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Noland boys have different spin

Their styles and preferences vary but Jake and Josh Noland both bring success to the Pirates.

By DAWN REISS
Published April 18, 2006

CRYSTAL RIVER - Josh Noland is the intense one. He's the perfectionist, who has never gotten less than an A in class, who volleys from the baseline. His twin brother, Crystal River sophomore Jake Noland, is more laid back, a cornerback and split end on the football team who gets As and Bs. He likes to play aggressively up at the net, a smash-and-go kind of guy.

Josh loves the Florida Gators. Jake cheers for the FSU Seminoles.

Until a few months ago, before Josh grew four or so inches, he was 5 feet 6 on a good day and many people didn't realize he had a fraternal twin.

Once, their mother, Beth, joked that when they walked into a Red Lobster not long ago the waitress couldn't believe Josh had a 6-1 twin brother.

"She said, "No way,' " his mother said. "And she just sat down and stared at them."

They have in common tennis and a dark green Saturn SL2 sedan they bought together.

"We're like the yin and yang," said 16-year-old Josh. "His serves are way better than mine and my groundstrokes are way better than his. He plays net way better than I do."

Both started on the varsity last year as freshmen. Josh played No. 5 singles and Jake was No. 4 behind veteran Chris Lavoie and Brian deMontfort. At the beginning of this season Josh charged his way up to No. 2 singles and Jake has continued at No. 4.

"I told him that's a hot spot and it's a tough place because you don't get a lot of wins at No. 2 when (there are other strong players)," Pirates coach Vicki Browning said. "It's tough."

Browning said that with the exception of deMontfort, now in the No. 1 slot, the squad is young and full of athletes at a similar skill level.

"Josh is a mature kid and he knew somebody had to do it," she said. "So he figured he might as well as step up and get after it."

Josh acknowledges the difficulty.

"It's definitely tough being next to Brian and trying to be as good as him," Josh said. "I'm just working hard, trying to be as good."

After winning his first round Class 2A, District 5 match against Williston's Glynn Marsh, 6-1, 6-2, Josh lost to Lecanto's Tommy Saltsman 6-1, 6-2. He's paired with Alex Crandall in No. 2 doubles.

Jake teams with deMontfort in an undefeated No. 1 doubles, seeded first in the tournament. Jake is also undefeated in No. 4 singles. After a first-round bye, he defeated Williston's Justin Lane 6-0, 6-1, and faces Lecanto's Eric Fields in the No. 4 single finals today.

"Jake, he just tries to win the point and be done with it and it's worked very well for him," Browning said. "Josh doesn't like to make a mistake, not that Jake does, but Jake goes "oh well' and moves on. Josh takes it personally."

Jake doesn't mind that his brother is seeded higher than him.

"It's fine, if I'm just at No. 4 and winning," Jake said.

Both joke that when they were younger they didn't get along very well, criticizing each other's playing style while playing doubles in middle school. But with their backs leaning on the tennis complex at Crystal River, it's hard to envision that conflict.

"We're both pretty equal," Josh said with a smile, "to tell you the truth."

[Last modified April 18, 2006, 01:50:23]