OCHS Teams of the 90's
Jen Frank top Raider girls tennis player of the 90s!
By TOM WILLIAMS
Gazette Staff Writer
Ocean City High School’s girls tennis program had pretty good success in the 1990s.
Phil Birnbaum’s teams had seven winning seasons in 10 years, reaching the South Jersey finals six
straight times from 1990-95. They won the South Jersey title in both 1993 and 1994, reaching the state
final match in 1994.
The decade started with a 19-4 team, led by South Jersey Player of the Year Jen Frank, that lost a 3-2
decision to Mainland in the Group 3 final. The next year the Raiders lost six matches, three to Mainland,
including the South Jersey final. And, in 1992, All-South Jersey singles player Kristen Franus led Ocean
City into another South Jersey final and another 3-2 loss to Mainland.
In 1993, OC defeated Mainland twice and topped Williamstown in the South Jersey final. The following
year, the Raiders topped Middle Township for the South Jersey title and defeated West Essex in the state
semi-final. Ramapo beat them in the state final.
They got to the South Jersey final again in 1995, losing to Middle Township, but have failed to qualify for
the tournament the last four seasons. During the 1990s, Ocean City also won four division titles and one
American Conference championship.
The top player of the 1990s was Frank, who was named South Jersey Player of the Year in 1990 despite
battling a foot injury throughout her senior year.
Frank is joined in the all-decade singles lineup by Franus, one of two players to play No. 1 for two
seasons, and by Nikki Bowman, the No. 1 player on the one team that reached the state final.
The first doubles team is Amanda Charles and Sue Choi, who were all-conference and all-Group 3.
The second doubles team pairs Margaret Carey and MaryEllen Lombardo, who made the all-Group 3 team
in the mid-90s.
OCHS Girls Tennis in the 90s
Season....Record....Coach.................No. 1 Player
1990........19-4........Phil Birnbaum......Jen Frank 24-4
1991........15-6........Phil Birnbaum......Kristen Franus 20-5
1992........19-4........Phil Birnbaum......Kristen Franus 23-6
1993........18-5........Phil Birnbaum......Christina Campo 7-15
1994........19-6........Phil Birnbaum......Nikki Bowman 18-6
1995........14-8........Phil Birnbaum......Margaret Carey 14-14
1996........7-10........Phil Birnbaum......Alicia Johnson 10-10
1997........6-13........Phil Birnbaum......Missy Sternberger 5-15
1998........10-9........Phil Birnbaum......Jackie Lawinski 5-14
1999........9-10........Phil Birnbaum......Missy Sternberger 8-15
The All-90s Raider Girls Tennis Team
Singles.....Jen Frank
Singles.....Kristen Franus
Singles.....Nikki Bowman
Doubles.....Amanda Charles-Sue Choi
Doubles.....Margaret Carey-MaryEllen Lombardo