M. Tennis to split squad for first tourneys

If last season was a rebirth for the Penn men's tennis team, this weekend the Quakers hope to prove that they have overcome their growing pains.

An invaluable year of experience for last year's batch of freshmen coupled with the ferocity of two new rookies and two transfers will make Penn a force to be reckoned with, as they compete in both the Navy and Princeton Invitational tournaments.

While Ivy League team play does not begin until the spring, the individual tournaments will give the new Penn players match-play experience, as well as a taste of their future competition.

The Princeton Invitational will attract squads from Yale, Columbia and Princeton, while Navy, Penn State and Richmond, among others, will face Penn at the Navy Invitational. Showcasing some of the top tennis talent on the East Coast, these tournaments will also provide these players the chance to vie for national rank.

Princeton's squad features senior star Trevor Smith, who garnered a spot on second team All-Ivy last year, and Columbia's Oscar Chow, a unanimous first team All-Ivy selection, will provide strong competition for the Red and Blue.

The Quakers will be split, with the returners heading to Princeton and the newer players representing the Red and Blue at Navy.

While the lineup is indefinite at this point, "the big change this season is that there are no weak spots," Penn senior captain Ryan Harwood said.

"We have a lot of depth in the squad and just need everyone to step up this weekend," he said. "This is the best I've seen the team play this early in the season."

Although the team has practiced together for just under two weeks, both Harwood and Penn coach Mark Riley are impressed by the players' hard work and passion for the game.

The team dynamic will benefit from Harwood's veteran leadership, in addition to the depth of the squad.

According to Riley, the squad is communicating well between its rookie and veteran players.

Besides Harwood, the players to watch this weekend will be David Lynn, a talented sophomore coming off a stellar season in 2001-0202, and Alex Fritz.

Fritz, a Junior College transfer, is anticipated to be a valuable asset, drawing from his significant experience on the tennis circuit.

This weekend, the team will work on doubles' play, hoping to capitalize on the fresh doubles talent of incoming players.

Harwood also hopes to focus on finishing off matches.

"We lost a lot of close matches [last season]," he said. "We have to work on staying in the game."

At this point, conditioning is key to get the team in shape for the season ahead.

"These guys have the skills," Riley said. "We need to focus on competing, on being competitors."

This weekend's tournaments will be an opportunity for Penn's rookies to get their feet wet and for the Quakers to prove that they are ready to become Ivy League champion contenders.

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