Southern New Hampshire University senior men’s tennis player Mitch Dobek has dominated the court this season. (Photo courtesy of SNHU)
WESTFIELD – Southern New Hampshire University senior men’s tennis player Mitch Dobek, of Westfield is making a racket – in a good way.
Dobek, a 2009 graduate of St. Mary’s High School, was recently named the Northeast-10 Player of the Week for the third time in four weeks, and entered the month of April with a record of 14-4 in singles play and 15-4 in doubles action this season as the number one tennis player for SNHU.
He is currently ninth in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Division II East Regional rankings, and is ranked 155th in the entire nation among United States Tennis Association American-born players.
“Mitch sets himself apart by his work ethic,” SNHU coach Greg Coache said. “He is the most intense, focused player I have ever coached, and he does well in the classroom.”
Dobek completed an undefeated Western Massachusetts run as a senior at St. Mary High School, only losing to a Harvard-bound player in the state semifinals. He did not stop there though, improving every step of the way with hard work, dedication, and mentors who have continued to further his development in a positive way.
Dobek entered college as a 1-star recruit, typical of a small Division 3 school player who is expected to produce limited success as a No. 5 or 6 singles player.
The Westfield native began a daily regimen of strength training and cardiovascular activity. Over the last four years he has mastered a solid inside-out forehand shot with a strong approach.
“I kept working hard, beating people with three or four stars,” Dobek said, noting a preference to be a bit more of a gambler in his approach to the sport. “I go after the ball a lot. I’m not going to settle for just being consistent. I go for more.”
It is this attitude which helped earned him a most memorable victory a season ago.
Southern New Hampshire, ranked ninth regionally at the time, was facing New York Institute of Technology, the fourth-ranked squad. Dobek was relegated to playing a match into the wee hours of the morning. With the score tied 4-4, the former Saint dug deep down and forged a 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 win to help SNHU upset NYIT.
“My mental game has improved, and I’ve grown a lot stronger and quicker,” Dobek said. “I keep gaining more and more experience.”
His head coach believes that if Dobek continues to work on perfecting technique – adding a bit more top spin and angle to his inside-out shot – and gains better control of his inner emotions, a professional career is just around the corner.
“He will go a long way,” coach Coache said.
With just a few matches remaining in his collegiate career, Dobek said he will begin to set his sights on cracking the International Tennis Federation men’s circuit by winning Futures tournaments. To do that, he will have to advance past qualifying rounds and hopefully impress potential sponsors along the way.
“It’s not often that a kid from Western Mass is trying to do something like this,” Dobek said.
MITCH DOBEK
Dobek said that although tennis in New England is not necessarily a hotbed for the sport, thanks in large part to cold, snowy winters, he has opted to stay near the Whip City (rather than live in Florida) in hopes of gaining local support.
“I’m going to save up some money to go play tournaments, get better competition, and play in Florida in the winters,” he said. “It’s all about experience and just playing all the time. Eventually when I start winning (in the Futures circuit), I’m going to keep on winning.”
“I’m going to use my resources,” he added, noting his commitment to train locally at Expert Fitness and “use local trainers (such as Steve Wolak, of Westfield). I’m staying in Western Mass, doing it the hard way, to not forget where I’m playing from.”
Wolak, who is based out of Continuum Performance Center in East Longmeadow, said he has also seen a noticeable difference in Dobek in just the last several months, noting the local tennis player’s increased lateral speed from side to side, and improved core development and flexibility.
“Mitch is definitely in the top tier (of athletes I have ever trained),” Wolak said. “Each day, each season, I see improvement. He is definitely taking a step in the right direction … Mitch definitely puts in a lot of work on his own. He stays active on the court and off the court. He puts in some of the most work I have ever seen an athlete put in.”
Dobek said he also owes much of his progression to his personal tennis coach, Art Carrington, who has been an inspiration to him over the years. In a few more years, it might be local tennis players looking up to Dobek for his words of encouragement.
