o'connell tennis

O’Connell Tennis Team Blends Youth, Experience

By David Steinbacher
Special to the HERALD
(From the Issue of 4/5/07)

The Bishop O'Connell varsity boys’ tennis team is off to one of its finest starts in recent seasons. The Knights, coached by Bob Kluba, have a good blend of older and younger players in 2007.
O’Connell won its first six matches in convincing fashion. In chronological order the Knights defeated Paul VI Catholic (9-0), St. John’s (8-1), Good Counsel (9-0), Bishop Ireton (9-0), St. Mary's Ryken (9-0) and McNamara (9-0).
The Knights then hit the "meat" of their schedule and dropped consecutive matches to Gonzaga (7-2), DeMatha (5-4) and Potomac (McLean) (8-1).
Consequently, O'Connell weighs-in at 6-3 overall at the approximate halfway point of the season.
Eight players have seen varsity action for the Knights this season. Senior Emilio Barajas-Alexander (singles #1) weighs-in at 6-2 on the season.
Regarding his top player Kluba said, "Emilio is a real tournament player. He's got a complete game. He is ranked in the 20s in the mid-Atlantic regarding all of the players that are 18 [years old] and younger. He has signed with Longwood University for next season."
Senior Josh Labat (#2) weighs-in at 5-3 on the season. "Josh is very strong physically,” said Kluba. “He is a good player and has a lot of good mechanics."
Senior Jordan Freeman (#3) has a record of 6-2. "Jordan is a good all-around player,” said his coach. “He is good at singles. If anything, I sort of wish that his foot speed could be improved."
Freshman Michael Retta (#4) is 6-3 on the season. "Michael is the third Retta that I've coached here (two older brothers that graduated from O'Connell). He is learning what it takes to compete at the high school level. Michael has come on very well as of late," said Kluba.
Four other Knights have also seen action this season. More often than not junior Lawrence Franco has played singles #5 and currently is 6-3 overall. Three juniors have competed at singles #6 and also have played at other spots in the lineup.
Junior Alex Rojas (6-1 overall), junior Colin Neils (2-0 overall) and junior Chris Miller (3-0) round out the roster.
Regarding the doubles situation, Kluba said, "Chemistry is very important in doubles. We've been switching people around trying to see who plays best with whom."
In the WCAC teams play each other twice during the regular season and then meet in early May at the College Park, Md. Tennis Center for the WCAC tournament.
"The key to our success will be how well we prepare going into each and every match. I feel that our players can compete with anybody if they properly focus. Some of the time losing is good - it reaffirms how hard we need to work [going into the next match]. I strongly feel that we can finish first or second and no worse than third at the upcoming WCAC Tournament," said Kluba.
The Knights are scheduled to compete against St. Stephens/St. Agnes (April
3 at Bluemont Park); Paul VI (April 4 - away) and St. John’s (April 5 – away).