North Jersey Male Athlete of the Week reinvigorating his team on the tennis court
Conor Smith has spent a lot of time on volleys and returns.
The Paramus senior remembers trying tennis at age 5, and he began playing competitively a few years later.
“I was always a decently athletic kid, and it was all about just finding the sport that felt right for me, that I really enjoyed,” Smith said. “The first time I picked up a racquet was actually at the Paramus High School tennis courts… playing tennis just always felt right.”
The Spartans would have to agree, especially after winning their first three matches of the spring. They are coming off their first winning record (12-11) since the 2011 season, when two-time Bergen County runner-up Ryan Lugtu began his career as a freshman.
Smith’s career at Paramus did not start until his junior year.
“Unfortunately, because of some injuries, I had to quit playing around around the beginning of COVID,” he said. “Coming back to Paramus High School gave me a chance to come back to the sport healed of all my injuries, and it’s been really fun ever since.”
The 2024 season marked his second return to public school in his hometown. Smith attended Hawthorne Christian Academy in third and fourth grade. He volleyed between Paramus (fifth through seventh) and HCA (eighth through 10th) again, but since the Defenders do not have a tennis program, his only way to play varsity was to return home.
“Paramus High School is a lot more convenient for me, because I live right next to it,” Smith said. “And they have more of a selection of sports.”
The 6-footer did try basketball at Hawthorne Christian, as well as soccer, football and baseball in town rec programs growing up. Nothing has been able to overtake his love for tennis, though.
“I enjoy the fact that even though it is an individual sport, for example, in high school, tennis can also be a team sport,” Smith said. “You have teammates who are playing on the next court over that you can encourage or talk to during the changeovers and all these other things.”
Like so many players in his generation, Roger Federer is his guy when it comes to watching the pros. Smith often took advantage of the fact that Wimbledon occurs over summer vacation and followed the grass-court ace through his best tournament.
“I have a one-handed backhand, just like Federer, and I always watched him growing up,” Smith said. “I kind of tried emulating his game – it doesn’t always work, because he’s really great, but he’s definitely always been my favorite player, no doubt.”
Smith does prefer live tennis to the TV version. He’s been to the U.S. Open in Flushing, N.Y. with his family and seen exactly how intense the competition can get.
“It’s crazy how when you watch on TV, the ball seems to be moving so much slower,” he said. “And then you go watch them in person, and it’s moving like, super, super fast. It’s just whole different experience.”
Much like Paramus boys tennis when Smith takes the court at first singles.
Conor Smith
Sport: Tennis
School: Paramus
Class: Senior. Age: 18
Accomplishment: Smith, the defending Bergen Invitational Tournament first singles champ, won his first three matches via sweep. He dropped only five games in six sets and helped Paramus to a 3-0 start, one season after leading the Spartans to their first winning record in 13 years.
Also nominated: Jason Amalbert of DePaul, Michael Porco of River Dell, Matt Civan of Dwight-Englewood, Ryan Reynoso of Lodi, Dante Benvenuti of Passaic Valley, Andrew Erickson of Rutherford, Tyler Herman of Lyndhurst, and Seldon Kolkebeck of Old Tappan for baseball; and Justin Vitale of Indian Hills for lacrosse.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Bergen Record Male Athlete of the Week: Conor Smith, Paramus
