Sports

Boys Tennis Prepares for Life After Bernstein, Reich, Snyder and Stahl

Coach Kapner said team has depth for 2011 season.

Four straight state Group IV titles and Union County titles, two Tournament of Champions titles and a dual meet record of 121-6. The Westfield High School tennis team earned all of that with a core of close friends – Scott Bernstein, Adam Reich, Graeme Stahl and Justin Snyder, who all graduated this June.

Now, longtime coach George Kapner is preparing to sustain the program's great run with a new foundation of standout players. Kapner points out that Bernstein, Reich, Stahl and Snyder had a special bond that carried onto to the tennis court and resulted in great success

"Those kids are super close friends,'' said Kapner, whose team went 31-3 this past season. "It's something that anybody would cherish. But to do it with four best friends is remarkable.''

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When asked if the Blue Devils will be able to sustain that kind of success, he thought for a few moments. This is a program that has won 14 state group ttitles – fourth on the state list behind Livingston and Newark Academy (17), Millburn (19) and Christian Brothers Academy of Lincroft (25).

"What those kids left behind is a very good program,'' Kapner said. "How good? We'll see. But I would hesitate to say we can't repeat what we've done. Those kids are gone, but left in their wake is a previous vestige of championships.''

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Stahl, who'll attend the University of Pennsylvania, said that he has seen enough throughout this summer to believe the Blue Devils will sustain a dynasty.

Juniors Alan Chu and Tom Kowalski, freshman Scott Thompson and sophomore Josh Simmons will shape the leadership of the 2011 team. Kowalski was the Union County champ at third singles, Chu was Stahl's partner at first doubles and Thompson and Simmons were solid when they played second doubles. Both of those double teams won county championships. All of them scored big points down the stretch.

"We're going to have some quality kids back and some kids who were on the bench who were very good,'' said Kapner, adding that sophomore Max Mancini is another player who'll be playing a big role.

Kapner said he learned something from one of his mentors –former longtime Pingry School coach Toni Bristol – many years ago.

"He said it's not about how good you are, but about how good the other team is,'' said Kapner. "But we expect that when somebody puts on that Westfield tennis uniform something good is going to happen.''


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