Subramanian a step closer to state’s top spot FARRAH MAFFAI East Brunswick junior Vivek Subramanian finished second in this year’s state individual tournament, continuing the progress he has made since his freshman season. Longtime East Brunswick High School boys tennis coach Bill Pellagrino says Vivek Subramanian is one of the best players he’s ever had. Is he the very best? Pellagrino admits he is still not sure, but the good news is he still has another year to decide. Subramanian just completed his junior year with the GMC-champion Bears, and with still one more year to go in an already brilliant scholastic career, the sky appears to be the limit. "He’s right up there with the best we’ve ever had," Pellagrino, who’s been coaching for 37 years, said. "He could be the best before he’s done." Robbie Chess was certainly one of the best by the time he was done. Chess helped East Brunswick win the 1992 New Jersey state championship, the Bears’ only overall state title in their illustrious history, and Chess went on to win the New Jersey individual singles title that year. "He was No. 1 in the whole state of New Jersey," Pellagrino pointed out. "He still calls me every once in a while to remind me of that, too. Chess then went on to Duke University, where he was a three-year All-American in singles and doubles and captain of the Blue Devils. Subramanian almost matched Chess this year by winning the New Jersey state championship, only to lose in the state final to Vlad Stoliarenko of Moorestown 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. It turned out to be Subramanian’s only loss of the season, a stellar season slightly interrupted when he traveled to California to compete in the Easter Bowl in the 18-and-under nationals. "He’s not very big or strong, but he has tremendous speed and tremendous quickness," Pellagrino said. "And he has great velocity on his racquet swing. Much like in baseball, you try to have good velocity when you swing the bat, the same thing is true in tennis. When you create great speed on your swing, you’re able to hit the ball harder. "Vivek [pronounced "Vee-vak"] just does everything well," the East Brunswick coach added. "He runs extremely well, he volleys, he does everything. He has a total game." Unfortunately, Subramanian’s total game wasn’t on display against Stoliarenko in the state finals. "He did not play his best tennis in that match," Pellagrino noted. "He made a lot of unforced errors. By being over aggressive going for shots he normally would’ve made, he started hitting the ball into the net. "Vlad also keeps the ball deep so Vivek couldn’t get to the net, and that’s what he does best. He likes to attack the net all the time. And because his first serve wasn’t getting in, he had to change his game. He couldn’t serve and volley, he couldn’t use his short game, and he couldn’t attack the net." Still, Subramanian was able to turn in the best finish of his high school career. The Bears’ No. 1 singles player since he arrived at East Brunswick, Subramanian reached the round of 16 as a freshman before sustaining his first and only loss of the season. He lost only twice as a sophomore last year, once during the regular season and again in the state quarterfinals. Then this year he reached the state finals before suffering only his fourth career loss. "So he gets better each time," Pellagrino said. Among his regular-season victories this year was one over Stoliarenko. "They met early in the season down in Moorestown and that time Vivek won a three-setter," Pellagrino said. The two were in separate brackets in the state tournament, with Subramanian seeded second among the 132 players and Stoliarenko seeded fourth. But the No. 1 seed from Ocean was upset by the No. 9 seed in the quarterfinals, and Stoliarenko then beat the No. 9 seed in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Subramanian knocked off John Forest, the No. 3 seed from Matawan, in straight sets in the other semifinal to set up a rematch against Stoliarenko. Stoliarenko, a sophomore, didn’t even play in the New Jersey state tournament a year ago, but this wasn’t the first time he played in a state final. "He transferred from Massachusetts this year and played in the Massachusetts state final last year as a freshman and lost," Pellagrino said. "So, he’s quality." And providing he doesn’t transfer again, chances are Stoliarenko and Subramanian will meet again somewhere along the line next season. "I’m sure they’ll probably see each other again," Pellagrino agreed. Subramanian won’t be the only East Brunswick player back. Five of the Bears’ starting seven players return next season from a team that finished 18-2 and reached the Central Jersey Group IV state finals. The Bears also won the GMC Red Division and the county championship for the fourth straight year. In fact, they were so dominant they won all five flights at the county tournament. "We only lose two seniors," Pellagrino said, "so we should be in pretty good shape for next year." Vivek Subramanian, however, would prefer a slightly different ending.