Tufts poised to have best season in recent memory

On Monday, March 16, the men’s tennis team begins its regular season play against Denison in Claremont, Calif. This will jumpstart its official three-game trip on the West Coast over spring break, in which Tufts will also play against No. 15 Pomona-Pitzer and No. 25 Cal Lutheran.

Tufts finished last year with a 9-9 record, its lowest win total since 2010, and suffered a 5-0 loss to Williams in the opening round of the NESCAC championships. The Jumbos also suffered internal turmoil, as the process of changing head coaches dragged on throughout the season.

This year, however, marks a brand new start for both the players and coaching staff. Karl Gregor, who has been an assistant coach for the Jumbos for the past three years, is in his first season as the head coach, a shift that both he and the players are excited about.

“Coach Gregor is probably one of the best, if not the best, coach in all of [Div. III] tennis,” junior co-captain Rob Jacobson said. “This season he has taken a collection of tennis players and turned us into a team. He’s instilled in the team the value of hard work, and we strive every day to be the hardest working team in the country, constantly pushing the envelope on how far we can continue to improve."

Junior Nick Cary is also excited to play under his new coach, referencing the immediate benefits that his promotion has produced.

“[Now] he’s fully able to communicate what he wants with no obstruction,” Cary said. “It is much more clear where he wants us to be at in terms of practicing, training and getting to know each other.”

“It’s always been a goal of mine to be a head coach,” said Gregor, “For me, it's exciting being able to put my philosophy and coaching style to work and see how it yields results for good and bad. It’s a real learning experience. So far I think I have gotten some good, positive feedback, but the real test is still upon us.”

The Jumbos enter this season with eight first-year players, the most since their 2010 season. This first-year class has been especially praised for its outstanding play, especially in invitationals this past fall. In the B flight of Boston Men’s Tennis invitational, Cary and first-year Rohan Gupte finished as runners-up. First-years Griffin Brockman and Danny Coran also placed at the invitational.

“All of them can contribute and compete in the starting lineup,” said Coach Gregor. “They really have been able to push everyone in the lineup. That’s something we haven’t had in the past, we’ve always had a little disparity between ... the starting lineup [and the developing players,] where the other guys ... couldn’t legitimately push the top six, but that’s not the case this year. They are all vying for a starting spot, and right now I anticipate two freshmen starting, but that’s just going into the season."

As far as conference play goes, the NESCAC is largely recognized as the most competitive conference in the country. Five NESCAC teams reside in the preseason top 25 including No. 2 Amherst, No. 4 Middlebury, No. 12 Williams, No. 18 Bowdoin and No. 24 Trinity. Last season, Amherst won the National Championship, and in 2013 Williams claimed the title. Tufts finished 4-6 in the NESCAC last year and, despite its improved state, will need to put together a great season in order to beat that record. The Jumbos, however, are confident.

“I am excited to see how we do against teams we’ve lost to in the past,”  Cary said. “Whether we do better against them or actually win, I think we’re ready for them.”

Jacobson is excited for what the season holds as well.

“The team is in the best shape that we’ve been in during the three seasons that I’ve played, both physically and mentally,” Jacobson said. “We have some outstanding freshman players who came in this season and pushed the older guys to improve, which has been a huge benefit for us. It has been really fun in my first season as captain to watch the team come together and become so close through daily hard work — I think that this year we will have the best results that Tufts as seen, and I am incredibly excited to be a part of it."

Coach Gregor echoed Jacobson’s optimism.

“The trajectory over the last five seasons, for the most part, has only been up,” said Gregor, “I would say on paper that this is the most talented team that Tufts has had in over a decade, and the key is can we translate that talent into results. I think that we’re going to have one of our best seasons in recent history."