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04/30/2017 12:00 AMEntering his second year as head coach of Westbrook boys’ tennis, Dan Shapiro told his athletes that they had a great opportunity to win the Shoreline Conference title this spring. Through their first 10 matches, the Knights are in a prime position to do just that. Westbrook owns a record of 10-0 and looks well on the way to surpassing its achievements from last year, when the Knights went 15-5 and finished third in the conference.
Coach Shapiro has been heavily focusing on three things with his players during the first half of the 2017 campaign: developing their tennis skills, approaching matches strategically, and being mentally tough throughout the entire match, regardless of the score. The Knights’ approach is clearly working as they’ve only lost five matches all year between their singles and doubles lineups. Coach Shapiro said that he appreciates his team’s commitment to excellence.
“The team is playing hard, and they are very focused. I think they have a healthy respect for their competitors, and they know what’s coming up,” said Shapiro. “We’re emphasizing taking one match at a time. If we want to win, that’s how we’re going to do it.”
In last week’s action, Westbrook notched two more victories against Shoreline Conference opponents by defeating Morgan 5-2 and Portland 6-1. Playing at Morgan in a match that started on April 24 and was completed five days later, senior captain Gus Marx won a hard-fought, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, contest at the No. 1 singles position; fellow senior captain Dave Amendola grabbed a 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 2; sophomore Nate Comment prevailed 6-0, 6-0 at No. 4; and senior Jason Raunikar won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 5 singles. In doubles play, the senior duo of Austin Herzy and Phil Hartzell captured a 6-3, 6-4 victory at the No. 1 spot.
Hosting Portland on April 26, Amendola won 6-4, 6-3 at No. 2 singles; senior captain Dylan Martinson triumphed 6-0, 6-1 at No. 3; plus Comment and Raunikar recorded 6-0, 6-0 sweeps at the No. 4 and 5 slots, respectively. For doubles, Hartzell and Herzy won by default at No. 1, as did the tandem of sophomore Jack Lyman and junior Kevin Dickey at No. 2.
Marx took his first loss of the season at No. 1 singles, but the Knights’ depth propelled them to the victory. Coach Shapiro believes that his team’s talent throughout the roster is a huge asset as the Knights work toward their goal of becoming Shoreline Conference champions.
“There’s very little difference between our 3, 4, and 5 players. I never intentionally stack a team. I could put No. 5 at No. 3 or No. 3 at No. 5, and there wouldn’t be any dispute about it,” Shapiro said. “That’s the nice thing about tennis—the point for 2nd doubles is as important as the point for 1st singles.”
Shapiro added that his athletes’ commitment to helping each other improve at practice has sparked the Knights and helped them their roll through the first half of the schedule.
“People are pushing each other. I’m fortunate to have good players playing against each other,” he said. “I think we have a good team because they like each other, but they also compete hard against each other at practice.”
Westbrook’s desire to get better starts with the leadership of its senior captains—Marx, Amendola, and Martinson—who have all taken steps forward both physically and mentally this year, according to Coach Shapiro.
“I think they were already good, but they’ve improved over the last two years,” Shapiro said. “They have gotten better, especially at match strategy, and not just hitting the ball without thinking about what they’re trying to do in the match.”
Of course, it’s a two-way street when it comes to progression on the tennis court. The players need to have the drive to improve, but the coach has to fan the flames for them to do so. Coach Shapiro believes that the no-nonsense way he communicates with his team is a key aspect in that regard.
“One of the things I try to do with my team is have honest communication. Be real with them in terms of how they play matches and where they are as players,” said Shapiro. “They respond to honest communication. If it’s not honest, they see though it, and it doesn’t help anybody.”
Shapiro knows the Knights still have plenty of work to do in order claim the Shoreline Conference crown, but he feels confident in the group of athletes who are trying to bring that title to Westbrook.
“I set the goals high for this team,” Shapiro said. “But it’s a goal that’s obtainable if we play well and we go for it.”