Boys tennis
Section title main goal left for Binder
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Amherst Central senior Ari Binder is 56-0 in high school dual matches but has never won a Section VI boys tennis singles title. File photo

Amherst Central's Ari Binder has an impressive tennis resume heading into his senior year on the team.

He's 56-0 in career high school dual matches, all at first singles, and is a three-time ECIC champion and a three-time qualifier for the New York State Championships. But there's one goal in high school that Binder hasn't achieved and would mean a lot to win - a Section VI singles title.

He's had his chances, making appearances in the past two section finals. In 2005, Binder lost to Jonathan Luce of Maple Grove and had to bow out in the third set of last year's final with Chris Post of Southwestern because of cramps in both quadriceps muscles.

"It would be really nice to go out and win a section title my senior year," said Binder. "All I need to do is go out and execute."

Binder and Post are no strangers on the court.

"We've been neck and neck," said Binder. "Between sectionals and (U.S. Tennis Association) tournaments, he's beaten me more than I've beaten him, but he's a great guy and I love playing tennis against him. We respect each other. It's a friendly rivalry."

"I think they're two evenly matched kids where it could go either way," said Amherst coach Eric Damiani. "It's like any USTA tennis match. The stronger player mentally usually prevails."

Binder said he and Post have clashing tennis styles, which make their matches exciting to watch.

"I'm a lefty, he's a righty," said Binder. "He hits the ball flatter. I've been working on varying my serve with flat serves and spin serves that control both corners of the box. If I'm serving well, it's going to be tough to break me. I've also shortened up my ground strokes and made minor changes in how I hit the ball, which has helped me drive the ball better and assert myself on my forehand."

Binder knows winning a section title won't be easy. Besides Post, other top contenders are Eden's David Yovanoff, who gave Binder problems but was beaten by the Amherst player in the semifinals of ECICs last year; City Honors' Ezra Bernstein; and Maple Grove's Dusty Nelson.

Binder also wants to finish in the top four at the state tournament. His best finish at states was his freshman year, when he was a quarterfinalist and a first-team all-state selection.

What makes Binder stand out is experience at the national level. In national junior play this past year, Binder, who started taking lessons at age 7 and playing competitive tennis at age 10, won the West Coast Championships in doubles, made the round of 16 at two national tournaments, and qualified for the winter and spring national championships. In January, Binder finished fifth at the Eastern Sectional Championships in New York. Binder has also achieved a national ranking of 179 in the 18s and was rated a four-star recruit by the Tennis Recruiting Network.

"Playing in those tournaments is a big confidence boost," said Binder. "If you're playing against the best tennis players in the country, you have to play well."

Binder has committed to play at Division III Williams College this fall where he will major in chemistry and math. Williams finished fourth in the nation in 2006.

Binder, Ryan Menasco and Ken Schmidt are the Tigers' senior tri-captains. Binder, at first singles, is the only set starter. Menasco and Schmidt teamed up at first doubles last year, but either one might see time at a starting singles spot. There are 25 members on the team.

Amherst finished 7-5 in ECIC Division II last year but because of enrollment, moves down to ECIC III. Amherst has won division titles in 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2005.

"Our goal is to win a division title," said Binder.
                Amherst Central 2007 Schedule
4-18 at Tonawanda .................................................... 4 p.m.
4-20 Depew................................................................. 4 p.m.
4-23 at Maryvale ........................................................ 4 p.m.
4-25 Cheektowaga ..................................................... 4 p.m.
4-27 at Pioneer........................................................... 4 p.m.
4-30 Starpoint............................................................. 4 p.m.
5-1 Pioneer ................................................................. 4 p.m.
5-4 Tonawanda........................................................... 4 p.m.
5-7 at Depew .............................................................. 4 p.m.
5-9 Maryvale ............................................................... 4 p.m.
5-11 at Cheektowaga ................................................ 4 p.m.
5-16 at Starpoint ........................................................ 4 p.m.
e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com