Senior Adam Cohen, Lawrence’s first singles player, hits a ball back over the net at practice April 15, 2011. (Photo by Suzette J. Lucas.)

Third singles player Zac Cartun warms up at practice April 15, 2011. (Photo by Suzette J. Lucas.)

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By Hilarey Wojtowicz

Head coach Pat Tarrant has a hard time getting the more 40 boys on the Lawrence High School tennis team to leave the courts after practice.

“They love playing,” Tarrant said. “I have to kick them off the courts.”

That must be a good sign for a Cardinals team that, mid-way through the season, had a record of 2-3 with the Mercer County Playoffs not far ahead. Though a young team, consisting of many freshmen and sophomore boys, Tarrant has faith for the rest of the spring 2011 season, as well as seasons to come.

“I see a lot of promise from the younger guys,” Tarrant said. “They just need to be more consistent.”

Consistency is the key for the Cardinals to reach a winning record by the end of the season. The team has been able to prove themselves as singles, with senior captain Adam Cohen leading the way with a personal record of 4-1. However, the doubles teams are struggling to play as a team on the courts.

“[Cohen] has been our most consistent player all year and is the only senior starting right now in singles,” Tarrant said. “In the match [against Steinert High School], our first doubles guys won three sets. It was a good match, but they had to fight back from behind.”

The doubles teams have been able to win matches throughout the season in three sets and even in two straight sets, but the consistency is still lacking. Captain Cohen said the doubles teams need to work together more.

“A lot of the guys don’t have varsity experience,” Cohen said. “They need to get used to playing as a team and finding that team chemistry.”

With only a few seniors, the Cardinals are using this season as a way to grow into a more consistent team. Cohen said many of the boys on the team follow professional tennis and try to emulate the top players.

They all know what it takes to win matches, and as the season comes to an end, they will need to work on figuring out how they can use their knowledge to win their own games.

Nevertheless, as the county playoffs begin on April 25, Tarrant has hope for his team to do well as in past years.

Still, the team has strength in their leadership that will help them become a better team for the future.

“I think we have good coaches that let us improve ourselves throughout the season,” Cohen said. “We have good coaches that teach us fundamentals and how to prepare us mentally for the matches.”