April 30, 2004
by Jonathan Sachs

BVT uses yoga, outside practice to remain conditioned
Boys tennis head coach Harris Rosenblatt has developed new, innovative, challenging tactics to improve the team mentally and physically.

Most players attend Sunday morning clinics that focus on improving skills.

photo by Zachary Krame

Michael Gaspar finishes a stroke during practice. Gaspar and his teammates have been using yoga techniques in practice to stay in shape, although incidentally, injuries have been an early-season problem for the team.

Sophomore Jesse Bernstein-Ansaldi finds that the clinics expose players to more than just tennis fundamentals.

“Clinics show your commitment to the sport. We play other kids in other competitions and it just makes us better.”

Sophomore Yoni Farber, who is new to the ladder this year, said, “it’s another day to play tennis and if you don’t play tennis a certain amount of days your body wears out and you forget your rhythm.”

In addition to the clinics, Rosenblatt does yoga with the team to preserve the physical and mental sharpness that is necessary to any successful tennis player.

“The yoga is predominantly to keep them healthy because I feel like they get very attached to their results and their bodies actually get tight; I try to use the yoga to keep their bodies supple and injury-free,” Rosenblatt said.

Another major difference that has resulted from these styles of practice is an enhanced level of commitment from the entire team.

According to Rosenblatt, “The level of commitment is greater than in previous seasons. I have had some incredible experiences with all my players as far as their ability to show up at nine o’clock in the morning on a Sunday to play their best tennis and I see tremendous improvement in these players. I think it’s been unbelievable. I just want to see them have results that match up to their commitment.”

The results, however, have been stagnated by injuries. One of the top players, sophomore David Hecht, missed a match with a sprained wrist. In addition, Bernstein-Ansaldi is currently out with a fractured ankle. The team’s record stands at 3-2 with two wins against the Hebrew Academy Cougars and one against the Sandy Spring Wildebeests. The two losses were against the Field Falcons and the Washington International School Red Devils.

Still, all of Rosenblatt’s practice techniques are helping the team and the players have responded well.

Bernstein-Ansaldi said, “He makes us practice and drill hard. But one thing that is different from last year is that there is a lot more competition and fighting for that final spot [on the ladder]. There’s digging and there is much more competitiveness and it’s just making us better.”