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Robinson men's tennis goes undefeated
Photo by James Nix
Jay M. Robinson tennis player Forrest Cannon
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Published: April 30, 2009
CONCORD - Winning the MECA Conference tennis title has become a habit for the Jay M. Robinson High School team.
Even when it isn't expected.
Not only did Robinson win the MECA for the third time in four years, the Bulldogs went undefeated in all matches during the regular season.
"To be honest, I didn't expect this at all," said Bulldogs coach Brad Hinson. "We had to replace four (singles) positions. I didn't really know who was going to replace them."
Fortunately for Robinson's hopes, No. 1 player Forrest Cannon returned for his third year and Josh Mosakowski — who hasn't lost a regular-season match in three years now — also was back.
Cannon has been playing since he was 6 years old. A big serve makes him a formidable foe.
"He is a very powerful player," Hinson said. "He's in my weightlifting class and he works from bell to bell. He swims, too. He's a tremendous athlete.
"He works on his game as much as he possibly can. He and his dad play tennis together a lot."
Cannon took over the No. 1 singles spot last year from his brother Gray after Forrest played No. 2 singles as a freshman.
"Me and my brother started really early," Forrest said. "We just grew into it."
As for Mosakowski, Hinson said that "his hand-to-eye coordination is so incredible."
"Since I moved up two spots, I was expecting tougher competition, which I faced," Mosakowski said.
"I wanted more power. I've grown in strength since my freshman year. Playing against Forrest, he's a great competitor. Very strong."
Cannon and Mosakowski are to play doubles together at the 4A regional.
"I like playing doubles with Forrest because he's a great competitor," Mosakowski said. "He shows his expressions on the court. He intimidates all the opponents. We're looking forward to it to see how well we do."
Sophomore Michael Dalton took over Robinson's No. 3 singles slot this season. All he did was join Cannon and Mosakowski in going undefeated.
"He stepped up big-time," Hinson said.
The Bulldogs' football kicker, Drew Larmore, played No. 4 singles, Andrew Alvarado grew about four inches taller in a year and played No. 5 and soccer goalie Scott Smith filled the No. 6 spot.
Rounding out the team are sophomore William Shelley, senior Vincent Cacace and senior foreign exchange student Nacho Diaz.
One team member has reckoned that the cumulative grade point average of the Bulldogs' tennis team is 4.25. That doesn't hurt, either.
"They're always here and always on time," Hinson said. "It's a great group of kids and great families. They've been supportive of me and the program and the things we've been trying to do."
As for Hinson's tennis background, he frankly replies, "To be honest, nothing. My brother played in high school his junior and senior year. But I never played."
Furthermore, Hinson was more or less drafted into coaching the team.
"My first year here, the coach resigned in, like, January," he said. "They couldn't find a coach. The week before tryouts started, the seniors said, 'Coach Hinson, will you coach us?' I learned a lot of things from the kids that year."
In his four years as coach, Robinson has won the conference title in 2006, 2008 and this year. The Bulldogs were league runner-up in 2007.
"I try to make it fun at practice," Hinson said. "I don't want them to come out here and hit balls for two straight hours. We play games. I put them in situations, like tie-break situations."
Things will be different next school year, when Hinson will be head men's basketball coach at Cox Mill High School.
"They ask me every day, 'Who's the new (tennis) coach going to be?' I don't have a clue," Hinson said.
Some good news for Robinson next season is that for all their experience, Cannon and Mosakowski still have another year left.
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