Senior Todd Sweeney is a four-year veteran and captain of the Cranford High School boys tennis team. His early season performances include singles wins at Johnson and Dayton, and Sweeney has helped propel the team to a 3-3 record in his final year with the Cougars.
How’s the seasons going?
“We have a lot of great athletes who just joined the team and have a lot of potential that are coming up. We have a really good camaraderie among the team, but JV has a good time as well, it’s a really great program.”
“If we do stay focused and keep our heads in the game, I think we could definitely beat some good teams in the county and potentially in the state tournament this year. We definitely have some great athletes, and people who have been playing tennis for a long time, so the experience is there.”
You have a new coach, Robert Caparruva. What kind of energy has he brought to the team?
“Mr. Caparruva is a really intense guy. He’s mainly a basketball coach, so he’s really good in pressure situations and keeping your nerves down, which is really important in tennis. If you’re in a tight situation, he’s a good guy who can calm you down. There isn’t too much coaching in tennis, so if you can keep your cool, that’s the best you can do.”
You’ve been on the tennis team for the past four years. Is there anything different about this year’s Cougars?
“We had never made cuts in the program, that I could remember. We
were always trying to fill up the bench on JV, barely. This year, we have guys on the bench on varsity and plenty of the guys on the bench on JV. The program’s definitely gotten a lot bigger this year.”
What are you watching on Netflix right now?
“I’m watching Daredevil, I just got into it. I’m finishing the first
season right now, actually.”
If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only have one object with you, what would it be?
“A private jet, with the fuel filled up, so I could get off the island.”