NorthWood Sectional Match Report

I think a picture says it all. What an awesome experience to play the way we did in this final, on a gorgeous fall day, in the brilliant sunshine...what a blessing!

I don't even know where to begin describing this match. We came out looking like a totally different team from our morning match. To be honest, we looked like we were finally playing the way we did in our best matches. We played aggressively, we played with confidence, we played like we believed we were going to win a Sectional title. And that was exactly what happened!

After our morning match, where we had played poorly, there was a relief in the air as we waited for the final. I could tell that we would be ready to play in the afternoon. The players looked good and loose in warmups and I was excited knowing that we would come out fired up to play.

We came out fired up and got ahead early again in four of the matches. Jared Schwartzentruber missed several shots in the first game, but then took the next 2 to establish the 2-1 lead. His rhythm looked good and his footwork picked up. His opponent, Austin Hostetter, hits the ball very low and with good power, so Jared was having to be on his toes and ready to run down some shots. But Jared's strokes were typical of the beautiful tennis he's been playing all year. Sweeping forehands and backhands, low to high, and spinning them into all corners of the court. Jared got off to a strong start and didn't relinquish the lead for the rest of the set. He clinched the first set at 6-3.

Mikey Kelly and Daniel Buschert also came out firing at number two doubles. After have the heart-stopping match in the morning, they had found their confident and attacking rhythm. They pushed forward to the net and pounded volley after volley down the line for winners. They quickly took a 4-1 lead, and then were able to finish off their opponents in the first set 6-2.

Jonny Shenk jumped out to the biggest lead of anyone at number two singles. Pumped up and remembering his sectional match last year, he let emotion and belief carry his strokes and was just running junior opponent Nick Anglemeyer back and forth, and passing him with ease when he came to the net. Jonny took a 4-0 lead in the first set before Anglemeyer got his first game. It was late in the set that strange things started to happen. With Jonny leading 5-2, and the game at deuce, Jonny came forward to the net and Anglemeyer lobbed the ball. It went deep and immediately Anglemeyer called for a line judge. It was strange because their really hadn't been a whole lot of arguing between the players about line calls all match long. I must admit that it is also strange that the line judge was called on Jonny, our recipient of the sportsmanship award last year, one of our most generous players on line calls. But it didn't make a difference for the first set. Jonny won the next point after the judge was called to seal the set 6-2.

Number one doubles played aggressively as well. These guys were fired up after losing to the Hostetter's in the regular season in a third set tiebreak, they really wanted to come out and provide a win for the Bruins in the sectional. They jumped out early behind aggressive net play, winners that they pounded down across the courts. They were a little over attacking early in the match, but with a quick word from Andrew and I to focus on good approach strokes, they began to play well from the baseline setting themselves up for putaways at the net. Quickly they had set points, and finished them off to win the first set 6-3.

Luke was the only player to lose the first set. He played the typical tennis that he usually did against impressive Panther senior Preston Swain. In some senses, I almost think that Luke didn't believe that he could really win the match. I told him so at 0-5 in the first set. That's when the match began to change. Luke went back to old ways and played aggressively and competitively, and won the next game to make it 1-5. It was a little late to salvage the first set though, and Preston held the next game to win 6-1 in the first set.

Meanwhile, two doubles continued to plow right through their match. In fact, in the second set I think they may have gotten better. I can't tell you how happy I am, and proud, because of the way that these two responded to adversity throughout the day. Coming back in the first match, and then just playing great tennis in the second match. Within 15 minutes of the start of their second set they were up 4-1. Then before you knew it, the match was over. Bethany 1, NorthWood 0.

Down at two singles, Jared was also jumping out aggressively in the second set. After losing the first game, he refocused. He moved Hostetter back and forth across the court, he attacked the net when needed, but mostly he forced Hostetter to hit difficult shot after difficult shot, and the errors flowed. Jared took a 5-2 lead in the second set. And all the sudden he had a chance to close it out. The final game went to deuce, and then ad-out, and then deuce, and then ad-out, and then deuce. Then finally Jared watched a Hostetter backhand land wide to provide a match point. Hostetter hit the ball into the net in the next rally, and Jared's match was done. Bethany 2, NorthWood 0.

We only needed one more match. At three singles, where Jonny had taken a first set quickly, he got behind and tentative and lost the second just as fast. It seemed like the pressure got to Jonny a bit and he began to slow down and lose his footwork and quickness. The effort was certainly there, but the game didn't look the same. So as he entered a third set, attention was turned to number one doubles to see if they could clinch.

Down 3-2 in the second set, the Bruins really turned it on. I can't remember a lot of specific rallies, but I can tell that the next three games were some of the best tennis that I've seen played for awhile, and we kept coming out on top in those points. From down 3-2, Johnny and Jeremy took the next three games to go up 5-3 and provide themselves with the chance to clinch the match on Jeremy's serve. With backs against the wall, NorthWood played two excellent games in a row (and we played a little nervous) to tie the match back up at 5-5. It looked like the Panthers might have the advantage, but Johnny Kauffman stepped up and held serve, with Jeremy putting down a couple net shots for emphasis. They crossed over, holding the 6-5 lead, and on the all important first point of the next game, Johnny put down an overhead to lead off. The next few points went back and forth, but we found ourselves up, 30-40, on their serve. What happened next was exhilarating and unfortunate. Hostetter double faulted to seal the win for Bethany. I was torn because it was such a terrible way to end a match, and yet, we had won Sectional! All our work had been paid off, it was a huge blessing to play the way we wanted to play, and we had won! Still, I have to admit that I've been on the losing side of a match ending double fault too often. I felt bad for the NorthWood players to have to end that way.

But the buzz then started outside the fence, and inside too. Luke raised his arms knowing the Bruins victory as he stood on the court next to number one doubles. The crowd let out a roar then and Jonny Shenk looked down and smiled from his court, knowing that the pressure was lifted and we were Sectional champs! The guys who were off the court exchanged high-fives with each other, their parents, Andrew and I and then ran down to greet Johnny and Jeremy as they came off the courts. It was unbelievable, congratulations coming from everyone, hugs from my parents, my wife, my son! Awesome! It was such a blessing to know that our hard work over the course of the years had paid off.

But there were still matches on the courts. Luke trailed 4-5 in his second set and Jonny trailed 0-2 in his third set. Buoyed by the win, both players picked up their level of play. Jonny looked like a completely different player as he swept in groundstrokes and attacked the net more regularly to win the next five straight games and win the third set 6-3. Bethany 4, NorthWood 0.

Luke took advantage of the extra energy and won the next two games. He attacked Preston's groundstrokes, hit amazing passing shots, and just gave all around effort. Preston held serve to force a second set tiebreak, but the tiebreak was all Luke. Preston kept hitting balls long and Luke took a 6-0 lead in the tiebreak. They then exchanged points for the 7-1 win. On to the third set.

Preston regrouped in the third set and there was no more balls just sailing long, but Luke was up for the challenge. They traded games back and forth until Preston had a 4-3 lead. Then Preston turned up the attacking, to his credit, and was able to seal the match. I was so proud of the fight that Luke put up though. It looked like he truly believed, and I know he played great. It was so good to see.

Everything was good to see, we played our best when it counted the most, like Luke had asked prayer for early in the season. We hope it continues when we play East Noble in the regional first round on Tuesday, 5:00, on the Concord courts. We hope that we play with just as much aggression and desire! This was awesome though, the first boy's tennis sectional ever for Bethany Christian. Way to bring it home!



Every single player played beautifully today, but I can't give this to a shot, it must go to the moment that trophy was lifted above our heads. It was awesome to see a group that worked so hard together get to celebrate together! Simply beautiful, and what sports is really all about. I've said it a million times, hard work being rewarded, it's awesome. It's beautiful!


Links

Goshen News Article: Bethany tennis team first to win sectional title for school
Elkhart Truth Article: Bruins win first postseason crown
South Bend Tribune Article: Sectional Roundup

Scores

Luke Hostetter - 1-6, 7-6 (1), 3-6 - Preston Swain (12)
Jared Schwartzentruber - 6-3, 6-2 - Austin Hostetter (12)
Jonny Shenk - 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 - Nick Anglemeyer (11)
Johnny Kauffman/Jeremy Thomas - 6-3, 7-5 - Adam Hostetter (12)/Chad Hostetter (12)
Daniel Buschert/Mikey Kelly - 6-2, 6-1 - Tyler Sanders (12)/Jordan Lantz (11)