Catching Up on Friday

Catching Up With... 10 Questions with Jordan Kauffman

1. So you are a student at Goshen College now, how has tennis treated you after college? Is a still a part of your life?

I went straight from playing high school tennis to playing collegiate tennis for Goshen College. I am currently training and preparing myself for my upcoming (next fall actually, I don't really think that is considered upcoming, but, whatever) junior season. Tennis has been treating me okay, I guess, I played JV my entire 1st season at GC which was something that I have never experienced since I played all four years on the varsity team in high school. This past year I played three doubles on varsity and didn't do to well. I haven't been that successful at the collegiate level but I am learning loads about my game. I hope to continue playing tennis the rest of my collegiate career and after college as well.

2. As far as your time at Bethany, what match do you remember as "unforgettable" and why?

I would have to say the match my sophomore year at 2nd doubles against Michigan City Marquette at the Laville Invite. It came down to Mike and I having to win our individual match in order to win the tournament for the team. (They won 6-7, 6-4, 7-5, nice comeback!)The other match that I remember very well would have to be my sophomore or junior year when Mike and I beat Northwood, and we as a team beat Northwood that night too.

3. Do you remember any matches that were super disappointing? Why?

Oh yes, I remember after all of my sectional matches I would break down in tears because I was so frustrated with my performances. I never played up to my complete potential while at Bethany which falls all on my shoulders. I had the strokes but I had no were near the mental toughness or composure that I needed. I improved drastically in that area from my freshman to senior seasons while you were my coach. Yet I still have improvements to make in that area so that I can be as successful as I want to be.

4. You played doubles almost your whole career at Bethany. What would you consider your doubles strategy?

My doubles strategy in high school was to get to the net early and beat them using my partners and my volleys and net game. I was always looking for that overhead to smash over the fence. I would have to say that my doubles strategy has changed now that I am playing at college due to the high level of competition that I am playing in college. It is a lot different in terms of competition at the collegiate level, every single player you play was probably a very good player in high school.

5. While on the theme of doubles, you played with a lot of different partners throughout your career (Joe Friesen, Evan Stahley, Casey Diener, Michael Steury, Johnny Kauffman). Be honest, who was your favorite to play with and why?

Michael Steury, hands down. The level of chemistry that Mike and I had was amazing. I fed off of his positive energy and that made me play better when I didn't know that I had it in me.

6. You also played a handful of singles matches, what makes singles and doubles different for you?

During high school I was intimidated by singles to be honest. I had never really had success playing by myself against another person with out a partner. I think singles really stretched me mentally. I relied on my partner to bring positive energy and calming words while playing doubles. Then when I played singles I didn't have that to fall back on. It has changed a lot for me now. I almost feel more comfortable playing singles now because I have know one else to blame when I lose a match.

7. What team tradition (team camp, Night Out videos, praying the lines, midnight practice, Pizza King, Magic Wand, etc.) would you say is the most awesome?

Team camp by far. There is no other high school that I know of that goes to a different town and sleeps in that town for a whole week to train for tennis. I wish we did that now in college but I guess it is different for us.

8. Do you have a favorite memory from team camp in Angola?

Naked Jay (Jay forgot to lock the door to the shower, and Casey Diener snuck in and stole his clothes, towel, everything, so he had to walk back to the room where we were sleeping, through the church. Of course, it was 12:30 at night, so no one else was there. But it was still funny.) If you need a more appropriate memory then hanging out at your parent's house, and doing stuff there.

9. Which team did you love to play when you were at Bethany? Which team did you hate to play? Any individual rivalries that you remember?

I really didn't love playing any team when I think about it. When we played another team all I really cared about was doing my best and not really building relationships with my opponents. I hated playing Concord and Northridge because I was never playing my best tennis at the beginning of the season. I would have to say Goshen because that would have been the school I would have gone to had I not gone to Bethany.

10. What off the court lessons did you learn as a member of Bethany Christian tennis?

Such a great question! The lessons that I learned of the court as a member of BC tennis are the things that will stick with me forever. You taught me so many different things about being a true Christian, caring person, and more specifically a great person. I learned that it doesn't matter the end result as long as you gave it your all. You also taught me to not sweat the small stuff and just let it roll of your back. I didn't really follow this lesson a whole lot while in high school, but now I live by it in college.