Bergen Record Athlete of the Week and Charlie McGill. A documentary.
The story of the disc of the disc and artist Charlie McGill, who has attracted winners in his signature style since 1954.
Michael V. Pettigano, Northjersey.com
Conor Smith spent a lot of time on the fly and feedback.
The Senior of Paramus remembers trying tennis at the age of 5, and he started playing competitively a few years later.
“I was always a decent athletic child, and it was a question of finding the sport that seemed right to me, which I really appreciated,” said Smith. “The first time that I picked up a racket was actually the Tennis courts of Paramus High School … Playing tennis always felt good.”
Spartans should agree, especially after winning their first three -spring games. They have come out of their first victory record (12-11) since the 2011 season, when the second finalist of Bergen County, Ryan Lugtu, began his career in the first year.
Smith’s career in Paramus only started at its junior year.
“Unfortunately, because of a few injuries, I had to stop playing around the start of Covid,” he said. “Return to Paramus High School gave me a chance to go back to the healed sport of all my injuries, and it has been really fun since.”
The 2024 season marked his second return to public school in his hometown. Smith frequented Hawthorne Christian Academy in third and fourth year. He flew between Paramus (fifth to seventh) and HCA (eighth to 10th), but as defenders have no tennis program, his only way to play at university was to return home.
“Paramus High School is much more practical for me because I live next door,” said Smith. “And they have more selection of sports.”
The 6 feet tried basketball in Hawthorne Christian, as well as football, football and baseball programs in town growing up. However, nothing could go beyond his love for tennis.
“I appreciate the fact that even if it is an individual sport, for example, in high school, tennis can also be a team sport,” said Smith. “You have teammates who play in the next court that you can encourage or speak during changes and all these other things.”
Like so many players of his generation, Roger Federer is his guy when it comes to watching the pros. Smith has often taken advantage of the fact that Wimbledon occurs during the summer holidays and followed the AS of Grass-Court through his best tournament.
“I have a setback with one hand, just like Federer, and I always watched her grow up,” said Smith. “I sort of trying to imitate his game – it doesn’t always work, because he is really great, but he has certainly always been my favorite player, without a doubt.”
Smith prefers live tennis on the television version. He went to the United States to Flushing, NY with his family and saw exactly how intense competition can become.
“It’s crazy to see that when you watch on television, the ball seems to move so slower,” he said. “And then you’re going to look at them in person, and it moves like, super, super fast. It’s just an entirely different experience.”
Just like Paramus Boys Tennis when Smith takes the court at the first simple.
Conor Smith
Sport: Tennis
School: Paramus
Class: Senior. Age: 18
Completion: Smith, the first singles champion of the reigning Bergen Invitational Tournament, won his first three games by sweeping. He lost only five games in six sets and helped Paramus at a 3-0 start, a season after having led the Spartans to their first victory record in 13 years.
Also nominated: Jason Amalbert de Depaul, Michael Porco de River Dell, Matt Civan de Dwight-Englewood, Ryan Reynoso de Lodi, Dante Benventi de Passaic Valley, Andrew Erickson de Rutherford, Tyler Herman from Lyndhurst and Seldon Kolkebeck of Old Tappan for Baseball; and Vitale of Indian hills for the butt.
