The men's tennis team is poised to have another standout season after last year's second-place finish in the Ivy League. With all but one player returning and the arrival of some promising new talent, the team is in the best shape it's been in for a long time.
"We're still coming off a high from last year," said captain Noah Gardner '09. "We're pretty fresh. No one is really injured this season, for the first time."
Gardner cited another advantage the team will enjoy this season: Gardner and his classmates Sam Garland '09, Chris Lee '09 and Basu Ratnam '09 - all of whom are captains - make up "the biggest and strongest senior class we've had so far."
All four of the '09-ers received All-Ivy recognition last year. Ratnam was named to the First Team All-Ivy in doubles with Saurabh Kohli '08. Lee was selected to the Second Team All-Ivy in singles, and the doubles duo of Gardner and Garland also earned Second Team All-Ivy honors.
"I'm looking forward to building upon the level I was playing at last year," Lee said.
In addition to the four captains, the Bears will welcome back Nathaniel Gorham '10, Cody Simmons '10, Charlie Posner '11, Jonathan Pearlman '11 and Kendrick Au '11.
The only player not returning to the team is Kohli, who graduated in May. Gardner acknowledged that Kohli's absence is "a huge, huge loss." But overall, he said, "It's not too much of an adjustment. I feel like we're adding, not playing catch up."
The Bears will say hello to new teammates Jimmy Crystal '12 and Andrew Yazner '12. "Everybody is really excited about the freshmen and the amount of potential they have," Au said.
Meanwhile, Au said he's happy to be back. "Already going through (freshman year) once, I know how much of a grind it is," he said. "Last year, I was nervous, but this time, I know there's always a place for me on the team."
Au added that the team's chemistry will be another strength this season. "Everyone has a huge foundation friendship-wise, and I'm looking forward to building upon all these relationships with the guys," he said.
The Bears' first event of the year will take place Sept. 19 to 21, when they host the Northeast Intercollegiate. Brown has a history of nabbing first-place wins in multiple flights during the competition.
"We expect big things," Au said. "We demand, every season, to improve, and this season is no different."
Although the fall season consists of tournaments where players compete for individual rankings, according to Lee, the Bears are keeping their eyes on the big prize. "We have a good chance to win the Ivies in the spring," he said.
Brown took back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006, and the seniors are eager to repeat their freshman-year victory. "We just want to go out on top," Gardner said.
