Athletes Of The Week: Sreesha Venkat and Mike Herrigel

Sreesha Venkat

As a sophomore, Sreesha Venkat already played 1^st singles for the New Providence girls’ varsity tennis team this season.

During the season, Venkat won straight set matches against Glen Ridge (6-4, 6-3), Ridgefield Park (6-0, 6-0) and Secaucus (6-1, 6-1) in the State Tournament and contributed to the overall team victories against Secaucus and Ridgefield.

“I think I did a lot better [in the State Tournament] than last year,” Venkat said. “Last year I played 2nd singles for New Providence and I went down pretty easy; I think it was 6-1, 6-1. I think I definitely improved and did a lot better this time around.”

Against AL Johnson on Oct. 20, Venkat contributed to the team’s 4-1 victory by winning her own match 6-4, 6-3.

“In the beginning, I felt like I couldn’t get into my rhythm because of the way she was hitting,” Venkat said. “It was windy too and she hit with a lot of spin so it would blow up in the air a lot, but then eventually I started getting into the hang of it and finding her weak points so it got easier as it went on.”

More recently, Venkat shut out Adedayo Kolawole of Linden, 6-0, 6-0, helping the team to a 5-0 victory. As the team faced AL Johnson again in late October, Venkat defeated Nicole Brougham 6-2, 6-3, aiding the Pioneers’ 4-1 victory.

Venkat, who finished 6^th overall in the Union County Tournament, said she thinks the team was performing well this season, although some players were lost last year through graduation.

“I think we’re doing well,” she said. “We lost three seniors, but I think we definitely made up for it. We don’t seem weak at all. I think we’ve definitely held our own and there are a few new freshmen too who are adding to it.”

Venkat, who often participates in individual tournaments throughout the year, said tennis is her primary sport.

“Originally I played soccer and tennis, but I guess I just took to tennis more than soccer so I just kept going with it and I really started liking it in 8^th grade,” Venkat said. “The only other thing I do just for fun is swimming in the winter.”

While college is a few years away, Venkat said she is interested in studying psychology at Berkeley or Stanford in California. As for tennis, she hasn’t decided if she’ll continue to pursue the sport in college.

Siblings: Shreya, age 12

Pet: None

Favorite subject: Language Arts

Favorite movie: The Notebook

Favorite food: Pizza

Favorite TV show: Gilmore Girls

Favorite athlete: Novak Djokovic, a Serbian professional tennis player.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_Tennis_Professionals

Something no one knows about me: “I can play piano by ear. If I hear a song, I can play it on the piano.”

My biggest fans, biggest influences: My parents

Song that pumps me up before a match: "I don’t listen to music before matches."

Game philosophy: “Try to find your rhythm earlier in the game.”

Coach always tell me: Not to foot fault

What I am doing well this season: My serves and stamina improved from last year

During the off-season: Plays tennis year-round, plays at Murray Hill Racquet Club for clinics, competes in individual tournaments, and plays violin with school orchestra.

In ten years: "I hope to be graduated from college and have a job."

My teammates in three words: hardworking, fun and talented

My coach in three words: determined, caring and funny

Mike Herrigel

Mike Herrigel is a powerful defensive force on the New Providence boys’ varsity soccer team.

As the starting center back for the last three seasons, Herrigel has come through for his team on countless occasions. Against Union Catholic earlier this season, he distributed two assists and was able to turn aside 9 shots for the team, aiding in the Pioneers’ 5-0 victory.

Against Summit (3-0 win) and Brearley (2-0 win), Herrigel was the major factor in keeping a clean slate for the team, said head coach Teddy Niedzielski. Against Westfield (2-1 win), his ability to win balls in the air and his composure on the ball was a key factor in upsetting 5th seeded Westfield.

“It was 0-0 for a lot of the first half [against Summit] and then we scored two goals right away and the rest of the game, we were just trying to prevent them from scoring,” said Herrigel, a senior captain on the team. “[Against Westfield], we scored two goals within the first 8 minutes of the game and then the whole rest of the game, they had the ball the entire time in our half. They had the pressure the whole time and we were just trying to keep them out. There was a lot of pressure on the defense.”

Although the team lost against Elizabeth in mid-October, Coach Niedzielski said it was Herrigel’s leadership that kept the game competitive.

Niedzielski also said Herrigel was a target for the team on free kicks, managing to score some very key goals this season, which was one of Herrigel’s personal goals.

“Mike is one of the best all around kids I have ever been around,” Niedzielski said. “He puts team goals in front of his own and would do anything for his teammates.”

Although Herrigel thought the team had a good shot of going far in the State Tournament this year, the Pioneers were knocked out in the quarterfinal round against Dayton on Nov. 7.

Herrigel said he thinks this was a rebuilding season for the team after losing starters to graduation last year.

“We had a slow start, but we’ve definitely picked it up and we’ve been playing much better as a team,” Herrigel said. “We’ve been able to score more goals. We lost a lot of key players last year.”

Growing up, Herrigel said he played on the New Providence Club Team and prefers soccer to his two other sports, basketball and tennis.

With college just around the corner, Herrigel is now submitting his applications. He said he is looking at Villanova, Lehigh and UNC, and may major in business.

As for pursuing a sport in college, Herrigel said he would like to look into playing intramurals.

Siblings: Jeff, age 21

Nickname: Dirty Mike

Pet: None

Favorite subject: Science

Favorite movie: Anchorman

Favorite food: Tacos

Favorite TV show: Blue Mountain State

Favorite team/athlete: Miami Dolphins/Dan Marino

Something no one knows about me: My middle name is John

My biggest fans, biggest influences: My parents

Song that pumps me up before a game: "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns N' Roses

Game philosophy: "Hit people really hard."

Coach always tell me: Don’t let them score

What I am doing well this season: Not letting people score

During the off-season: I play basketball and tennis, lift, and work as a Jaycee Camp Counselor.

In ten years, I’ll: have a job. I would like my waffle shop to be up and running.

My teammates in three words: “Well at soccer.”

My coach in three words: fun, motivational and smart.

Congratulations, Sreesha and Mike!