As spring sports at Kingswood Oxford are commencing, the boys varsity tennis team is excited for a big season.
The tennis team is very young, led by sophomores Pratt Blair and Ciaran Concepcion, who have needed to step up as the No. 1 and No. 2 on the team. Along with them, junior Captain Will Maclean is Kingswood Oxford’s No. 3 player. Head Coach Andy Krugman expressed the need for Nos. 4, 5, and 6 to step up. “We have interchangeable parts there,” Coach Krugman said. “They are all very similar in terms of ability, which means that the 4 is probably going to be the toughest spot for us.” In order for the team to find success, someone needs to step into this spot for the season.
The team has a lot of matches that they are looking forward to this season. “I am most excited to get revenge on the teams we didn’t beat last year,” Maclean said. Coach Krugman followed up on this, stating that he really enjoys dual matches rather than tournaments. He added that they play very tough opponents such as Deerfield Academy, where, other than No. 1 doubles, they lost all of their matches. Although this is true, Coach Krugman looks forward to games against teams such as Kent, whom they lost to 5-2 last year. “It was a very winnable match,” he said. “The returners have been thinking about it.”
The team has a variety of goals for the season, based on both team results and individual growth. “We need to leave everything on the court this year,” Maclean said. “Last year, there were many cases where we didn’t play the best, so this year the team is very focused on playing to our maximum capabilities every match.”
Krugman wants to be in the mix for a New England tournament run, but also would like to see each individual grow as a player, both mentally and physically as tennis demands toughness in both of these areas. A more specific goal for this season is to win the competitive matches that are separated by scores of 4-3 and 5-2.
“A personal goal for the season is to improve my singles performance and for Ciaran and I to beat many of the teams we lost to last year,” Blair said. “We have grown and improved exponentially as a doubles team since last year, and I think we can accomplish some great things.”
The team has started out with a 1-1 record, competing in a very strong KITT field. Some highlights from the KITT’s were Concepcion’s big win against Lawrenceville’s No. 1 player. Blair also played very well and looks to continue these performances in his upcoming matches.
Good luck to the boys tennis team in the busy season ahead!
