Ben Mast - All State

The award just keep on coming in for Ben Mast. This Monday, he was named to the 1st team of the All-State Academic team. This award is picked out of all the seniors in the state, and is a combination of both academic achievement as well as varsity playing achievements.

On Monday, I announced that Ben had become the first Bethany player to be awarded All-District based on his play. Now he has become the first player to be honored in the Academic All-State. Admittedly, I am now more involved with the Coaches Association, and am more aware of what awards they give and how to nominate for them. We've had several players in the past (Luke Hostetter, Daniel Buschert, Johnny Kauffman, Jared Schwartzentruber, Jonny Shenk - well, basically the whole class of 2009) that may have received this award if I had known about it.

Still, it's an impressive feat. The requirements are quite high, as the recipients must have at least an A average and a high SAT or ACT score. Those are the requirements to be considered for Honorable Mention, with the requirement for 1st team being much higher.

And this is a very prestigious award as well. Consider: 168 players around the state make the All-District teams. That is considered quite an honor. For Academic All-State 1st team, only 71 players received the award.

So, it's been a good "Award Season" for Ben Mast. Congratulations on your achievements Ben!

My favorite thing...

As a coach, there are things that I like about each of my players. During the senior appreciation weeks, I want to highlight my favorite thing about each senior. It seems a good way to sing their praises, and for those who are still on the team to learn something from them.

Ben Mast has many good qualities that served him well in playing tennis. He focused well, controlled his emotions, practiced hard. But the thing that endeared him to me the most as a coach was his ability to listen.

I cannot count the number of times that Ben did exactly what I said, whether coaching him through the chain link during a match or talking to him in my room during the offseason. Between his junior and senior year, I talked to him about dominating matches by attacking. He needed to work on his approach and his finishing volleys to really be able to put pressure on his opponents. Ask any of the 18 opponents he demolished this year if he attacked well. Or just watch the tape of his Sectional match against Stefan Baumgartner.

During the offseason, I told him he needed to pick up the pace of both first and second serve. He rarely aced players or had an easy time holding serve during his junior year at number one. Guess who had our biggest serve this season, as far as speed, placement and consistency were concerned?

And during matches, I rarely talked to Ben, but when I did, he listened and it made a difference. I remember during his most intense match of the season, he was down in the first set to Westview's Steven Blinco. It was windy and Ben was simply missing the aggressive shots he was trying to attack behind. I told him to keep the ball in the court and only attack when he knew that he couldn't miss. Ben rallied during the last two games of the first set, and then won the last two sets 6-3, 6-0. Throughout the whole of the rest of the match, you could see him meticulously performing the very strategy we talked about at the fence. Ball in the court, over and over, until it was certain that he would put the point away.

Even to this blog, Ben is a listener. Much of last season, I posted here about the type of player that I wanted to see us Bruins become. Attacking under pressure, confident, dominant, with a killer instinct. I posted advice about shots, match memories, stats that were sure to come true. Ben followed it all. And I would said that he embodies so much of what I hope for in the Bruin tradition because of that.

Yep, my favorite thing about Ben Mast is that he listens.

Ben Mast - All District

It's the beginning of "Ben Mast" week here at the BC tennis blog. This year, each senior will get a week where each post will somehow be related to them.

So what better way to start Ben Mast week than to announce that for the 1st time in Bruin tennis history, we have an All-District player!

That's right, Ben Mast was voted onto the 2010 District 2 All-District singles team by the coaches of the IHSTeCA. That's the coaches association if you are wondering. District 2 covers the whole of northeast Indiana from Kokomo up to South Bend and also encompassing Ft. Wayne and Marion. It's a large area, and an area of extremely competitive tennis.

The top 16 singles players are selected from a pool of around 65 schools, a total of almost 200 players. This means that Ben is in the top 10% of players in the northeast corner of the state. That's impressive. We've had nominees before (Luke, Jared, Joel and Johnny-Jeremy for the doubles side), but we've never been blessed with an actual recipient of the award.

So I'm proud to kick off Ben Mast week with this amazing announcement!

The official website for IHSTeCA and the official list can be seen here: All District List.

Catching Up on Friday

Catching Up With...a JV Perspective on the 2008 Sectional Championship

"Observing Sectionals" by Ben Mast

The Saturday morning of the Bethany Christian Team of 2008's sectional victory was an amazing day. We all know what happened: Struggle, frustration, worry, against Fairfield, but then finally pulling it out. Easily beating Northwood, playing really well, having a lot of fun, and a sectional victory to top it off.

But I never took the sectional victory as a personal triumph. I struggled all season with this whole not really being on the varsity but still 'being' on the varsity idea (I know some of you know what I mean), and this struggle was even more apparent during sectionals. I celebrated the sectional victory as an observer, not a player. I took absolutely no ownership personally for the victory (which makes a lot of sense) even though often people tried to congratulate me. I didn't do it. I didn't play. Don't try to give me a piece of the victory cake. And I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little jealous or a little frustrated that my talents hadn't taken me far enough to share in this moment. And my envy tainted my joy of the historical day.

By writing this, I'm being honest. I'm absolutely not intending to take away from the victory. It was an incredible day; an incredible feeling when Mikey and Daniel pulled out the Fairfield win, when Johnny and Jeremy played one of their best matches all year in the sectional championship, when Luke lifted the sectional championship trophy above his head. It was incredible. But it wasn't mine.

Since the season ended, I have been trying to figure out what all this means for me, because next year it could be me playing on a beautiful Saturday morning for a sectional championship. After that Saturday, I worked at trying to learn something from each player that participated in the Sectonal, and this is what I've come up with: Luke taught me to play efficiently, Buschert taught me to never give up, Johnny K taught to yell (and obtain an enormous amount of nicknames), Mikey taught me how to play under pressure, Jonny S taught me the value of mental strenght, Jared taught me the importance of detail, Jeremy taught me how to enjoy victory. The entire varsity team taught me to want to win so badly you ... well, you win. They also taught me what wanting to win looks like: hard work, taking the offseason seriously, and having fun.

So thank you all. It was an honor to play and be on a team with you guys.

Winning the sectional was memorable, incredible for all those observers and players alike. But I want to know what it's like to play in a moment like that - to win in a moment like that.

So let's do it again.

Shout Out!

Just wanted to congratulate Ben Mast on being named Bleeding Bruin Blue's Athlete of the Week for last week. A nice 3-0 week for Ben, including comeback win over Northridge and a blowout of Goshen earned him the online award. First one of the year, score one for Bethany Christian Tennis.

Player Profiles - Ben Mast

What is...
your graduation year: 2011
your personal goal this season: beat 11 wins or play varsity (aim big, right)
your best shot in tennis: forehand groundstroke
your worst shot in tennis: overhead? backhand volley?
your favorite tennis match you've played (and why): vs. Thomas manges (Bremen) – my best 8-0 victory. I played the best I had played that year.
your favorite tennis memory (and why): the devil-child screaming (that same game…)
your favorite "Night Out" story (and why): ?
your favorite book of the Bible: job or genesis
your favorite restaurant to eat at after a match: pizza king
your favorite sport besides tennis: volleyball

Who is...
your favorite men's tennis player: djokovic
your favorite women's tennis player: sharapova
your "role model": federer
your favorite doubles partner: on our team? Probably Johnny k
the person you'd most want to play doubles with out of anyone in history: federer. I don’t know any good doubles players and nadal would drive me mad.
your most likable opponent: Thomas manges
the funniest team member: Jeremy
the quietest team member: Harrison
the hardest-working team member: seth k
the team member who would make the best coach: Johnny k

What...
do you want to do post-High School: college, study english, teach, I don’t know
do you eat for breakfast: cold cereal w/ milk
time do you go to bed: 10:30
subject makes you fall asleep: geometry and environmental science
would you give as a new nickname to the tennis team: the bethany "c'mons!"

Ben Mast

Career Records
Most Wins in a Season: 18 (2010)
Farthest Advanced in State Tourney: Team Sectionals
Longest Winning Streak: 6 (2010)
Most Sets Won in a Row: 12 (2010)
Biggest Win: 6-0, 6-0; vs. Bobby LeRoy, Mishawaka (2010), Joe Stackhouse, Fremont (2010), Torin Kellett, Prairie Heights (2010), Danny Morgan, Highland (2010), Brandon Wormcastle, Churubusco (2009), Kevin Massoser, Howe (2008)
Closest Win: 0-6, 6-4, 6-4 vs. Dylan Pieri, Northridge (2008)
Career Tiebreakers Won: 1
Career Tiebreakers Won Percentage: 25.0%
Career 3rd Sets Won: 3
Season 3rd Sets Won: 2 (2009)
Career Games Won Percentage: 68.0%
Season Games Won Percentage: 72.3% (2010)
Career 3rd Sets Won Percentage: 100.0%
Matches Won in a Row w/ a 6-0 Set: 4 (2009)
Matches Won 1st Varsity Season: 12 (2009)

2010

#1S – Northridge – Nick Myers (12) – 2-6, 0-6
#1S – Goshen – Stefan Baumgartner (12) – 6-3, 6-3
#1S – Mishawaka – Bobby LeRoy (11) – 6-0, 6-0
#1S – Columbia City – Dylan Hinen (12) – 6-1, 6-1
#1S – Fremont – Joe Stackhouse (12) – 6-0, 6-0
#1S – Rochester – Aaron Stuart (11) – 6-2, 6-0
#1S – Jimtown – Brett Aller (10) – 6-1, 6-1
#1S – Concord – Jason Denton (11) – 5-7, 2-6
#1S – Prairie Heights – Torin Kellett (12) – 6-0, 6-0
#1S – Triton – Jeff Ross (10) – 6-1, 6-0
#1S – Westview – Steve Blinco (12) – 3-6, 6-3, 6-0
#1S – NorthWood - Brennan Angle (10) – 6-1, 6-0
#1S – LaLumiere – Paul Uminski (11) – 6-1, 7-6 (2)
#1S – Highland – Danny Morgan (11) – 6-0, 6-0
#1S – Fairfield – Wyatt Stutzman (12) – 2-6, 3-6
#1S – Bremen – Taylor Fanning (12) – 6-1, 6-0
#1S – Taylor – Drew Hansen (10) – 6-3, 6-3
#1S – Wabash – Justin Middleton (11) – 6-1, 6-1
#1S – Eastern – Joel Coffman (10) – 6-1, 6-0
#1S – Tippecanoe Valley – Nick Kindig (10) – 6-2, 6-0
#1S – Goshen – Stefan Baumgartner (12) – 6-0, 6-1
#1S – Fairfield – Wyatt Stutzman (12) – 3-6, 6-7 (12)

VARSITY RECORD: 18-4

2009

#1S – Northridge - Nick Myers (11) - 2-6, 5-7
#1S – Goshen - Seth Koble (10) - 6-2, 7-5
#1S – Concord - Andre Ziebold (12) - 6-4, 3-6, (7-10)
#1S - Mishawaka - Adam Barnhart (12) - 6-1, 6-1
#1S – Fremont - Joe Stackhouse (11) - 6-1, 6-0
#1S – Jimtown - Matt Candler (12) - 1-6, 0-6
#1S – Rochester - Ryan Bohr (12) - 6-2, 6-1
#1S – Laville - Trenton Stout (11) - 6-2, 6-0
#1S - Prairie Heights - Brandon Buechley (12) - 6-2, 6-0
#1S – Triton - Ben Montalbano (12) - 5-7, 3-6
#1S – Churubusco - Brandon Wormcastle (9) - 6-0, 6-0
#1S – NorthWood - Miro Arguijo (12) - 3-6, 6-1, 6-0
#1S – Warsaw - Will Coen (12) - 5-7, 2-6
#1S – Westview - Steve Blinco (11) - 1-6, 2-6
#2S – Fairfield - Malachi Randolph (11) - 6-2, 6-0
#2S – Bremen - Jaxson Burkins (12) - 6-1, 6-0
#2S – Taylor - Logan Barnes (9) - 6-1, 6-1
#2S – Wabash - Justin Middleton (10) - 6-2, 3-6, (8-10)
#2S – Eastern - Dylan Buck (12) - 4-6, 5-7
#2S – Fairfield - Malachi Randolph (11) - 6-3, 6-1

VARSITY RECORD: 12-8

2008

#3S - Northridge - Dylan Pieri (11) - 0-6, 6-4, 6-4
#1SJV - Goshen - Nick Dandino (9) - 6-0, 6-0
#2D - Rochester - Travis Wottring (9)/Aaron Stuart (9) - 6-0, 6-2
#1SJV - Fremont - Adam Stukey (11) - 8-2
#1SJV - Concord - Brandon Frutig - 6-2, 6-0
#1SJV - Jimtown - Bret Giddings (11) - 6-3, 6-3
#1SJV - Rochester - Phil Keim - 6-1, 6-0
#1SJV - Prairie Heights - James Burkhart (12) - 8-2
#4SJV - Prairie Heights - Torin Kellett (10) - 6-0
#1SJV - Triton - Josh Shafer (9) - 8-0
#1SJV - Westview - Conrad Frey (9) - 6-3, 6-0
#1S - Laville - Trenton Stout (10) - 6-1, 6-3
#1SJV - NorthWood - Shiv Patel (9) - 8-0
#2SJV - Fairfield - Colin Holmes (12) - 8-1
#1SJV - Bremen - Briley Bollenbacher (9) - 8-1
#1SJV - Penn - 6-8
#3S - Fort Wayne Wayne - 6-1, 6-3
#3S - Wabash - 6-3, 6-0
#1S - Howe Military - Kevin Massoser (12) - 6-0, 6-0

JV Record: 12-1
Varsity Record: 6-0

2007
Position: #1 Singles JV

at Northridge - Steven Briggs (11) - 8-6 - Win
at Fremont - Kyle Callahan (11) - 8-0 - Win
at Fremont - Spencer Shook (11)/Preston Hart (11) - 6-1 - Win
vs. Prairie Heights - Andrew Svoboda (11) - 8-0 - Win
at Triton - Kreig Vories (10) - 8-2 - Win
vs. Westview - ??? - 5-8 - Loss
vs. Churubusco - John Hilsmier - 8-0 - Win
vs. Jimtown - Matt Candler (10) - 4-6, 5-7 - Loss
vs. Northwood - Nick Anglemeyer (10) - 5-5, ret. - Win
vs. Concord - Jordan Hershberger - 7-5, 6-4 - Win
at Fairfield - Mitchell Osterda (12) - 8-6 - Win
vs. Bremen - Thomas Manges (9) - 8-0 - Win
vs. Howe Military - ??? - 6-0, 6-0 - Win
at Tippecanoe Valley - Russ Yeiter (11) - 8-0 - Win
vs. Jimtown - Matt Candler - 6-8 - Loss

FINAL 2007 JV RECORD: 11-3
VARSITY RECORD: 1-0

Moment of Beauty #5 - Fremont

Lot's of moments of beauty in a match that we swept all positions. First to the varsity, one to Jared Schwartzentruber for playing one of the simplest, prettiest points I've seen all season. A forehand groundstroke flowingly hit to the forehand corner followed by a beautiful backhand swept to the backhand corner. The opponent was scrambling to get the forehand, then had no chance to get the follow-up.

Another beautiful moment to Jeremy Thomas and Johnny Kauffman in a great example of re-attacking the net. Johnny served and vollied, picking up the return just inside the baseline and pushing it back crosscourt. Then a lob went up over their heads which Jeremy was able to return with relative ease. Then, instead of staying back, Johnny and Jeremy pushed to the net again. Jeremy was forced to hit a mid-court volley, which he punched back crosscourt. Then Jeremy had to hit a straightforward volley, which he knocked down the line. A lob sailed over their heads again, but with all the pressure they put on by attacking then attacking, they had forced an error.

More beauty in the JV match, but not just for points. Entire sets without giving the opponents a game, those are beautiful. Ben Mast, Seth Krabill, and doubles team Will Troyer and Austin Loucks were able to close out JV matches without conceding even one game. Zeros are beautiful (when they belong to the opponents).