By David Balick
The men’s tennis team is hoping that new head coach Mike Sowter will bring with him a new and brighter chapter in the team’s history. The team is poised and ready for this new era, and it recognizes that it starts with this spring season.
The team is hoping that it can improve upon the 6-16 record that it posted in the 2013-2014 season. However, the odds are stacked against it, as the team comes into this spring ranked 11th out of 12 A-10 teams.
“I want to be realistic,” said Sowter. “I don’t have expectations that we are going to win the conference, but if we can get to .500 on the season and make sure all the freshmen progress and have a good showing at the conference finals, then we will be pleased.”
The progress of the freshmen will be key for the Rams, who are starting three freshmen in their lineup. While this is not the first recruiting class with the new head coach, it will be the first class that he gets to truly develop throughout its time at Fordham.
However, the seniors will be of equal importance in showing the younger players the ropes of Division I tennis.
Senior captain J.J. Tauil knows how important this can be. “My freshman year, we assembled the best team Fordham has ever seen, and things have gone down a little bit, but our future looks bright and we will not be unnoticed,” he said.
In Tauil’s freshman year, the Rams finished 17-10. That number may be tough to match, but Tauil has other important goals on his mind for this season. “As captain, I’m looking to really leave a mark on the younger kids on the team and try to teach them and help them grow their games as much as possible,” Tauil said. “Additionally, this is my last year of real competitive tennis, and it’s been something I’ve been at for years and is a big part of who I am and who I will always be. That being said, I look to give everything I have with every match, win or lose, but step off the court knowing that I had nothing left, and that’s how I intend on being until my very last match.”
Max Peara will also start during his final year at Fordham.
Unfortunately, the team will miss senior starter Mischa Koran, who is out for the season with complications from hip surgery.
Representing the junior class is Pedro Alonzo. This is Alonzo’s second year as a starter for the team, and he has continued to move up in positions in the lineup.
The rest of the team is made up of freshmen. While young, they are quickly gaining experience and learning the ropes. Pol Giraldez has already succeeded early in this season and hopes he continues to improve.
Other freshmen include Joey Brander, Joseph Kavaloski and Harris Durkovic. While they all have to learn on the fly, this early experience will pay off later down the road during their time at Fordham.
Holding the team together is new head coach Mike Sowter, who has enjoyed his brief time as head coach so far. “Everyone is buying into it and improving everyday. It’s been a fun process so far,” Sowter said.
Sowter, who hails from Australia, played collegiate tennis at Marist College. He went on to be the head coach of both the men’s and women’s tennis teams at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. He was very successful, earning Great West Conference Coach of the Year for his coaching of the women’s team in 2011.
At Fordham, Sowter will look to leave his mark on this program. “I want to bring stability,” he said. “I want them to know there is someone here they can rely on and depend on.”
The Rams have started off this season with a 2-5 record, but hope that this will improve as everyone grows accustomed to one another. The team is motivated and ready to make the commitment needed.
“As long as we keep working hard and doing what we are supposed to, it’s going to be a good season,” said Sowter.
