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PREP TENNIS
Charney, Knights finally on the winning side of scores
The fourth seed in the sectional tournament, the junior is enjoying Greenon's success.
Thursday, May 08, 2008
SPRINGFIELD — Quinn Charney and his Greenon boys tennis teammates know all about paying your dues.
They dutifully took their lumps the past two seasons with visions of better days ahead.
Quinn Charney charges up to a lob by Southeastern's Austin Mercer on Wednesday, May 7. Charney, 15-3 as a junior, is looking forward to his senior season when his Greenon team should have everyone back.Now they have arrived, and the Knights are competitive in nearly every match.
Charney has led that charge, beating everyone in Clark County with the exception of North's Lee Dixon, who is not on Greenon's schedule. Charney sports a 15-3 record for the 11-7 Knights.
"Last year, he was just under the .500 mark," said Greenon coach Jeff Nickles. "And he got thrown to the wolves his freshman year, having to play first singles. The last couple of years, he's been learning and that has paid off.
"There have been matches when he hasn't played very well, but still found a way to win. He is figuring out what to do to win when one of his best tools isn't working. That's a good sign."
So is Charney's attitude.
"I've got a lot more confidence now," said the junior. "I've been in this situation (playing first singles) for three years now, so I'm used to it.
"I wanted to be where I was, even though I knew it would be tough. I knew it would make me a better player someday."
That someday is now. Charney, whose father is his personal coach, garnered the fourth seed in singles for next week's Division II sectional tournament in Troy.
The surprising thing about his rise to the elite level is that Charney is not a year-round player like most of the area's top-flight tennis standouts.
"That's what boggles my mind," said Nickles. "He plays golf in the fall and basketball over the winter. He gets in a couple of tournaments in the summer, but it's not like he is going around playing tennis all the time.
"He's an athlete. No. 1 he knows what it takes to win; No. 2 he has the ability."
He also loves the competition.
"I like having really competitive matches," said Charney, who said his goal this season was 15 wins, which he should end up passing. "It's a lot more fun that way."
And fun is exactly what his Knights are having.
"We don't have any seniors, so we've got everyone coming back next year," Charney said excitedly. "I told everyone to work hard and maybe we can win the league title next year.
"It's been a great year. This is the best year for Greenon tennis in I don't know how long."
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0364 or krowe@coxohio.com.
