State champion Sharnov, Mustangs District’s aces

BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

It was Andrew Sharnov, Marlboro, and everybody else in boys tennis.Sharnov made school and Freehold Regional District history this spring when he became the first tennis player to win the state singles championship.

With Sharnov at the top of the lineup at first singles, Marlboro dominated Shore tennis again. Dave Kretzmer’s Mustangs won their third straight Shore Conference (SC) Tournament championship, finished first in the A North Division for a fourth straight year and won the Monmouth County Flight tournament. They lost just one match (to East Brunswick in the Central Jersey Group IV semifinals) and were ranked 13th in the state.

Overshadowed by the Mustangs were the Freehold Borough Colonials and Manalapan Braves.

The Colonials were one of the Shore’s most improved teams, making it to the SC and state tournaments. Manalapan lost it top two singles players during the season, but still qualified for the SC and CJ Group IV tournaments.

Marlboro’s singles lineup of Sharnov, Steve Morris and Landon Goodman head the 2005 All-Freehold Regional District boys tennis team. Joining them in the singles lineup are Manalapan’s Casey Jedlinski and Evan Schwartz.

The doubles teams belong to Marlboro in Matt Schwartz and Garret Glassman, and Ariel Roytenberg and Ilan Gamburg.

What else can be said of Sharnov, who put together the finest career in District history. He was 28-0 this spring and topped it all off with his three-set victory over Newark Academy’s Dan Urban in the state final, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. It was the culmination of a four-year journey by Sharnov that began when he was a freshman.

He served notice that season by reaching the quarterfinals in the state singles tournament. As a sophomore and junior, he advanced to the semifinals. This year, he was ready for the next step and took it.

A stronger first serve enabled him to serve many opponents off the court. But steadier ground strokes and better mobility on the court made him a more complete player, capable of winning any kind of match. In the state final, he was able to hang back and outrally an opponent, Urban, who was supposed to be steadier from the backcourt. That victory was an example of just how complete a player Sharnov became, and why he was able to go through the season facing tough competition, undefeated.

There were many milestones reached by Sharnov. He was the first player to win 100 matches in a career, finishing with a remarkable 107-9 mark. He’ll continue his tennis at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania.

Morris is a bulldog on the court. He doesn’t win his matches pretty, but he wins them nonetheless by attrition, keeping the ball in play and outworking his opponents. Morris made a significant contribution to Marlboro’s success championship and lost just one match during the dual-meet season. Glassman is a senior and Schwartz is a junior.

Roytenberg and Gamburg represent the future of Marlboro tennis. Both are sophomores, and although better suited for singles, played well as a tandem and were a reliable point for the Mustangs during matches.

Earning Honorable Mention for 2005 is Derek Kong, of Freehold Borough, and for the last four years. He won 21 matches during the season and qualified from second singles for the state single tournament.

Goodman, a lefty, was the link to Marlboro’s top-to-bottom, strongest singles lineup in the Shore. He was 24-4 for Marlboro and won his flight at the Monmouth County tournament.

Sharnov, Morris and Goodman were together for all three of Marlboro’s SC Tournament championships. As sophomores, they won the Group IV state title and were ranked No. 1 in the state for much of the season. When Kretzmer said he’ll miss the trio, he means it.

“They’re a great bunch of kids, and I’m proud to be their coach,” Kretzmer said.

Jedlinski played every singles position for Manalapan and finished the regular season at 21-1 with his only loss to Sharnov. He reached the round of 16 at the state tournament, and won the second singles title at the Monmouth County Flight championships. The senior helped hold things together for the Braves, who advanced to the state sectional quarterfinals.

Schwartz, like Jedlinski, moved up the ranks as the Braves lost Grant Van Rensburg (to USTA junior tour) and Alex Pritsker (for disciplinary reasons). Schwartz started the season at first doubles and ended up playing second singles where he only lost one match. He helped keep the Braves competitive.

Glassman and Schwartz became a team during the season and quickly blossomed into the area’s best. They won the county.