of young players, but hopefully over the course of the season they will get some good experience and we'll go from there,’’ Kasinow said.
If history can repeat itself and Wall can make a serious run at division and Shore Conference Tournament titles, that may not be all of the accolades the Crimson Knights are capable of earning.
After the team portion of the season is done, Nardino feels Kasinow has the ability to make a run in the NJSIAA individual tournament despite a daunting field.
“I would like to see the Sweet 16 for us,’’ Nardino said. “There is an extraordinary amount of talent in that tournament, so I would be happy with that.’’
