The number four doubles team of Zach McDonald and Eric Maesch came into the season boasting of their abilities and while their coach Chas Claus will admit the pair is doing a fine job, he won’t use one particular word just yet.
The tandem has thrown around a number of nicknames, including ‘M&M? and more recently, ‘The Nation of Domination.? However Claus will not call them the latter just yet.
‘They kept talking to me about how they were going to dominate,? Claus said with a smile. ‘I’m not really ready to call them that (The Nation of Domination) just yet. But it’s nice to see rookies (first year varsity players) come out and immediately be successful at the varsity level.?
They have started the season with a 3-2 record and Claus credits the early success to the two working very well as a team. They won in straight sets April 27 against Troy Athens.
‘They put in the extra effort and they know where each other will be (on the court). They anticipate and expect things out there better than a lot of other kids,? he said.
McDonald summed up the cooperation on the court when he said, ‘He (Maesch) has all the ground strokes and I have the net play. We have a lot of intangibles working for us. I think we gel,? McDonald said.
Maesch agreed. ‘We work well together. We’re friends and I’d say we mesh together.?
The two both have their coach as a teacher and have been friends for years. However they first united as a tennis tandem last fall at Deer Lake Racquet Club while taking lessons.
‘He (Claus) won’t call us dominating just yet, maybe next year,? McDonald said with a laugh. ‘We just use to be the ‘M&M’s but we’ve promoted ourselves.?
Maesch said playing four doubles might not be all that glamorous compared to one or two singles, but he thinks the nickname suits them just fine.
‘I’ll take any domination I can get,? he said.
McDonald added, ‘Dominating the four doubles circuit isn’t all that dominating, but I’ll dominate whatever I can.?
As a team, the Wolves tied Troy Athens with additional wins coming from the top two singles, Amit Surapaneni and Justin Roderick and the no. 3 doubles team of Chris Graczyk and Zach Kerr.
The Wolves resume action May 6 at Rochester Adams at 4:30 p.m.