This slightly uneven hand, dealt to us by rain, could have dominated the conversation between any or all of us on the team, for the rest of the very short trip home, but I proudly state that this didn't happen at all. I think Coach Sylvester had a big part in steering the conversation and mindset of anyone who would have justifiably felt and verbalized those feelings, by quickly hypothesizing, that there was a very good chance that we would see them again in the playoffs. In saying that and doing some reflection myself, a few hours after the match, I concluded that my initial fears were off base, and that "woe is me/us," feeling, wasn't going to poison our team in the least bit. Coach Sylvester's statement set the tone for the bus ride home and even how effortlessly we embraced our post-match run routine.
We might not be perfect in many ways, we're a work in progress, as are many good teams playing with similar records as ours right now, moreover it's not how you start but how you finish. However I know now, after that back to back with Twp, that we have got some fight in us and some solid examples of that, which I know will have a most positive affect on the team as a whole, going forward. I think it became clear to me, in watching you guys in your typical post match run workout, that to a man, you may have felt and projected some satisfaction in what you had accomplished on Thursday, by beating Twp for the first time in 10+ years, but I really sensed that you were excited by the potential of playing them again as I am too.
You guys tackled that post match run routine with more gusto then I would have ever expected, after playing five matches in fives days. In seeing this I became even prouder of the team than I already was. To see how much success and growth we had in those five prior days, which if we skipped the run, I would have still felt. BUT, to there see that bit of hunger, that even though you were rightfully satisfied, you still wanted more, this pushed my 'Proud-O-Meter," even higher. I hope this inspires all of us even more. These moments are a few of the many reasons why I love to coach the sport I love so. What you discover about yourself and your players during and after such an athletic test.
The week began with a loss to a very impressive Middle Twp team, they without question prepared us for our fantastic win on Thursday. Coach Sylvester and I had a very brief moment, a few weeks ago, where we kicked around the idea of somehow eighty-sixing the Middle Twp match on Monday, because we had to play a match each day this past week, and having to play Haddon Twp on back to back days at week's end. I am now so glad we didn't do that, and I hope all see how that test sharpened us for our win on Thursday.
Haddon Twp is a pretty good team with some smart coaches, but the simple truth is, their schedule, leading up to our first meeting with them, didn't provide the same amount of tests, by good out of conference teams like Moorestown Friends and Middle Twp, as ours did. Feel free to look up their schedule this season, specifically their out of conference schedule, and maybe even some seasons past, all found on the NJ.com-Boys Tennis team search, linked here at the blog, to confirm this for yourself. I must also admit that I told Coach not to schedule Middle Twp next season. I was wrong, and hope that a return match, with Middle Twp coming to Audubon in 2015, will happen. I think and hope I prepared all of you for the real purpose of these tough out of conference matches was, but I wasn't 100% certain until you got too see it for yourselves, via a big team win. Read the piece about 'Courage,' in the post prior to this one, if you haven't already. We all know you improve your tennis game the most, by competing against players and teams, who you'll most likely lose to. These type of match play experiences lay a necessary and solid foundation for long term growth. This win over Haddon Township gave us a fantastic snap shot at what is possible, if we continue to work hard at improving our tennis skills
I'm not sure what to make of this, cause I know where you start is a necessity of sorts, but where or how you and the team finish is the only thing you'll remember. Seen here, the link below, at NJ.com, and their most recent state rankings, broken down a few different ways. Again Haddon Twp has a good team, but they aren't better than Mainland for sure and probably not Pitman or Cherokee either . Eastern at #9 is a bit odd also. We played Middle and Haddon Twp, which team do you think was better? The score in each one of those matches, are what they are. Coach Sylvester and many of our varsity players got a good look at some of Eastern's players at the Camden County tourney a few weeks back. They got #'s 1,2 and 3 right, but it is hard to believe that Moorestown, with the depth they have, isn't in these rankings at all. Mainland vs Hammonton and Haddonfield vs Shawnee will be the best matches in South Jersey this season, with the 'H' schools winning both matches by 3-2. scores.
http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-7970722232447946741/boys-tennis-top-20-and-full-statewide-rankings/
SOUTH
1-Haddonfield (15-3)
2-Shawnee (7-1)
3-Hammonton (7-1)
4-Haddon Township (8-1)
4-Mainland (5-1)
5-Pitman (9-2)
6-Haddon Heights (7-0)
7-Vineland (6-4)
8-Cherokee (4-2)
9-Eastern (5-1)
10-St. Augustine (6-3)
GROUP 1
1-New Providence (3-2)
2-Metuchen (7-0)
3-Pompton Lakes (9-1)
4-Dunellen (8-1)
5-Haddon Township (8-1)
6-Pitman (9-2)
7-Hasbrouck Heights (4-1)
8-Cedar Grove (2-8)
9-Verona (6-4)
10-Roselle Park (5-4)
Part One In Pictures - The Hawks Enter Their Rivals Tennis Ring
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| The start of the third set.... |
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| Hydrating for the 3rd set as the 2nd one ends. |
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| Is that David Ferrer or did someone rent his bandana for our casual but special, tennis dance with Twp ? |
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| Felix had the most special and satisfying moment you can have as a member of a boys high school tennis team, wherein his match was the deciding one, both teams tied at two, with all surrounding his court watching the action and also cheering quite a bit when he did well. |
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| Felix's win at the 3rd singles spot, gave Audubon it's first team win over rival Haddon Twp, in 10+ years. This achievement in such a close and long team match, warranted this type of elation. Unfortunately we, the coaches, had to put some water on it after a little bit, because we had to play them again tomorrow. They were surely watching us enjoy this win, as they exited stage left, so let's temper it for a moment and let them see that too. |
Part II - Entering The Hawks Nest
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