Growing in Wisdom - Westview Match

  Video

Varsity Recap
Our match against Westview was exciting, nerve wracking and so enjoyable! It started on a bright and sunny day, the tennis was good right from the beginning - from both teams.

Westview has one of the best doubles teams in the area, a team where one of the players was part of an All-District pairing last year. They serve well and challenged Malachi and Isaya. Our #1D's had good fight back, but couldn't put a dent in the scoreboard.

But, on the other side of the courts, Judah was also not allowing the Warrior's #2S player to make a dent either. With quick feet and a lot of variety, Judah broke down the smooth strokes of the Warrior #2 to make sure the team match stayed tied, at 1-1.

In the other 3 matches, #1S, #3S, and #2D, we were in tight battles. At one point, we led all three second sets in those matches. Unfortunately, we couldn't pull them all out. At #2D, Dom and Aaron had stretches of play where they were dominant - and then stretches of play where they just missed the court. Ball in play is the simplest way to stay alive, but a couple of lobs and volleys sailed long and wide, and our slim lead gave way.

At #3S, Ethan moved and swung so confidently to a first set win, then held a lead in the second. With the lead, Ethan got timid and his feet went stagnant. He battled those nerves into a tiebreak, where he was taken to a third set. But with the reset, he came back out and had refocused, he quickly gained a 5-2 lead and then took the victory.

The varsity match then came down to #1S, where Gideon had just staged his own valiant fightback. After falling in the first, Gideon shifted gears and played a different game. He trusted his natural skills and kept the second set tight. Leading 6-5, he saw 5 set points go by. But in the tiebreak, he got another chance and whipped a forehand passing shot by his opponent to send the match to a 3rd set. It was an awesome moment.

Unfortunately for the Bruins, his opponent regrouped and came out swinging in the 3rd set. Gideon couldn't make the impact that he had in the second set, and the Bruins fell 3-2.

But I was so proud of the team. There was no quit in the Bruins tonight, no getting down on ourselves, no making excuses. Even after the match, we owned up to things we needed to work on. Before the year, we said that one thing that would define our team would be accountability... I love how that is growing in this group of people!

JV Recap

On the JV level, Elias got us started with his typical solid form. He used consistency and well placed shots to induce errors. He got us started off with a win, which gives him a team-tying 5 victories on the year! He, Judah, and Jordan are all sharing that right now.

Right behind Elias, Jordan took the court. He struggled with consistency, as his opponent made him hit a lot of shots. He also took a fall and bloodied his knee mid-match, which was tough.

Sam also played singles tonight. Sam has some brilliant shots (like a blistered forehand return I loved) but also needs consistency. And that same story continued to the doubles. #1D played really well, but simply gave too many points away during the beginning of the match. What I love about Silas and Lucas is that after they get down, they fight back. They made the match close, improving as it went along.

At #2D, Ender and Josiah were a great pairing. Josiah's consistency set Ender up for some great chances at powerful finishes. It was wonderful to see!

Finally, Ayden, Ethan, and Eli all played against higher ranked JV players from Westview who were playing for a second time. But that really pushed them and I thought brought out some of their best tennis.

And that's maybe a theme of the whole night. We were pressed by a good team, and we responded with good tennis. We missed some things, we made some mistakes, but wisdom isn't about perfection. It's about the process.

Let's go Bruins!

WE CAN BE HUMBLE, BECAUSE WE BELONG: Moments of Belonging

Video Chatter

When making our highlight reel, I can hear players chatting on the recordings. It is amazing how encouraging you all are for one another. Some people are just rooting for each other. Some people are commenting on how good a player's serve is becoming, or how much people are improving. It's really cool. You players are the best!

WHEN WE ARE WISE: Wisdom is Playing the Percentages

Variety

Judah warmed up in his match, sweeping topspin groundstrokes back and forth was his opponent. I was a bit worried, because his opponent's strokes looked really strong. Early in the match that was evident as well. But as it wore on, Judah's began to use a lot of variety in his singles game. High shots, sliced shots, short balls, deep rallies, powerful passing shots - Judah really used each of the tools in the tool kit. This variety is a wise choice to change the pace for your opponent.

Commitment to Volleys

In the #2D, Aaron and Dom really made a commitment to volley. Time and time again I saw points ending at the net, whether for good or for bad. And honestly, those points were heavily tilted in our favor. In doubles, it is good to be able to hang in cross court rallies. But honestly, we want to get to the net and finish those rallies with volleys. It was good to see them committed to doing that in this match.

Fast Feet

The Westview coach commented that he loved watching our team and our commitment to footwork. I noticed it too. In Judah's match it was very evident, but maybe even more so in Ethan's. When Ethan was light footed and quick, he was powerful and consistent with his shots. When he became nervous and flat footed, he pushed his shots out. That was true of Gideon in his comeback as well, #2D in taking the lead, #1D when they were pushing back. It was true at the JV, where we really are committing to footwork but not always getting the positioning right. But I love the commitment. It is something that gives us strength.

THEN WE ARE STRONG: Exceptional Outcomes

Sam's Returns

Sometimes return can be the hardest shot. Staying active with our feet, moving our bodies forward to the ball, making sure to not take too big of a backswing. But Sam has such a compact stroke, that the return is a real strength of his. Twice in this match, Sam struck sweet topspin returns for winners. Once from a forehand and once from a backhand. That was awesome.

Big Energy

At #2D, there were some big energy points. After encouraging them to dominate the net, Aaron pounded an overhead past the feet of the net player. Soon after that, a point was played where Dom and Aaron were near the middle of the court. An opponent's shot clipped the net, and Dom's sprinted forward to clip it up over the net. The volley coming back hit the net and the Bruins stole the point, thanks to the energy and attention.

Gid's Amazing Passing Shot

At the end of the second set, Gideon had so many chances to take his match to a third set. Each time, his opponent came up with a ridiculous shot on the line to steal it away from Gid. But Gid didn't fold, he fought back to take a lead in the tiebreak. Up 6-5, needing 1 point to win the set, Gid's opponent did it again - ripping a forehand on the line and following it to the net. This time, Gid pulled out his own line painting shot. He ripped the ball cross court on the dead run, leaving his opponent without even time to make a swing. It bounced inside the line and elicited a big cheer from the crowd. It was exceptional!

Prayer

God, You have given us a team full of amazing people. People who really care and really want to bring their best. I am like that too. Help all of us remember that tennis is so fun, that playing with heart and effort is enough. That the outcomes are not as important as the conversations, moments, and memories that form us along the way. Thanks! Amen.

Scores

Varsity
#1S - Gideon Miller - 1-6, 7-6 (5), 0-6 - Kaden Hostetler (11)

#2S - Judah Miller - 6-2, 6-0 - Ethan Miller (11)

#3D - Ethan Claassen - 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-3 - Jaxon Miller (10)

#1D - Malachi Yoder/Isaya Magatti - 0-6, 0-6 - Kaden Grau (12)/Luke Stults (11)

#2D - Dominic Ramer/Aaron Hochstetler - 2-6, 4-6 - Hudson Yoder (10)/Pierce Yoder (11)

Junior Varsity

#1SJV - Elias Magatti - 8-4 - Avery Christner (9)

#2SJV - Jordan Hochstedler - 2-8 - Ethan Fry (11)

#3SJV - Sam Brenneman - 2-8 - Grady Yoder (9)

#4SJV - Ayden Lehman - 1-6 - Blake Hostetler (9)

#1DJV - Silas Martin/Lucas Bateman - 4-8 - Blake Hostetler (9)/Evan Roth (9)

#2DJV - Ender Finnigan/Josiah Aguilar Clark - 8-4 - Aaron Roth (12)/Lex Thompson (10)

#3DJV - Eli Steiner/Ethan Miller - 0-6 - Evan Roth (9)/Ethan Fry (11)