April 30, 2002
By Zachary Subar

Andrew Schissler

Coming off of a championship season, the boys varsity tennis team looks to its leaders for motivation and commitment.

Coach Harris Rosenblatt, a former professional tennis player, is showing the team the high level of play that can be attained through hard work and devotion.

“He’s a great coach,” said eighth grader Tal Masica. “He has taught us a lot so far this season, and it will probably be a great experience this season just like it was last season when we won the championship.”

“He shows us the way, and then shows us the level we can reach and pushes us up to that level,” said junior Andrew Schissler.

According to Masica, Rosenblatt is also the team’s primary source of motivation and inspiration.

Rosenblatt wants to teach his players to perform to the best of their abilities, which will bring them closer to victory.

“My goal is to have these kids realize their potential,” said Rosenblatt. “I will have these kids in a position to defend their title at the end of the season.”

The beginning of the season, however, has been one of development rather than victory. 

In its first league competition of the season, the team lost to the Washington International School Red Devils, 3-2.  

Although the team lost to the Red Devils in its first match, Rosenblatt was undaunted.

“I’m not too concerned with how they start, all I care about is how they close,” he said.

Even though the team won the banner last year, there still remains a sense of purpose among many of the players on the tennis team. 

The spirit leader of the team is junior Jonathan Lerner. According to Masica, he has helped to “set the team straight” and create this sense of purpose.

“He’s told us what we should do and how we should get ready for our matches,” said freshman David Goott. 

“Sometimes we’re not sure what we should do or where we should go, like if the coach isn’t there or if we’re at an away match.  He takes the role and tells us what to do and where we are supposed to be,” Goott said.

Rosenblatt said, “Jon is a leader by his personality,” Inspiration has come from other methods as well.

“It’s my last year on the team, and I feel a sense that it would be a major disappointment to play extremely poorly this year after winning the banner last year,” said Schissler. 

“We want to try to match our previous successes,” said junior Joey Grover. “It’s our interest in improving our own abilities that will make us successful and victorious in our future tennis matches.”

The players on the team are not only going to practices and playing hard, but they are training on their own time, thus enhancing their individual skills and their chances to win. 

According to Rosenblatt, Schissler and freshman David Feith are two team members who set an example through their commitment. However, the team is also willing and able to work hard.

“They’re [Feith and Schissler] just leaders by how they commit. These guys aren’t playing at practice only, but they’re all playing outside of practice,” he said.

Masica, in turn, sets an example by being the number one seed and by having a great knack for the game, according to Rosenblatt.

While he has an advantage over others in his skill level, Masica doesn’t feel that he has full authority to speak up as a personality charged leader or motivator on the team. 

“I don’t think I’m changing the team [in terms of leadership],” Masica said.

In more recent matches, the team has continued to improve its play, winning all of their matches against the Hebrew Academy Cougars on April 18.

Despite its home loss to Field on April 22, in which none of the players won their matches, the team knew that they could keep improving their skill by increasing their level of play.

“We need to get more into the game and just play harder,” said Grover. 

As the team continues its season, a key factor for success remains the team’s need to not allow the pressure of defending its title wear on them. Grover and Rosenblatt feel that pressure will not affect the team.

“If this was something that the team won every year, maybe it would cause pressure. But since last year was the first time the team won the championship, there is not that much pressure,” said Grover.

“I just want the kids to know that even if they weren’t defending champions, I just want them to play every match as if they were defending the title,” said Rosenblatt.

The Lions lost their most recent match to the St. Anselm’s Panthers by a score of 3-2. Their last match is on May 2, when they will be competing against the Barrie Day Mustangs.