Men's tennis proves experience, wins fourth
Kat Dankowski
Staff Writer
Days before the men’s tennis team’s first match, Coach Randy Malone sat down with his team. He went over his game plan with laughter alongside positive criticism.
“Come prepared,” Malone said. “You can get fired up, I love to see (Sophomore Christopher Rodriguez) get fired up, but we do it with class. We don’t taunt the other team, we don’t swear, we want to play with passion and we want to play hard every point.”
Coach Malone has said this year’s team is very inexperienced. However, as the players finished their fourth match with a win, the numbers beg to differ.
The tennis season is considerably shorter than other sports. While most teams play for two or more months, tennis lasts a little over a month. It’s all packed in with two games a week, at least. Last week they played every day, Monday through Thursday.
Despite having a rocky start to the season with four consecutive losses, the team now seems to have the hang of things, winning their last four matches.
Spring has popped its head around the corner, and snow isn’t the only weather problem the team has encountered. Practices have been cancelled because of wind.
Sudden practice changes, bad weather and a short season are things players must deal with.
“You have to practice,” said Coach Malone to his team at their meeting. “Your opponent will tell you exactly what they’re doing, constantly, if you learn how to read them.”
The season continues with matches, sometimes every day, and they still come to practices. Players are encouraged to help their own practice schedules by pairing up and getting practice in before games.
The players agree Coach Malone’s methods of teaching will help them achieve success this season.
“He’s interesting and doesn’t bark orders at us,” said Sophomore David Labellarte. “It’s all about positive reinforcement.”
Coach Malone spearheads nonprofit leagues and lessons for CLC students. He is also a tennis instructor for Deer Creek Courts in Highland Park, and coaches the woman’s tennis teams and various leagues associated with Deer Creek Courts.
Staff Writer
Days before the men’s tennis team’s first match, Coach Randy Malone sat down with his team. He went over his game plan with laughter alongside positive criticism.
“Come prepared,” Malone said. “You can get fired up, I love to see (Sophomore Christopher Rodriguez) get fired up, but we do it with class. We don’t taunt the other team, we don’t swear, we want to play with passion and we want to play hard every point.”
Coach Malone has said this year’s team is very inexperienced. However, as the players finished their fourth match with a win, the numbers beg to differ.
The tennis season is considerably shorter than other sports. While most teams play for two or more months, tennis lasts a little over a month. It’s all packed in with two games a week, at least. Last week they played every day, Monday through Thursday.
Despite having a rocky start to the season with four consecutive losses, the team now seems to have the hang of things, winning their last four matches.
Spring has popped its head around the corner, and snow isn’t the only weather problem the team has encountered. Practices have been cancelled because of wind.
Sudden practice changes, bad weather and a short season are things players must deal with.
“You have to practice,” said Coach Malone to his team at their meeting. “Your opponent will tell you exactly what they’re doing, constantly, if you learn how to read them.”
The season continues with matches, sometimes every day, and they still come to practices. Players are encouraged to help their own practice schedules by pairing up and getting practice in before games.
The players agree Coach Malone’s methods of teaching will help them achieve success this season.
“He’s interesting and doesn’t bark orders at us,” said Sophomore David Labellarte. “It’s all about positive reinforcement.”
Coach Malone spearheads nonprofit leagues and lessons for CLC students. He is also a tennis instructor for Deer Creek Courts in Highland Park, and coaches the woman’s tennis teams and various leagues associated with Deer Creek Courts.
