The Seniors: Blake Shetler

Blake has made a significant transition for his senior year, moving from a dominating #2 doubles player to a strong #2 singles player. Last year, teaming with Russell Klassen and Evan Grimes, Blake compiled a record of 19-3 playing doubles. This year, he is 8-3 playing #2 singles, with 2 of those losses being three set matches! Blake’s presence on the team is often under appreciated by many who are not part of our team. Blake does his damage quietly; practicing hard, challenging himself, even making silent fist pumps when he wins big points. Blake always reminds me of a Wendell Berry poem, “What if we all did our work like the snow? Quietly, quietly, leaving nothing out…” As a leader, Blake has also been someone who leaves no one out, giving rides to practice and being a hitting partner with whoever is around. I have been so grateful to have a strong player and leader on our team.

Colossians 3:16-17
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Doubles Dominance

When Daniel Buschert and Mikey Kelly compiled a 20-2 record at #2 doubles on our Sectional winning team of 2008, I thought I'd never see a Bethany doubles team dominate their position like Mikey and Daniel did. Sure, there would probably be an uber-talented singles player to dominate their position (like Mike Mallet of the late 90's or Seth Krabill this year), but for two players to combine for such brilliance, especially at a school as small as we are? Would we ever be that deep of a team again?

And two years later, I'm sitting here reflecting on what the combination of Russell Klassen and Blake Shetler did this year.

19 wins at #2 doubles...
only 1 loss together...

And it wasn't that they skated through an easy schedule. Daniel and Mikey faced the likes of Penn, Northridge, Concord. Russell and Blake took down teams from Northridge and Concord too, but threw in a win over a state-qualifying Valparaiso team. They also got a win over the Fairfield #2 doubles team that didn't lose until the Semi-State round against Munster.

Something Russell and Blake clicked. Russell could be emotional, Blake was often reserved. Russell pounded his forehand, Blake had a great backhand. Russell controlled the net with pokes and drop-shots, Blake commanded the net with overhead putaways. They spurred each other to play better, and in times of nervousness they covered for each other, like Russell denying a match point for Valparaiso with a killer crosscourt forehand and then Blake finishing it off with a big serve.

And perhaps we'll never see the likes of this partnership again in Bruin's doubles. Of course, last time I thought that about a 20-2 team, we had these guys step up for 19-1. What's next, 18-0?

Thursday Rant: Night Vision Goggles

TR #3: Night Vision Goggles

I mean, seriously! What would a game of "Hide-and-go-seek" be with night vision? A sham!! I'm telling you, Blake is completely out of line, walking around and wishing that he had night vision goggles! What's next, Luke and Jared hiding on a secret hidden roof beneath the real roof and finding their way with cellphones?! When is it going to stop people?! Why can't a game just be a game!

Blake Shetler

Career Records
Most Wins in a Season: 19 (2010)
Farthest Advanced in State Tourney: Team Sectionals
Longest Winning Streak: 14 (2010)
Most Sets Won in a Row: 16 (2010)
Biggest Win: 6-0, 6-0; vs. Matt Henderson/Jack Stein, Wabash; Brad Foster, Bremen
Closest Win: 6-7 (5), 7-6 (6), 6-3; vs. Austin Christner, Fairfield
Career Tiebreakers Won: 6
Career Tiebreakers Won Percentage: 42.9%
Career 3rd Sets Won: 6
Season 3rd Sets Won: 3 (2010)
Career Games Won Percentage: 63.7%
Season Games Won Percentage: 72.3% (2010)
Career 3rd Sets Won Percentage: 66.7%
Matches Won in a Row w/ a 6-0 Set: 3
Matches Won 1st Varsity Season: 19

2011

#2S – Northridge – AJ Thielking (12) – 6-7 (2), 5-7

#2S – Goshen – Drew Hostetler (12) – 6-3, 1-6, 6-3

#2S – Rochester – Taylor Beck (12) – 6-2, 6-2

#2S – Jimtown – Jake Ward (11) – 6-2, 6-0

#2S – Concord – Matt Kotva (11) – 6-3, 2-6, (5-10)

#2S – Columbia City – Gabe Boles (12) – 7-6 (4), 2-6, 2-6

#2S – Fremont – Matt Wilcox (12) – 6-4, 6-0

#1S – Laville – Grant Frick (12) – 6-0, 6-1

#1S – Prairie Heights – Tyler Carbone (12) – 6-1, 6-0

#2S – Triton – Pete Kauffman (10) – 6-4, 6-3

#2S – Westview – Kohle Christner (10) – 6-3, 6-2

#2S – Elkhart Central – Brett Morton (12) – 0-6, 6-7 (4)

#2S – Triton – Lucas Shafer (11) – 6-2, 6-1

#2S – Wawasee – Isaac Rigdon (11) – 6-1, 6-0

#2S – Centerville – Jacob Thompson (11) – 6-7 (4), 6-3, (11-9)

#2S – Fairfield – Austin Christner (10) – 6-7 (5), 7-6 (6), 6-3

#2S – Bremen – Brad Foster (11) – 6-0, 6-0

#2S – NorthWood – Mitchell Keiser (10) – 6-1, 6-0

#2S – Jimtown – Austin Ward (11) – 6-2, 6-1

#2S – Fairfield – Austin Christner (10) – 4-6, 2-6

RECORD: 15-5

2010

#2D – Northridge – AJ Thielking (11)/Doug Jakubowicz (11) – 6-2, 6-3
#2D – Goshen – Eli Metzler-Prieb (11)/Paul Johnson (11) – 6-1, 6-2
#2D – Mishawaka – Michael Furlow (10)/Ryan Mathes (11) – 6-1, 6-0
#2D – Columbia City – Cole Craven (12)/Gabe Boles (11) – 1-6, 6-7 (6)
#2D – Fremont – Kaleb Hayes (9)/Brandin Ross (12) – 6-1, 6-0
#1D – Rochester - Cody Hershberger (12)/Josh Calhoun (12) – 6-1, 6-1
#2D – Jimtown - Augie Farwig (10)/Austin Ward (10) – 7-5, 6-2
#2D – Concord – Bronson DuMont (11)/Matt Ciesielski (11) – 6-0, 6-1
#3S – Prairie Heights – Nathan Clark (10) – 6-1, 6-0
#3S – Triton – Jackson Downing (11) – 6-1, 6-4
#2D – Westview – Austin Schlabach (11)/Devin Bontreger (11) – 6-2, 6-4
#2D – NorthWood – Austin Sanders (9)/Mitchell Keiser (9) – 6-0, 6-1
#2D – LaLumiere – Mario Muralles (11)/John Lake (11) – 3-6, 6-2, 6-1
#2D – Valparaiso – Jordan Hyde/Tyler Costas – 6-2, 4-6, (12-10)
#2D – Fairfield – Nate Kropf (12)/Josh Ketcham (12) – 6-0, 6-1
#2D – Bremen - Austin Huff (11)/Brad Foster (10) – 6-1, 7-6 (3)
#2D – Taylor - Jack Lipchik (9)/Casey Glick (9) – 6-2, 6-0
#2D – Wabash - Matt Henderson (12)/Jack Stein (10) – 6-0, 6-0
#2D – Eastern - Adam McKinney (11)/Michael Dunkle (12) – 3-6, 6-2, (8-10)
#2D – Tippecanoe Valley – Clayton Adamson (10)/Robbie Groom (9) – 6-0, 6-2
#2D – Goshen – Sam Stegelman (10)/Sylas Buller (10) – 6-3, 6-4
#2D – Fairfield – Nate Kropf (12)/Austin Beer (12) – 1-6, 2-6

RECORD: 19-3

2009

#2D - Northridge - Jeff Eash (12)/Cole Wogoman (12) - 3-6, 2-6
#1DJV - Goshen - Brenton Jones (12)/Sam Stegelmann (9) - 8-6
#2SJV - Fremont - Brandon Miller (9) - 8-7
#2SJV - Rochester - No Name Reported - 8-1
#1SJV - Jimtown - No Name Reported - 8-4
#1DJV - Concord - No Names Reported - 1-8
#1SJV - Prairie Heights - Torin Kellett (11) - 8-1
#1SJV - Triton - Pete Kauffman (9) - 8-5
#1SJV - Warsaw - Will Anderson (11) - 9-7
#4SJV - Warsaw - Gavin McGrath (9) - 9-7
#3S - Westview - Alejandro Marin - 4-6, 4-6
#1SJV - Goshen - Philip Bontrager - 8-2
#1SJV - Plymouth - Lane Singleton - 8-6
#1SJV - Warsaw - Raj Gokhale - 5-8
#3S - Fairfield - Brad Shipley - 1-6, 2-6
#1DJV - Bremen - Ben Sime (12)/Austin Huff (10) - 1-1
#3S - Taylor - Drew Hansen (9) - 4-6, 1-6
#3S - Eastern - Connor Young (9) - 6-7 (4), 7-5, (10-7)
#1S - Howe Military - Briham Yang (11) - 6-1, 6-1
#3S - Fairfield - Brad Shipley (10) - 2-6, 1-6

JV RECORD: 10-2-1
VARSITY RECORD: 2-5

2008

#2D JV - Northridge - AJ Thielking (9)/Doug Jakubowicz (9) - 8-3
#2D JV - Goshen - Philip Bontrager (10)/Eli Metzler-Prieb (9) - 8-1
#1S JV - Mishawaka - Scott Fahey (12) - 8-0
#2D JV - Rochester - Evan Webb/Mike Rosswurm - 6-4, 6-1
#2D JV - Jimtown - Danny Eaton/Cameron Green - 6-3, 6-1
#2D JV - Fremont - Brant Arnos (9)/Alec Trine (9) - 6-0
#6S JV - NorthWood - Dylan Humble (9) - 8-0
#4S JV - Fairfield - Brad Shipley (10) - 0-6
#4S JV - Bremen - Harley Sult (10) - 8-4
#1D VA - Trader's Point - Kyle Myers/Brett Jamerson - 8-0
#3D JV - Penn - Mike Crane/Nick Lu - 2-6
#1S JV - Howe Military - Joe Pierson (11) - 8-3

2008 JV RECORD: 9-2
2008 VARSITY RECORD: 1-0