(Left to right) Dave Armstrong, Marty Beres, Tim Molnar, Wes Davis, Ricky Garrett, Chris Thomas, Bob Schade and Rob Perry. (Photo by Larry Bennet)

Pirates off to hot start on the courts
By Zachary Dzurick
Sports
Published April 26, 2006

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Rocky River won their first SWC title in 14 years last season and they did it with a team full of underclassmen.

With an intact line-up bolstered with jack-of-all-trades junior Wes Davis, the Pirates not only have dominated the WSC early but have made a statement with some big tournament wins the last few weeks.

First up after a runner-up finish last year, the Pirates won their own eight team River Invitational for the first time since 1991. The line-up included talented teams in St. Ignatius, Walsh Jesuit, Beachwood and CVCA. Last weekend the Pirates traveled to Columbus where they won the Westerville South tournament that featured the top teams of central Ohio.

The result has been some rather gaudy numbers for the undefeated team. Heading into play on Monday, junior Ricky Garrett is 16-0, senior Dave Armstrong is 15-1 at second singles, senior Tim Molnar is 15-1 at third singles. The first doubles team of junior Bobby Schade and junior Chris Thomas are 13-3 and the revolving threesome of senior Marty Beres, senior Rob Perry and Davis are a combined 14-2. That makes an impressive total of 73-7.

But that is what the team expected of themselves.

“We had pretty high expectations for ourselves after last season which was a pretty good season,” Molnar said.

Even with last season’s title and 22-3 record, the team still had a chip on its shoulder. Winning the Pirate Invitational was a signal that Rocky River can play with the top teams in the state.

“It was a good win since everyone always counts us out,” Armstrong said. “We proved we are just as good as the top ten teams in the state.”

While the lineup is intact, there is the added pressure of having four seniors playing their last round of high school tennis.

“We are the same team as last year but the four seniors are determined to go out on top,” Armstrong said. “We are the same team, but there is a little more pressure.”

Coach Jeff Sinnema, now in his 30th season as head coach, likes how his team has handled that pressure.

“Last year Dave was quoted in the school yearbook that the team started feeling its oats a little and then we got bit by North Olmsted and lost to Avon Lake,” Sinnema said. “That was a great learning experience for the kids and they don’t want it to happen again. We have worked hard and they have not become complacent. My main job is to keep them calm. They can get worked up and if you start talking to yourself on the court you are going to be in trouble. They have done a good job of staying low key and focused.”

The emergence of Davis also provides piece of mind.

“Wes Davis has added a lot of depth to the team,” Sinnema said. “We are rotating him at second doubles and when he isn’t playing there he is playing first singles on the reserve team. So if something happens at any position, he is right there.”

Leaving the traditionally tough SWC, Sinnema made sure to keep the schedule as difficult as possible.

“We have beefed up our independent schedule with St. Ignatius, Walsh Jesuit and the SWC schools we are used to,” he said. “We have to keep that high level competition if we are going to improve ourselves.”

Just how much can the Pirates achieve this season? First they would like to lock up the WSC and then take their chances in both the Coaches Cup and state tournament.

“One of our big goals is to become WSC champs,” Garrett said. “We would also like to make to the final 16 of the D-II state tournament. We would like a chance to play University School, which is a pretty tough team. Also we would like to get a few people through sectionals this year.”