Monday Morning Match Memories

MMMM #9: Bethany Christian vs. Penn, 2008

At the beginning of the season, Penn High School was ranked in the top 20 in the state of Indiana, a surefire Sectional winner, and probably a contender for Regional and semi-state. Playing #1 singles was Andy Hansen, one of the top ranked players in the state as only a junior, and they also had the heavy firepower of Ethan Leiter, a top baseball prospect with a big arm and hence, a big serve. Penn's JV had over 25 players and hadn't lost the previous season, nor were they expected to lose again. The JV program at Penn had become almost as much as a powerhouse, if not more, than their varsity.

At the beginning of the season, Bethany Christian's team was uncertain. Talented, returning an entire varsity, but struggling with injuries and confidence, the end result was not necessarily a Sectional (NorthWood had returned 5 players to their varsity as well). JV was even less certain, as a good team returned everyone, but there were players with marginal records in 2007 who were going to need to showed marked improvement in 2008 in order for the season to be spectacular.

We didn't have Penn on our original schedule, but I noticed early in the year that they were seeking an extra match. They were building new tennis facilities and they would not be finished until late in the season. Penn hoped to find an opponent to open the new courts with. We didn't have a place on our schedule open, but I remember thinking that if there were any year for us to play Penn, this would be the year. I saw our ability, and knew we could compete, both at the varsity and JV levels.

Well, the rain opened up the opportunity. It was such an answer to prayer, specifically Daniel's request that something good come out of our rainouts, when I convinced Bryan to call Penn's AD and schedule a match. Bryan was a bit surprised, but I told him that I thought we'd win. When Penn's AD called back, I gathered the team and told them of the opportunity that we had, and asked for their feedback. It was a unanimous "yes," let's play the Kingsmen. Let's challenge ourselves and see if we can handle it.

It was interesting to note everyone's feelings entering this match. I was nervous but confident. Jonny Shenk said that he felt calm, because we weren't supposed to win. Daniel and Mikey were pumped, because Daniel wanted to finally play some challenging opposition and Mikey was playing the school he would have attended if he wasn't at Bethany.

I can still feel the excitement that I had during this match coursing through my veins as I write the report. I remember walking out on their courts and realizing that they were hosting a challenge match before we played them, trying to figure out who would play #3 singles. I remember the chaos of what seemed like hundreds of JV players milling around their coaches as I tried to fill out lineup cards. I remember the Ultimate Frisbee team telling us that we had no chance, that Penn was really good, that we were going to get pounded. I remember their players being a bit less than serious as we did introductions.

But what I really remember is the shock of the way we came out and dominated the beginning of the match. Jonny compared the match to March Madness, and I think that is a great comparison. We came out so ready to play, pumping with the perfect combination of fire and coolness, getting energy and momentum from our big shots, pumping fists and smacking high fives and playing with unbelievable confidence. And just like March Madness, we caught the favored team by surprise. As I looked down the line and saw everyone won the first game, I noticed that the Penn players looked shocked, like they were gasping for breath.

Luke noted that a lot of their players seemed "gruff" and "serious." I noticed that too, once we got play underway. However, I wonder if that wasn't because they didn't expect to have a difficult match and then didn't know how to deal with the emotion we played with. Seriously, Jeremy and Johnny were getting majorly pumped, as were Daniel and Mikey in this match, and I was too. I was shouting and running and pumping my fist and trying to contain my smile as I watched us play our best tennis all year.

Well, all of us played our best tennis but one...Ben Mast. He was stuck on the end next to Daniel and Mikey, where the emotion was flowing. But Ben's opponent came out strong after losing his challenge for the #3 singles position. Ben got in a huge hole quickly in his match, and despite turning his play around for the better, he couldn't make the comeback. Last season, when Ben lost the JV lost, and there was no way around that. So with Ben out at #1, it looked bad for the JV. But the JV was rolling on this Friday.

Ben said, "I was filled with a huge appreciation for the JV team and a sense that everyone else really carried me that day. It was an incredible feeling to know that your team has your back." And had his back they did. There were some incredible matches played that day. Seth went back and forth at #2 singles JV, playing a more attacking style than I was used to seeing him play. He often sliced the ball low and to the backhand and then put the pressure on by coming to the net. He trailed at the beginning then took control of the match, but then failed in two chances to close it out. Just when I was afraid he had lost his aggressive side, the match was over as he closed the door and won 8-6.

Matthew Amstutz match was just as close. I can remember thinking that Matthew deserved a close match for the way he had played all season long, and he got it. It seemed like he had a slight lead the whole match, but it always teetered on the brink of falling Penn's way. But Matthew pulled through and gave us a second point in the singles section. The ones who didn't have to scrape through were the doubles. Russell and Kyle just played their most complete match of the season, and took a relatively easy 8-4 decision. Austin Loucks and Nick Rebec held down the #2 doubles position, just easing past a talented opponent in what was probably their best match of the season. Even Evan and Justin got into the doubles act, slamming a memorable #4 doubles victory to help give us a big lead. And Claude, playing his beloved singles, sliced and diced his way to the match sealer. Our JV remained undefeated, much to the relief of Ben Mast. It was a win that defined the JV season, the ability that they had to pick each other up.

Back on the varsity end, I don't know if I ever wrote this in the original report but Jared Schwartzentruber played his best match of the year. Playing against one of the better opponents he faced, Jared controlled the match from the beginning. In fact, he never trailed, but he kept getting tied in the second set. Never losing his cool was amazing, he just kept holding serve and holding serve and finally with the match on the line, he broke Ethan Leiter and won the match!

#1 doubles was all worked up and playing well, unleashing the I-formation for the first time. Johnny and Jeremy were popping up from the middle of the net and dominating the match. In the second set it tightened up, but Johnny and Jeremy revealed their resolve and fought off the serge to seal the match for us. It wasn't the last important match that they would sow up for the Bruins.

After the match, it was a constant stream of congratulations from our fans. I remember thinking that as excited as I was, it wasn't me who had won the match. I was also having trouble figuring out what I should say. I was kind of in this thankful glow, I felt like God was really rewarding us for the hard work we had put in. Not that God had made us win the match, but that things had worked out for us to play our best.

I remember Jonny Shenk's dad was just beside himself with awe, that we could beat such a big school. I remember running across the huge parking lot to the bathroom by the baseball fields, and being so incredibly energized that I did the middle school thing of jumping up and touching the top of the doorway on the way in. Then I remember thinking that was gross because it was a bathroom door, then thinking that actually it probably didn't matter that it was a bathroom door, because not a lot of people probably touch the top of the frame. Then I went back to thinking how awesome it was that we had won, both varsity and JV, and our JV was still freaking undefeated. I also can remember thinking that nobody back at school would understand how awesome it was, and how I wanted to hang on to the moment of joy forever, because it was going to be anticlimactic from the moment we pulled out of the parking lot until the moment we laid down in our beds.

When we got back to the school, the guys jumped out of the van and stumbled over each other to get to the soccer fields and up the stairs to tell the official scorekeeper that we had beaten Penn. Of course, it was anticlimactic for me because nobody at the soccer game really knew what a huge upset it was. The guys got to tell Bryan Kehr and enjoy his "incredulous" reaction. They got to tell the rest of the student body and celebrate.

I just stood on the edge of the soccer field, very satisfied with the night but a little sad. My community that cared had just run away, and though my wife would be happy, nobody meets my excitement level like the players. Plus, I didn't know how long it would be until I had a moment of joy like this in athletics again. I mean, if I am honest, the Sectional victory was more of a relief, while this Penn match was pure joy!

Pure joy.