Head coach of the men’s tennis team, Jon Choboy, knows what he is doing when it comes to recruiting. 

Choboy and the rest of the coaching staff signed two exceptional athletes, both from Texas, in November. 

“We got two of the best players in Texas,” said Choboy, referring to Ian Dempster and Parker McGuiness. “They’re good kids who come from good families. They work really hard, and so we are excited to work with them.”

Choboy added that the Pack is currently pursuing another high-profile recruit.

“He’ll be a very influential player if we are able to get him,” said Choboy.

The incoming freshmen, whomever they may be, are going to have to rise to the occasion of a quickly accelerating N.C. State tennis program. 

The 2012-2013 team has a more difficult schedule than Choboy has seen in many seasons. As a result, the coaching staff is making some definite adjustments.

“We have made practice require a lot more of their attention, a lot of more of their focus. It’s a lot more demanding physically,” said Choboy. “That’s going to pay off for us down the road.”

As far as Choboy is concerned, the development of his young athletes in practice needs to pay off in matches, and soon. Plenty of freshmen and sophomores will play in the lineup against multiple nationally ranked teams.

Choboy expects Thomas Weigel, a freshman from Germany, to hold a spot in the top-six for singles, as well as a spot on court three doubles with sophomore Austin Powell. Another freshman, Simon Noreniusn of Sweden, is on the second doubles team and is likely to play in the top six for singles as well. Sophomores Powell and Robbie Mudge will be included in the rotation of top court singles play. 

So far, the lineup is showing a lot of potential, even after early concern that the doubles match-ups would not have enough time to mature. 

“We did pretty well; young players have done really well in tournaments,” Choboy said. 

Choboy believes it helps that the athletes get along well both on and off the court. Almost all of them live together, adding tremendously to the overall team dynamic.

“There’s a lot of camaraderie off the court with this team,” acknowledged Choboy. 

The Wolfpack plays Penn State on Saturday. If all is well, the younger and older players alike will tap into the camaraderie and potential they showed in the fall portion of the season and come back to Raleigh with the first win of the year.