Phil Anastasia: Tennis ace Ross Silverberg
Ross Silverberg nearly played baseball at Cherry Hill East. Instead, the speedy athlete decided to focus on tennis. He has been a four-year standout on the court for the Cougars.
Ross Silverberg nearly played baseball at Cherry Hill East.
Instead, the speedy athlete decided to focus on tennis. He has been a four-year standout on the court for the Cougars.
Silverberg has an 18-2 record this season at first singles. He has won the Camden County tournament, as well as the Olympic American singles title.
Both of Silverberg's losses were to Lenape junior Nikola Kocovic. They will square off again today as Cherry Hill East plays Lenape in the final of the South Jersey Group 4 team tournament at Seneca.
Question: Are you looking forward to playing Kocovic again in the South Jersey finals?
Answer: Definitely. He's a really good player, and he's beaten me, but I look forward to the challenge.
Q: How long have you been playing tennis?
A: I've been playing since I was 7 but I wasn't really serious about it until eighth or ninth grade. Up until I got to high school, I wasn't sure if I was going to play baseball or tennis in high school.
Q: Who is your favorite professional tennis player?
A: He's retired now but my favorite was always Tim Henman. I could relate to his struggles. He liked to come to the net, but he really didn't have a big serve. I like to come to the net and I don't have a big serve, either.
Q: What are your plans for next year?
A: I'm going to Franklin and Marshall and I'm going to play tennis.
Q: What are you going to study?
A: They have a major that's part political science and part business and part pre-law. I think that will leave my options pretty open.
Q: What's your favorite subject in school?
A: History.
Q: What kind of music do you listen to?
A: I'm a big Bruce Springsteen fan. I'm kind of a classic-rock guy.
Q: What's the best movie you've seen lately?
A: This one's kind of old, but I loved Batman.
Q: What's your favorite food?
A: Pizza.
Q: What's the outlook going into the South Jersey Group 4 finals?
A: I'm confident we're going to win, but whatever happens, I know we did the work to prepare. We did the running, we played the matches. We're together, team-wise.
Three things about last week
1. Thumbs up to Seneca senior Drew Kanz, who won four events at Saturday's Burlington County Open, including a meet-record leap of 7 feet, 1 inch in the high jump.
2. Mick Kostiuk had 21 digs and Ryan Haddon had 32 assists as Cinnaminson stunned Southern Regional, the state's top-ranked team, in a three-game thriller in boys' volleyball. The scores were 26-28, 25-20 and 25-23.
3. In a division with perennial baseball powers Gloucester Catholic and Pennsville, GCIT clinched at least a share of the Tri-County Diamond title with a 4-2 victory over Gloucester Catholic.
Three things about this week
1. Lenape looks to defend its title at the golf Tournament of Champions competition this morning at Burlington Country Club.
2. Today's sectional winners advance to team tennis' biggest stage Thursday at Mercer County Park. Cherry Hill East, Moorestown, Haddonfield, and St. Augustine are among the teams in contention.
3. The South Jersey finals in track and field are Friday and Saturday at Egg Harbor Township (Groups 1 and 4), Buena (Groups 2 and 3), and Richard Stockton College (Non-Publics).
Super seven power rankings
1. Moorestown girls' lacrosse (19-1): The Quakers begin tournament play with an astounding streak of 202 victories in a row over New Jersey opponents.
2. Cinnaminson boys' volleyball (24-3): The Pirates are riding high entering the tournament after that remarkable win over Southern.
3. Moorestown boys' tennis (18-2): No. 2 singles Gabe Allen won his 100th career match in a 5-0 victory over Kingsway in the sectional semifinals.
4. Millville baseball (16-1): With 11 home runs, outfielder Mike Trout is wowing major-league scouts.
5. Cherokee boys' lacrosse (14-1): Junior Enrique Montoya is a dangerous scorer for the top seed in the Group 4 tournament.
6. Williamstown softball (16-1): The Braves have two losses in their last 44 games.
7. Timber Creek boys' track: Discus ace Matt Huckabee leads the Chargers in pursuit of a second straight Group 3 sectional title.
Under consideration: Gloucester softball, Kingsway softball, Lenape golf, St. Augustine boys' lacrosse, Shawnee girls' lacrosse, Bishop Eustace baseball, Cherry Hill East boys' tennis.