NEWBURGH, N.Y. - After finishing as the Skyline Conference runner-up in the 2014 campaign, the men's tennis team will begin a new era under newly appointed head coach Eric Sturgis this upcoming season. Sturgis comes in with 11 years of coaching experience, and has coached seven individual Michigan State Champions, three doubles State Champions, and he took Troy High School to its highest-ever finish in school history in 2007.
 
Sturgis has high expectations for the 2015 season, and believes the team can bounce back after losing five players from last year's squad, including Greg Jacob, the program's all-time win leader and a four-time Skyline All-Conference Team member.
 
"We definitely lost five good tennis players, which is obviously hard to replace, but I like the eight guys we have now," said Sturgis. "I'm confident that we can get back into the playoffs and compete for a Skyline Championship."
 
Four of the eight players on the Knight's 2015 roster are returning student-athletes from last season.
 
Of the returning players, junior Dan Witke (Brooklyn, N.Y.) recorded the best record in 2014. In his second season with the Knights, he posted an 11-2 record at No. 4 singles, and was perfect against Skyline opponents with a 6-0 record.
 
Senior returner Connor Bean (Glenville, N.Y.) also had an impressive 2014 season, going undefeated in Skyline Conference play at 6-0, and recording a 13-4 overall record. He went a perfect 7-0 at No. 6 singles last year.
 
Junior returner Joe Borden (Newburgh, N.Y.) will look to improve on his 2014 season, where he played No. 6 singles, and went 4-1 overall. Borden is said to have a great touch at the net, which should help him have a successful 2015 campaign.
 
Witke, Bean, and Borden will be playing the top-three singles spots this upcoming season, and will look to transition smoothly and thrive in their new roles on the team.
 
Senior Bryan Frank (West Babylon, N.Y.) will also be returning to the Knights this year, after winning his only doubles match in 2014, going 1-0 on the year.
 
The Knights have added four new players to their roster for the upcoming season. Seniors Shane McLoughlin (Washingtonville, N.Y.) and Joel Rodriguez will each be joining the squad this year. Rodriguez comes in with four years of tennis experience at the high school level, and both players will be looking to help the team improve upon an impressive 2014 season.
 
Freshmen Chris Jaros (Malboro, N.Y.) and Connor Gargan (Rocky Point, N.Y) will also be adding depth to the team this upcoming season. Both of these players experienced success in their high school careers. Jaros was tabbed a two-time MVP for Marlboro High School, and Gargan was an All-League selection.
 
The Knights were selected to finish third in the Skyline Coaches' Preseason Poll after receiving 28 points and one first place vote. The team begins its 2015 campaign on Sunday, March 14, against The City College of New York at MatchPoint Tennis Club in Goshen, N.Y. at 6 p.m.

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