GREAT SCOTT: Princeton Day School boys’ tennis player Scott Altmeyer follows through on a shot last week at the Mercer County Tournament. Junior Altmeyer won the third singles crown at the MCT, helping PDS take fourth of 16 schools in the team standings.

The wind was swirling around Mercer County Park last Thursday as the temperature hovered in the low 40s but the chill didn’t bother Scott Altmeyer.

Competing in the third singles final at the Mercer County Tournament, Princeton Day School boys’ tennis junior star Altmeyer was sizzling.

Playing in his shirtsleeves without any extra layers unlike many bundled up in winter clothes around the tennis complex, Altmeyer rolled to a 6-0, 6-1 win over Tyler Hack of Princeton High for the title.

“I thought I played very well by my standards,” said Altmeyer. “I was hitting a lot of shots that I usually don’t hit and I was getting a lot of balls back that I usually don’t get back. I felt I was playing some of the best tennis I have played this season so far.”

Altmeyer’s big day helped PDS take fourth of 16 schools in the team standings at the event. Freshman Lex Decker finished third in second singles to provide another big highlight for the Panthers.

For Altmeyer, winning the title was a confidence booster. “I am very happy about it,” said Altmeyer, noting that he had lost to Kabir Sarita of WW/P-S in the third singles final at the 2014 MCT.

“I hope I can use this to jumpstart the rest of the season. My game just feels all around better, I am playing a little more outside of school.

In Altmeyer’s view, playing at the MCT also benefits the team, bringing the players closer together.

“It is so much fun, it is the most camaraderie with your teammates, cheering everybody on,” said Altmeyer. “It is one of the tournaments I look forward to.”

After taking a hiatus from the game during middle school, Altmeyer is savoring being on the court with his teammates.

“I got burned out and just took some time off for myself,” said Altmeyer, noting that he had five stress fractures in his left foot.

“I didn’t feel like playing any more. The reason I am back is because I am loving to play the sport again and I am having a lot of fun with it.”

PDS head coach Will Asch loved watching Altmeyer roll to the third singles title.

“This is the best tennis that he has played all year, he was hitting the ball hard and mentally he was very tough,” asserted Asch. “It didn’t seem like anybody could beat him today, it was one of those days.”

Noting that Altmeyer was hampered by illness earlier this spring, Asch believes that his junior star is peaking.

“He was playing great last year,” said Asch. “He came back from India after spring break and he wasn’t feeling well. I feel now that he is not only playing as well as last year but probably even a little bit better. In four weeks, his tennis has come a long way.”

Freshman Lex Decker came a long way at the MCT, rallying to pull out a three-set win over Rohan Yadav of Hightstown in the third-place match at second singles.

“I think it was a character win for Lex, it is tough for a freshman to beat an older kid at the Mercer County,” said Asch of Decker, who prevailed 3-6, 6-4, 6-0.

“You know it is going to be hard when a freshman has adversity and he has to learn how to overcome it. I think what made the difference is that he won the last three games of the second set. He had a battle with himself in the first set and a half. He had some bad luck in the beginning and he got a little down. Then … he persevered … and started to outplay him in the second set. In the third set, he just believed; he just knew that he could do it. There wasn’t any doubt and he just went out and took care of business.”

Asch is confident that his team can take care of business as it goes for a third straight state Prep B title in mid-May.

“I like our team; I like our chances,” said Asch. “We have won it the last two years. I think our team is probably a little bit stronger this year than last year. We lost Neeraj (Devulapalli) but now we have Lex. Scott is playing a lot better. I think we are incredibly strong in that second and third singles. Anupreeth (Coramutla) is a very good player at first singles; he won last year.”

Altmeyer, for his part, believes that PDS can produce a strong finish. “We have a good group; I have a lot of good friends in there,” said Altmeyer. “I am very confident in what we can do.”