By Jimmy Allinder
Life was good for the Monroe Township High School boys’ tennis team, as it regularly finished atop the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) standings.
However, the Falcons were elevated to the Red Division this season and competition is tough — much tougher than in the past.
“We now have to play John P. Stevens [High School], East Brunswick [High School] and South Brunswick [High School], who are among the many teams in the division with outstanding programs,” coach Matt Olszewski said. “It has taken a lot of work to adapt to the added strength of our schedule, but the team has responded well.”
The Falcons are currently 6-3 overall and are behind the Hawks, Bears and Vikings in the division standings. In addition to being able to achieve a respectable record against stiffer competition, the lineup features just one senior. He is second singles Vishal Gumidyala who has a 5-3 record.
Junior Vikram Manisankar is 5-3 in the tough first singles spot, and sophomore Harshit Gupta is 5-1 at third singles. The sophomore finished fourth at the recently completed GMC Tournament.
In doubles competition, junior Dan Vudin and sophomore Nithin Rajesh have combined for a 5-1 record, and they too advanced to the GMC Tournament third-place match. The second doubles duo of junior Pranav Mallampalli and Sohan Madimsetty have also recorded a 5-1 record.
