Wednesday Opponent Overview: Fairfield

Last Season Review
Last season, the Falcons dealt with losing six seniors from the 2007 team that had an outstanding season. The only player returning to last year's team was Wyatt Stutzman, who had played #2 doubles as a freshman and moved all the way up to #1 singles for his sophomore season. Despite the varsity inexperience of the team, they were able to put together a solid season, going 8-8 and finishing third in the NECC behind Angola and Westview. Then they played an amazing match in the first round of Sectionals, and I mean this, my hats off to the Falcons. They played incredible tennis against us in the first round of the Sectionals. So, despite not winning a crown last year, the Falcons did exactly what a coach would want from a young team: they played hard, they competed with good teams, and they continued to improve throughout the season.

Returning Varsity Players
Wyatt Stutzman - Transitioning to #1 singles this year, Stutzman had a solid season, but nothing spectacular. For last year, that would be how I would describe his game as well. Really solid, but nothing that got him over the top and allowed him to win big points. He certainly had the ability to hold his own in matches against Luke and Jared, but never was able to really get a foothold in the match. He'd win points impressively, with passing shots or beautifully placed backhands. But then he would lose points by simply dropping the return in the net. He's going to be an outstanding player, as he continues to iron out the little kinks in his game.

Malachi Randolph - Malachi really impressed me in both of his matches against us. Playing Matthew, I thought that his whole game was solid, and had a hard time finding a place for Matthew to attack. Against Jonny, it was like he believed in himself wholeheartedly, and there was a conviction about his match that was really intense. He finished third in his conference tourney, and I would say was one of the tougher #3 singles matchups in the area by the end of the season.

Josh Beck/Derick Troeger - This was the surprise of the Fairfield team for me. These guys were really good as a doubles combination. They made all-conference in the NECC, only falling behind Westview's excellent combo, and beat us in the Sectional match because they were playing so well. And so aggressively. They were a doubles team that I enjoyed watching play because they wouldn't just sit at the baseline and hope, but they would move and fire and all sorts of things. We will need to meet this aggression as we take them on this coming season.

Derek Thwaits - It's hard to get a read on Thwaits. Last year, playing #2 doubles, Johnny and Jeremy won rather easily but then Thwaits and partner Jordan Garber pushed Mikey and Daniel to the limit. Not a hard striker of the ball, Thwaits success came with letting Mikey and Daniel struggle to get back to lobs and put away winners. The question also next year will be who will pair with Thwaits since Garber has graduated.

Other Possible Varsity Contributors
Trent Kauffman - lost to Mikey Kelly, 9-7
Josh Mullett - lost to Seth Krabill, 8-3
Nate Kropf/Brad Shipley - lost to Russell Klassen/Kyle Miller, 8-4

Outlook
Returning 5 players to a team that was getting better rapidly at the end of the season? Yea, Fairfield will be one of the top threats to win our Sectional next year, if not the favorite. They return experience at the top of the lineup, and will probably be bringing in just a #3 singles player and a #2 doubles player. Trent Kauffman was a good matchup for Mikey and could easily slide into the #3 singles spot and perform at a high level. This team will have a lot going for it in the 2009 season, and we will have to prepare diligently in order to compete.

Blessing
We continue to pray that God will bless this team in many ways throughout this year.