By Emily Coughlin
Staff Writer
Out of the eight players on the St. Bonaventure men’s tennis team, there are two sophomores and three freshmen.
Head coach Michael Bates said the young team is due to a few graduates, a transfer and the decision to grow the team.
“This year we brought four new guys in that are starting right now and compete for positions all the time,” said Bates.
With a larger team, it is easier to win matches because more points can be scored, said Bates.
Bates said the freshmen are still learning new tactics and strategies, but they are improving every day.
“They’re learning, they’re eager, they want to play [and] they want to train,” said Bates.
The underclassman never stop giving 100 percent during practices and matches because they want to succeed and improve to the level of the older players, said Bates.
The upperclassmen set a great example for the underclassmen to follow, and always talk with them before meets to give them advice and help them stay focused on their game, said Bates.
“The older players give them tips about how to handle pressure, and how to handle different opponents,” said Bates.
Freshman John Rutkowski said the upperclassmen always remind him and his teammates not to worry about their individual matches, but think about the team as a whole.
The older players were especially cooperative in the beginning of the year by helping the freshmen adjust to the college setting and adapt to college life, as well as college tennis, said freshman Guillermo Garcia.
“The upperclassmen players did a very good job in the beginning of the season by showing us, especially me, the campus and making my adaptation to Bona’s easier,” said Garcia.
The amount of foreign players has helped the younger players get comfortable at this university because they have a good support system of people who are all coming from similar situations, said Bates.
“With other players who had families far away from home and from different countries, it was even easier for me to adapt to this environment,” said Garcia.
Bates was extremely important to adjusting as well, said both Rutkowski and Garcia.
“Coach gives me plenty of confidence when I am practicing by always reflecting onto the team a strong energy through positive words of encouragement,” said Garcia.
Bates always offers advice on what to work on and how to play better, while always supporting the players, said Rutkowski.
“Coach has a lot of experience in the A10 conference. Him knowing the other teams well has definitely helped calm my nerves for matches,” said Rutkowski.
During every match, Bates always makes sure to talk to every player and give them confidence and encouragement, which especially helped the younger players in their first few matches, said Rutkowski.
Over the fall season, the team became very close because of the many young players all learning the dynamic of the team and the sport, said Garcia.
“I think the dynamic of the team has been improving as the season has been passing because we are spending more time together, we are getting to know each other better and we are creating very strong friendships,” said Garcia.
Even with such a young team, they never fail to put in the utmost effort and always give it their all, whether it be a practice or a match, said Bates.
“We have been working hard, even in spite of our recent losses. We are working to get into our best shape possible as A10s approach,” said Garcia.
The next match for the St. Bonaventure men’s tennis team will be this Saturday at home against Binghamton at 10 a.m.
coughleg16@bonaventure.edu
