Middle School Minute

This weekend, the MS team traveled to my home town of Angola to take part in the 1st annual Angola MS Invitational. We participated with Angola, Westview and Coldwater (MI). It was a beautiful day with perfect temperatures, and after a cold and rainy week, the sun came out on us.

The day was bright, and the tennis was pretty good too. Highlights included Isaac Brenneman defeated a stronger, taller, older player from Coldwater's team. Coldwater's team ended up winning the tournament by winning 6 of the 9 positions that were played. Isaac was the only one of our players to take down the powerhouse school in his position. I was very impressed by his consistent and persistent play in this match. It was right down to the wire, but he pulled it out.

Another highlight for the day was our #3 doubles team, the only ladies that were part of the tennis club this year. Brooke Hershberger and Liz DeLeeuw defeated Angola and Westview to earn a second place finish. That was all the more impressive considering they had only been able to come to one practice this spring due to the MS play!

I also enjoyed a myriad of other things about the day, the instruction and learning Parth got from playing #1 singles. The rapid improvement of Landon Weldy, and what a good match he gave his final opponent. Landon's closest match of the day was against the Coldwater player, losing 5-8. And the Coldwater player won his position!

The best points of the day were often on display at #1 doubles, where Sol Brenneman and Abe Thorne used there athleticism and quickness to attack the net and their opponents. Ethan Miller still has one of the best forehands on the team, and it was good to see him sprinting around the court in his matches. Bryan Nguyen also took second place, getting an 8-0 win over Angola in the process (along with a forfeit from Westview :-)

Cristian Romero found himself in many good matches at #3 singles, and it was good to see him make it through the day without falling asleep :-) Finally, I really enjoyed coaching Joel Gerig and Joseph Mumaw, because they listened to my advice and it worked. I love players who try to do the things they are coached to do, and Joseph and Joel did just that. They were excited and had fun on the court as well, which is what tennis is all about!

Thanks to those of you who participated, it was a lot of fun. I can't wait to do it again next year!

Scores

#1 Singles - Parth Patel
vs. Angola - 2-8
vs. Coldwater - 0-8
vs. Westview - 1-8

#2 Singles - Isaac Brenneman
vs. Angola - 0-8
vs. Coldwater - 8-6
vs. Westview - 8-1

#3 Singles - Cristian Romero
vs. Angola - 2-8
vs. Coldwater - 1-8
vs. Westview - 8-1

#4 Singles - Ethan Miller
vs. Angola - 0-8
vs. Coldwater - 3-8
vs. Westview - 8-4

#5 Singles - Landon Weldy
vs. Angola - 0-8
vs. Coldwater - 5-8
vs. Westview - 4-8

#6 Singles - Bryan Nguyen
vs. Angola - 8-0
vs. Coldwater - 3-8
vs. Westview - forfeit

#1 Doubles - Abe Thorne/Sol Brenneman
vs. Angola - 3-8
vs. Coldwater - 4-8
vs. Westview - 8-6

#2 Doubles - Joel Gerig/Joseph Mumaw
vs. Angola - 2-8
vs. Coldwater - 1-8
vs. Westview - 8-3

#3 Doubles - Brooke Hershberger/Liz DeLeeuw
vs. Angola - 8-6
vs. Coldwater - 2-8
vs. Westview - 8-1