Bethany Christian at Concord Invitational {Preview}

For the fifth straight year we enter into the first weekend of the season by attending the Concord Invitational. While providing several difficult opponents (Bethany has never defeated either Jimtown or Concord in this tournament) this tournament gives the Bruins a chance to test their early season skills and lineups. Jimtown is also a sectional opponent, which makes that match very telling for later in the season. Many Bethany players hail from the Concord school district as well, which makes it a challenge to play against their friends and acquaintances from elementary school, church, etc.

Last the Bruins defeated Rochester, 4-1, and fell to Jimtown and Concord 1-4. Luke Hostetter was able to pull out two victories from the tournament, defeating Jimtown and Rochester, as did our number one doubles pair of Johnny Kauffman and Jordan Kauffman. The doubles beat Rochester and Concord, the latter in a tense third set tiebreaker.

This season the Bruins return several varsity players from last year. However, the other teams this weekend return a number as well. Jimtown returns all 7 varsity players last year, and may be a favorite to win our Sectional this year. They defeated Northwood on Tuesday by a score of 3-2, winning both doubles and at two singles. Concord returns 4 varsity players, and are also coming off a Tuesday win, a 5-0 thumping of West Noble. Rochester returns only 3 varsity contributors, but one of those is number one singles player Nate Wottring, who fell last year in three sets to Luke Hostetter.

From the coach's vantage point, this tournament is one that gives us another marker as to where our program is in its building process. Like Northridge, this is not a match that defines where we are at, it is a match that defines where we are going. The goal of the Bethany Christian program is to get to a point where we consistently compete to win this tournament. Each year we arrive at this weekend and see how close we are to that goal. There is no doubt it is a building process, but just like Tuesday at Northridge, we are closing the talent gap.

We will see if we've closed it farther this weekend. Concord returns all of their singles players from last year, all of whom defeated ours. This provides a difficult challenge in terms of winning, but we have also put in time and effort during the offseason. The question that looms is: Have we made up ground?

Concord Info:
Returning Varsity (3)
- Austin Conrad defeated Luke Hostetter, 6-3, 6-0
- Andre Ziebold defeated Wes Klassen, 4-6, 6-4, 10-7
- Jake Bontrager defeated Jared Schwartzentruber, 6-4, 6-3

Probable Lineup
#1S - Austin Conrad
#2S - Cameron Tomassbi
#3S - Andre Ziebold
#1D - Andre Moore/Matthew Schoeffler
#2D - Jared Queener/Trevor DuMont

Jimtown Info:
Returning Varsity (7)
- Mike Landis lost to Luke Hostetter, 6-3, 6-1
- J.J. DuBois defeated Wes Klassen, 7-6(8), 6-2
- Lance Miller lost to Jared Schwartzentruber, 6-2, 6-4
- Chris Landis/Duke Johnson defeated Jordan Kauffman/Johnny Kauffman, 6-3, 6-3
- Aaron Blume/Collin Boyll defeated Jordan Miller/Jeremy Thomas, 6-4, 6-2

Probable Lineup
#1S - Jake Smith
#2S - J.J. DuBois
#3S - Aaron Blume
#1D - Chris Landis/Mike Landis
#2D - Duke Johnson/Tyler Wallin

Rochester Info:
Returning Varsity (3)
- Nate Wottring lost to Luke Hostetter, 7-5, 6-3
- Ryan Bohr / Trent Jameson lost to Jordan Miller / Jeremy Thomas, 6-3, 6-1

Probable Lineup
#1S - Nate Wottring
#2S - ?????
#3S - ?????
#1D - Ryan Bohr/Trent Jameson
#2D - ?????