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 (Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) caption:
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Relieved of Pressure to Be Perfect, Hoeland Cruises to 4th MCT Title
By Bill Alden
Chris Hoeland put a lot of pressure on himself coming into his final season with the Princeton High boys' tennis team.
Ascending to first singles after being in the shadow of graduated superstar Ilia Shatashvili, Hoeland had his sights set on a perfect regular season.
Hoeland's bubble was burst in mid-April when he fell in straight sets to Princeton Day School freshman Dave Holland.
That setback, though, seemed to lift a weight from Hoeland's shoulders. Coming into last week's Mercer County Tournament (MCT) at Mercer County park, Hoeland's game was in fine form and he was primed to add an MCT title at first singles to the two titles he had won at third singles and his one second singles crown.
Hoeland didn't drop a set as he cruised to the final where he found his nemesis Holland standing between him and that fourth straight MCT crown.
Featuring a booming serve and fuelled by a desire for payback, Hoeland posted a sweet 6-3, 6-3 victory over the precocious Holland.
"I was a little angry after that loss to Holland," said Hoeland. "I kept telling people I didn't want to hear that name until I play him again."
Hoeland acknowledged that he came into the rematch with a different approach. "I was definitely more aggressive this time," asserted Hoeland. "I was more aggressive at the right time. In the last match, I was aggressive but not on the right shots."
As a result, Hoeland took his game to a higher level. "This was definitely my best match of the season," declared Hoeland, who plans to continue his tennis career at Washington University in St. Louis.
"Earlier this season, I wasn't that pleased with my matches. I wasn't playing as smart as I should."
Hoeland was pleased to join the select few who have won four MCT singles titles. "It's a nice way to end my MCT career," said Hoeland, who is the sixth player to accomplish the feat of winning four MCT titles. "It's especially nice when you win first singles in your last year. That's pretty special."
In the view of PHS head coach Paul Lynch, Hoeland's game has been special since the early setback to Holland. "That Holland match was a turning point for Chris," asserted Lynch.
"The loss really focused him. He's played extremely well since that loss. His game has picked up a notch. He was putting a lot of pressure on himself that he didn't need. The loss to Holland ended that expectation of being perfect and it has relaxed him."
Hoeland, for his part, is taking a more relaxed approach as he heads down the homestretch of his PHS career.
"I've eased off a lot," maintained a grinning Hoeland, who will be looking to make an impact in the state singles tournament later this spring.
"I kept telling my teammates to just have fun. Some of them have been telling me that I have been taking this fun thing too seriously."
If Hoeland can keep playing like he did at the MCT, he should be having some serious fun the rest of the spring.
