Green Dragons clinch their winning season on final day

Brick Township’s tennis team averted a losing season in its final match of the season when it swept Manchester, 5-0, to finish 8-8.

The victory came after a tough 3-2 loss to Brick Memorial the second time around after beating the Mustangs, 3-2, early in the season.

"We had a lot of 3-2 losses that went down to the last match," said coach Bob Hudak, whose team was 6-12 a year ago. "That made it exciting."

The excitement continues for first singles start Kobe Attias, who begins play in the NJSIAA singles tournament on Saturday at Mercer County Park in West Windsor. Attias finished 16-4 after going 15-7 a year ago, when he relocated to Brick from Israel. He lost in three sets in the Ocean County Tournament semifinals before finishing in third a few weeks ago. The junior also avenged an early season loss to the No. 1 from Southern Regional.

"This year, he really got better on his net game and his volleys," said Hudak, who was an assistant last year before moving up when Bill Kennedy resigned as coach of the boys and girls teams after being appointed to an administrative school position. Hudak is expected to coach the girls team in the fall, although no appointment has been officially made yet.

"Kobe’s net game improved tremendously and he’s better on serving," Hudak said. "His ground strokes always have been good."

Sean Kennedy, a senior and son of the former coach, went 14-5 in second singles, while the second doubles team of seniors Frank Gonello and Rich Price had a six-game match streak during the season and also got the deciding point against Brick Memorial the first time around. Tom Trafer, a junior, capably stepped up from first doubles into third singles when Scott Shloogian injured his knee and was forced down to doubles with junior Nick Mastro.

"We just missed the state tournament because a couple of rained-out matches, before the cutoff killed us," said Hudak.

Hudak said he also "is looking for big things" from sophomores Kyle Venerable and Nike Betar, who were 2-1 in second doubles. The junior varsity also has some good prospects coming up from the 5-6 team.

Notes... After losing two matches early in the week, Brick Memorial’s boys clinched a winning season in its final match, a 3-2 victory over Toms River East, as Colin Przybylowski won a three-setter in second singles including a second-set tie-break victory (9-7).

— Wayne Witkowski