The future is looking bright for Princeton's tennis teams, as both squads add promising freshmen in the Class of 2009.
After playing to a 3-4 Ivy League record this past season, the men's team will need immediate contributions from its four new players if it is to improve next year.
The first new player is Alex Krueger-Wyman of Pasadena, Calif. Krueger-Wyman, ranked among the nation's 50 best players, will most likely make an impact right away in doubles. Head coach Glenn Michibata noted that doubles is usually the weakest point of a pre-collegiate athlete's game, and for the most part has to be taught at the university. But in Krueger-Wyman's case, doubles should be no problem.
"Alex knows how to play," Michibata said, adding that Krueger-Wyman already has many of the doubles skills that coaches look for. His serve-and-volley style of play will also bring a new dimension to the program.
Lefty Alex Vuckovic from Tampa, Fl., will also join the Tigers. Another member of the nation's top 50, Vuckovic plays a solid all-around game. Strong groundstrokes, volleys and serves, combined with a highly motivated attitude give him multiple weapons on the court.
Next is 22-year-old Peter Capkovic, who hails from Slovakia. Michibata came in contact with Capkovic through another Slovakian player at Southern California, where Michibata was formerly an assistant coach. Though an NCAA bylaw requires that he sit out his first year because of his age, Capkovic may eventually turn out to be the star of the recruiting class. Capkovic, not technically a professional, is nonetheless ranked among the world's 600 best players, according to the Association of Tennis Professionals. In recent years, he has earned wins over players ranked in the top 30. He has aspirations of playing professionally after college, and Michibata added that Capkovic could make a serious bid for the NCAA individual championship in years to come. The coach also remarked that Capkovic could bring more national exposure to Princeton tennis.
The final new player is Dorian Rolston from Toronto, Canada. Rolston's tennis career has seen significant obstacles. Until age 16, Rolston was a force to be reckoned with on the court, as he was consistently ranked among Canada's top five. He was involved in a serious bike accident, however, that could have stopped him from ever competing again. Rolston sustained nerve damage in his dominant arm, but he persevered through his injury to get back into competition form.
"He wouldn't take no for an answer," Michibata said.
Rolston has recently begun playing tournaments again and has advanced to several semifinal matches, despite serving underhand for the most part. Though Rolston's injury may delay what would be an immediate impact on the team, Michibata emphasized that having someone who has endured and is overcoming hardship will serve to bolster the team's morale.
Michibata explained that not only would these freshmen compete for the top six spots on the team, but they could even earn a spot in the top three or four. He concluded that if everyone stays healthy, this could be the best recruiting class he's seen since he started coaching at Princeton.
The women's team will lose only two seniors to graduation this year, and, with only one 2009 recruit, the Tigers should be glad they have so many starters returning.
The lone official addition is Kelly Stewart from Malibu, Calif. Head coach Kathy Sell noted that tennis is in Stewart's blood. Her father is her coach, and her brother Doug is ranked No. 12 in the nation in singles at the University of Virginia. Stewart is ranked among the top 20 players in Southern California, a region of the country with particularly strong tennis competition, and she should make an immediate impact for Princeton.
Two walk-ons may also join the Tigers. Kristen Scott of Maryland and Julia Ling of California will be trying out for the team in the fall.
The women's class may not be as highly touted as the men's, but the freshmen will try to help Princeton improve from a third-place, 4-3 Ivy record.
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