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"Ocean's Lampa captures crown" |
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Friday, 05 June 2009 21:51 |
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Courtesy of: Michael Zonkonski, Asbury Park Press, app.com, June 04, 2009
 " West Windsor - After two seasons of falling just short of winning it all, the third time proved to be a charm for Ocean Township's Mike Lampa as he became the 2009 NJSIAA individual state champion on Thursday afternoon. The senior defeated Shore Conference foe Mike Lippens, of Shore Regional, in straight sets 6-4, 6-2 to win the title....
"I knew it was now or never today because I'm a senior. I just had to go out there make my shots and play my game, it's as simple as that,'' Lampa said. For the second straight day, the NJSIAA event needed to be moved to Mercer County Park's Indoor Tennis Facility due to rain. Lampa remained unfazed by the change in venue. The first set started off slowly as Lampa and Lippens, a sophomore, exchanged service games. With the set tied at 2 games each, Lampa displayed his athleticism by tracking down Lippens' well placed shots and hit a backhand winner to go up 3-2. Lippens never gave in, but with Lampa up 5-4 going into his service game, the first set was all but over. Lampa gave up only five total points on his serve during the first set and closed it out 6-4. As good as Lampa's serve was during the first set, it actually improved during the second set as he gave up just four points during his serve. ""I've never served that well in my life, I guess I lucked out today,'' Lampa said. Luck had little to do with it as Lampa did all he could to keep the ball away from Lippens' big forehand all afternoon and keep him on the move. "He was just making more balls in the court. He was going for his shots, moving me around the court and attacking my backhand. He just stuck to his game,'' Lippens said. Lippens seemed to be back on track early in the second set, but with the score 2-2, Lampa took advantage of a rare double fault by Lippens and went up 3-2. ""I don't think it mattered who Mike (Lampa) was playing, I don't think anyone would have been able to beat him today,'' Ocean coach Jeff Reisler said. Lampa won the next two games and in the eighth game of the second set, he had a chance to serve his way to a state title. Lampa fittingly ended the match with an ace to Lippens' backhand side and won the second set 6-2. "I've been gunning for this title since I was a freshman and it just feels great to finally achieve it. It's a huge load off my shoulders,'' Lampa said. Lampa was eliminated from the state tournament in the round of 16 as a freshman. As a sophomore he lost in the semifinals to Ravi Yegya-Raman from Cherry Hill who would go on to become state champion. Last season he lost to Yegya-Raman again, this time in the championship match. ""This is the culmination in the progression of a champion. No one deserves it more than him (Lampa) because he works for everything he gets,'' Reisler said. Lampa and Lippens had met twice previously this season with Lippens coming out on the winning end both times. Lippens (24-1) had only lost one set all season long … to Lampa on April 21 … prior to Thursday's match. ""He was here last year, so he's been through this and he knew what to expect,'' Lippens said. But on the biggest stage that high school tennis has to offer it was Lampa who came out on top. Lampa improved his season record to 27-2 and improved his career record to 109-7. Lampa has already signed a National Letter of Intent to play tennis for St. John's University in the fall. Lampa turned down offers from Cornell, Columbia and Army."
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Last Updated ( Friday, 05 June 2009 22:17 )
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