Q: Tennis is a sport where players are ranked on a team - #1 through #6 - so each player plays at their competitive level in tournaments. I noticed being around these young men that this might be the deepest team 1 through 6 that you have had in recent years. Can you speak to that a bit?

The young men this season were strong, with very little difference from top to bottom. Logan Wasilk played at #1, he was the most experienced and competed with everyone he played, earning a lot of praise from opposing coaches. Not only that, he was great at helping others learn and develop. Jon Stec played #2, but he might very well be one of the best Doubles Players we have had come through the program. His singles skills grew as the season progressed. Our team captain, Cory Freed, was #3 and would sleep at the courts if he could. He improved so much and his drive to succeed was extremely passionate about the team and the sport. Cholo Ferrelino was the quietest player I might have ever coached, he let his game do the talking. He had the correct demeanor to deal with close matches, giving him an advantage over his opponents at #4. Chris Weber, a Cary Grove product, was strong. He reminded me of Michael Jordan with his determination to get better. I watched him improve from last year's high school player to a very formidable #5.  Kevin Ramirez rounded out the starting line-up with an athletic approach to playing and had a motor that didn't stop. He also was fun to be around, which endeared him to the rest of the team. Of course, we had a bench player, Colin Braun, who won one of the biggest matches of the season when he had to replace Logan at #1 for a match. He worked hard and was deeply supportive of his fellow teammates, a great example of what we want in our program.

To the point of having a competitive team, do they push each other like players of equal skill do in other sports? Guessing it makes for great practices and scrimmages. Can you talk about this just a bit?

I had a lot of fun with these guys. When someone would work on a skill, they did push each other, and they often share ideas and methods to improve their games. When a teammate would win, it was a celebration for everyone, and when they would lose, there was a great deal of support.

Your record was 5-5 and you had mainly Freshmen. I am guessing you have high hopes for next season. Can you speak to some goals you might have for them next year?

I approach the seasons as just sections of their time here at MCC. We have a solid group of returners and have drawn in a few players from surrounding schools that will continue the atmosphere. Now that we know what it is like, we are more prepared to head into next spring. We want to out-hustle and be more athletic than our opponents, and we have seen what it is like. We want to show up at a match and have the other team say, "Uh No, here they come… They are going to play hard and make us.

Cory Freed was the lone sophomore on your men's team. I saw him improve from last year and also saw him leading much more. What can you tell me about the impact a player like Cory has on others?

He was the heart and soul of our team this year. He stepped up as the leader early on and was embraced by his teammates. He showed what hard work looked like (like I mentioned earlier, he was at the courts as often as he could). He thought of drills and ideas to work on, coached his teammates as we got set to play another squad, advised them on how the tournament worked, and was always inclusive and supported everyone. He was our student team manager for the women's team, helping with practices and drills. He was a stable presence with all the players as well as a reference for them. He was encouraging and patient… no wonder he is going to be a teacher and a coach after his college career is complete.

When you have this many Freshmen what can you do to develop them to have an even more competitive season next year? What does the off-season look like for these young men?

There is nothing like experiencing an event to provide fuel to handle it the next time. Coming out of high school most were used to being the top dog on their team and controlling matches. When they discovered the level of play, they learned what they needed to tighten up, develop, and avoid. I have already begun a process with our wonderful fitness center to create an off-season workout. We have a positive mental attitude, now we bring our bodies to a colligate level of athleticism. If we want to take the next step of being a team to be reckoned with, we need to develop more strength and power to what we already do well.

This year was unique, in that your women's team qualified for Nationals. They start their season in the Fall and end it in the spring when Men start to play. So you were tasked with coaching two teams for part of the spring. That had to be fun, but what were some of the challenges?

A very interesting question, for you are on the right track with fun and challenges. It was great to get the two teams together, something that we did in the fall as well (a couple of schools like to have us bring the "other" team (women AND men) so we can play against other schools). Tennis is becoming a year-long sport so getting the chance to hit during the off-season benefits everyone. The teams got along well, though I will admit, the women were a little more gregarious than the men, but several of them came from the same high school (Woodstock North) so they already knew each other. The biggest challenge? Space (is this where I get a chance to lobby for courts on campus?) The Racket Club is extremely generous and hospitable but they are also a business that has other clients, so space is a premium. Combined practices indoors (Illinois weather) limit some of the items we can do, but the players were excellent with it.

Your women played against some of the nation's best teams during Nationals, can you speak to that experience?

In a word, awesome! The ladies represented MCC with class and dignity. We got on the scoreboard (Alivia Adams got a solid win in her bracket) and were competitive in our matches. We were a bit outgunned, mainly because of experience and skill development, BUT what the top teams did was what we do, just were a little more polished at it. As I coach, I was educated on what we can do to close the gap, and honestly, it is not as wide as it might appear. I can do a lot more as a coach, that will help give our players more to create a more competitive balance. I was proud of the girls and their efforts, and since it was our first time being in this scenario, we now have knowledge to help make us increase our presence next year and beyond.

Overall, you had great seasons with Tennis in 2023/24, what are the goals for the men's and women's teams next year? Are there any recruits that are coming in next year that you can speak of?

What's the correct term, reload, not rebuild? We have a solid foundation in both squads and it will continue the success. For the Women, Elaina (#2) and Alivia (#6) return, Izzy and Michelle from Johnsburg give us an incredible class of incoming freshman, and fortunately, that is just the tip of the iceberg. Ashley, Izzy, Adelynn, and Molly give us a "Great Eight" that will take us back to Texas. On the men's side, Jon, Chris, Kevin, and Colin return and Nate (Katrina's brother) and Ben join us along with a couple of others that we will hopefully be able to add giving us the formidable lineup that will give us a chance to push to the upper half of our region. Our main goal though is to have fun and represent MCC well.

I see every year your teams start off quietly competitive and then become more aware of their potential success, as the season moves onward. Is there anything you do to help foster that positive spirit?

I have already started my "Tuesday Tennis Talks" a little video I send out on Tuesdays to stay in touch with the players over the summer. I want them to have fun, winning isn't always the most important, however winning does lead to more fun. I want them to enjoy themselves when they play, there is a lot of effort to practice, travel, balancing work and school, so I want them to get the most out of it. I also tend to be a little looser to let them know that we should be having a positive experience and not dread their time on the team.

During the season you play some tough teams. Your players remain focused and always seem to end up ready for any competitive match, whether the team is winning or losing. It is a trait I admire in your athletes. Can you talk to this mental aptitude? 

When I recruit, I mention to them that I will spend a lot of time working on their head and mental approach. Their attitude is so important. If they want to play and want to get better, they can by putting their mind to it. Not wanting to improve or deciding to not listen is an individual choice, but it can make for results that are less than desirable. I believe that everyone can improve, but sometimes their attitude gets in the way.