At the 2007 Union County Tennis Championships at the Donald Van Blake Courts in Plainfield, it was as if time stood still, with almost nothing changing from a year ago.
Just like in 2006, Ryan Krueger of Scotch Plains Fanwood defeated Ravi Netravali of Westfield in straight sets to win the first singles title and the Blue Devils withstood the loss of their top player, Kevin Shallcross, to sweep the other four flights and score a near perfect total of 96 points.
Except for a few subtle differences, that was exactly the same script as a year ago when underclassmen also dominated the tournament. In 2006 the tournament was contested on consecutive days, but this year, after beginning on Thursday, inclement weather on Friday forced the final two rounds to be played on Monday. In between, the Blue Devils romped to two victories in the Westfield Invitational on Saturday, defeating Summit 5-0 and Hun 4-1 to advance to 12-0. Coach George Kapner’s team, ranked number one in the state, has so much depth and interchangeable players that he used different lineups in each of the three competitions.
“We clearly have a very balanced line-up. We have won some big matches this year without key players,” said Kapner.
Last year Shallcross was sidelined by an injury, but this time was given permission by Kapner to play in a national United States Tennis Association tournament...
“At the Union County tournament, we were without only one player. Our attitude is, whoever is on this team is good enough to be in the line-up and that line-up is good enough to win,” said Kapner.
In 2006, Krueger and Netravali were third and fourth seeds respectively, but won upset matches in the semi finals. As defending champion and top seed, Krueger had a bull’s-eye on his back this time but relished the role as favorite.
“The competition, as always, is very competitive and everyone is out to get the defending champion so I knew I had to step up my game,” said Krueger.
“Ravi is an excellent player. Over the last year he has improved greatly which has forced me to bring up my game. I knew I had to bring my 'A' game,” added Krueger.
In the semi finals, Krueger crushed. Adedotun Osho of Plainfield, 6-1, 6-1, while Netravali defeated Greg Chilson of Governor Livingston, 6-1, 6-2. Krueger did not lose a set in cruising to his second straight crown and won even more decisively than last year, dropping only four games in a 6-3,6-1 triumph that clearly impressed Kapner.
“Ryan is an excellent tennis player who deserves the accolades that he is receiving for winning the Union County first singles championship not once, but twice, and both times as an underclassman. This is an exceptional achievement,” said Kapner.
“This team doesn't approach any match or tournament with the mind set that we are short handed,” said Kapner.
Sophomore James Chu, normally third singles for Westfield, won his second straight second-singles crown when he outlasted John Angiuoni of Summit, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Sophomore Greg Luppescu, who beat out 2006 third singles champion Dean Thompson and has played at both second and third singles this season, defeated Summit's Alex Zerfoss, 6-3, 6-1, in the third-singles final.
Thompson and Junior Akis Evangelidis lost only three games in the tournament and routed Bill Beck and Andrew Fezza of New Providence 6-0, 6-1 at first doubles.
Freshmen Graeme Stahl and Justin Snyder easily handled Zach Goff and Alex Kramer of Summit, 6-4, 6-1, at second doubles
After a seven year drought, Kapner has now won three titles in a row to push his total to ten and with the youth and talent available a new Westfield dynasty has emerged.
“Reclaiming the title two years ago was far more exciting, but the last two championships have been part of the building process of restoring WHS boy’s tennis to the upper echelon of New Jersey high school tennis.”
With Krueger and the entire Westfield team returning in 2008, “Same time next year” might be an appropriate prognostication.
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