Traditions: The Bethany Tennis Logo

Crossed Rackets = The Cross of Jesus
First of all, let's start at the heart. In the middle of the logo are crossed tennis rackets. Yes, we are a tennis team, so tennis rackets. Yes, this is a nod to tennis tradition. But more importantly, and the reason it is right in the center, is that the crossed rackets are to symbolize the cross of Jesus Christ.

That's the center of who we want to be. Jesus on our hearts, moving toward that. When I designed the logo, I knew that we needed to have a cross logo on it. But I didn't want it to be incredibly obvious or cheesy. But the self-sacrificing love shown on the cross is at the center of who we are.

The Laurels = Arms of Our Brothers
The laurels that spring up around the sides of the shield are to symbolize the arms of our brothers on the team. We are there to support one another. We are there to surround one another. We are there together. We are wrapped up in community.

Also, laurels have traditionally been a sign of victory. Think the ancient Olympics and the wreath of laurels that the winner would get. So, we are just a community only supporting and encouraging each other. We are a community supporting and encouraging each other to get better, to strive toward victory.

Shield = Strength of Protection
For the center part of the logo, you'll notice that the ball and the cross are framed by a shield. I could have chosen a circle or other shape there, but I chose the shield for two reasons. One, I want us to think of ourselves as strong. Strong because we have each other. Strong because we have Jesus at the center. Strong.

Also, I want us to think of our strength as best used in protection. Looking after one another, looking after our own hearts. We are strong protectors of this team (and hopefully others).

Ball = You 
Finally, there is the ball. The ball is actually a huge symbol, because it represents you - the individual player. There you are on the lower part of the crest. The ball is beneath everything, because it's a reminder that tennis really isn't about you singular. So the ball is there at the bottom, being humble.

The ball is also not fully there. It's only about 3/4 of a ball. That's because we are all in formation on this team. We are looking to grow and seek our fullness and wholeness. Something that we probably won't fully achieve on earth, but something we are striving toward.

And as we seek that wholeness, that growth, the ball is located under the love of the cross and within the arms of community. We grow in and towards Christ, surrounded by the love and support of our brothers on the team. That's the idea with the ball being beneath the crossed rackets and inside the laurels.

So, the logo says, we are humbly being formed, under the self-sacrificial love of Jesus on the cross and inside the arms of our tennis community. But there is a strength in that as we follow God.

Oh, and the logo says "Bethany" because, you know, that's the school that we represent :-) Hope you guys are living in the joy that is proclaimed by our tennis logo!

Tuesday Traditions : Pizza King

This story involves two traditions, the place we eat every time we get near Angola and the rusty old Bethany vans that we always take to team camp. Ever wonder why those smell the way they do (like rotting, maggoty, vomited trash)? Perhaps this story will explain. But first, the history.

My wife and I grew up and started dating in Angola. My parents would only allow us two dates a month when I turned 16 (I wasn't allowed to date at all before 16). It was a good rule, but you can ask me more about that later. Anyways, one of the dates that Courtney and I would always take each month was going to dinner after a basketball or football game at the local Pizza King. So the place holds dear memories for me.

When we started team camp in Angola, I decided to make my good memories become good memories for the team. We began to frequent Pizza King as a dinner location every time we got near to Angola. Not because the pizza is great, although I really like it, just because it is what we do.

One year, we went to play a scrimmage against Angola. After the scrimmage, we hit up Pizza King as we always do. We ate too much, teased too much, watched baseball on the TV, and were probably way too loud for the other patrons pleasure. But Alex Bullard decided he wasn't done with the experience, he wanted to take some home. So, he ordered a 16" pizza to go.

We got back in the rusty old van and headed home. As we did it began to rain, so we closed all the windows. The smell of pizza over took the van and we teased Alex about taking a whole 16" home. Being teenagers, most of the guys were beginning to get hungry again and offered to eat it for him right then. Alex protested, saying he was taking it to his family, or it was for lunch throughout the week, or whatever. He wouldn't give us any. We got back to the school with the van smelling like pizza, and Alex with 16" all to himself.

Except...

He left it in the van. Forgot about it or something. And I forgot to check the van to see if everything was out. It was probably late and I wanted to get home to my wife or something. So the pizza sat in the van... for two weeks.

Two weeks later, the soccer team (ha!), had to use the van to go to a match. What was in there but a rotting, moldy, disgusting 16" pizza, compliments of the tennis team. The smell was so overwhelming that they had to change vehicles, and leave the van sitting with windows open for 3 days. Yum.

And I'm sure that smell never really got out. Hence the reason the vans still smell like they are covered in mold. But we'll still take a van to tennis camp, and we'll still go to Pizza King. Because that's what we do. They give us stories.

(But let's throw the extra pizza away this time.)

Tuesday Traditions : Hide-and-Go-Seek

During team camp week, we stay in a large church on the east side of Angola. The church has many different areas; a nice large sanctuary with youth rooms behind, a gym with classrooms overlooking it, a children's wing that doubles as a daycare center. Because of these places, and the sheer size of the church, and the fact that we are there all night, this is the perfect spot for an awesome game of hide-and-go-seek.

There have been many awesome hiding places throughout the years, but the best was Courtland Jones. Courtland played a year on the tennis team before switching over and becoming the backup on the soccer team. That was actually too bad, because he would have ended up being a pretty good player, maybe even on the varsity this past season. But the thing he will always be remembered for is his hiding spot.

At the bottom of the stairs, behind the sanctuary, the church was building a new office for a new pastor. The office wasn't completed when we stayed for tennis camp. It had just been an open space, so they were in the process of closing it off a little. Come time to play, Courtland thought that it would be awesome to hide in this construction zone.

Except, he didn't just stay there. He climbed a ladder up to the top and into an open space in the ceiling. Once in the ceiling he realized that if someone climbed the ladder and looked in (unlikely) that he would be spotted. So to make sure that he won, he climbed the metal beams of the roof all the way around the sanctuary to the other side, ended up a good hundred feet from the opening in the roof!

There he sat, on a beam, for hours, while we searched and found everyone else. Then we circled the church and started calling. "Game's over! You win Courtland, come on out!" Which was great, but he was so far into the ceiling that he couldn't hear us! So, I worried around trying to figure out where he might be, if he was hurt, etc. A couple hours later, he came out, saying that he finally heard our calls but it took him a while to climb back across.

That's the lengths that hide-and-go-seek and go to. We've calmed it down a little since then. I'm looking forward to more chances to find more spaces this year.

Tuesday Traditions : The Rundown

As I see it, we have a lot of tradition. And that certainly is a good thing. Today I sat down to make a list, and this is what I came up with...

Match Traditions
- Prayer
- Team Cheer
- Sarasponda

Season Traditions
- Praying the Lines
- Midnight Practice
- Magic Wand
- Night Out

Team Camp Traditions
- Hide and Go Seek
- Pizza King
- Speedball
- Devotions
- Shower Races
- Ruby Tuesday?

So there's a list for today. Next week, we will delve into some of the great stories that come from these traditions. Any favorites? Any requests? Any stories that have to be told? Leave responses in the comments, maybe I'll write about your favorite story!

Tuesday Traditions : Praying the Lines

Every season, before the practices start, the upper classmen are invited to a special midnight practice slash ritual. This practice allows us to start the season at the very first moment available, and is a fun way to begin what is an intense tennis season.

However, we also pray the lines. Praying the lines was something I first did as a player. It simply involves walking the lines of a tennis court while praying to God honestly. As far as rituals and traditions go, it is fairly simple. But I believe it is powerful.

I usually have players pray the lines of the court that they will be playing on. This last year, it was pretty simple, because we basically knew what the positions would be. This coming year it will be harder. The idea, however, is that we invite the presence and blessing of God to go before us in this place where we will invest so much effort.

It's not a magical prayer to win every match.

It's not a prayer of cursing that our opponents will go down in flames.

It's a loving prayer that God will honor the work that we put in in this place. That we will be reminded to take the attitude of Christ when we walk on the court. That God will teach us to take on the character of Christ in our practices and matches. And that it will go well with us.

It's a prayer of peace.

I love this time of the year, when we walk slowly through the night. I love watching our players take faith and prayer seriously. It's an amazing thing to see and participate in. Thanks to those of you who have prayed in the past, and continue to do so today.

Tuesday Traditions : Team Camp

Team Camp is amazing, there's nothing more to say.

Here are the "details" for this year:

WHEN: Monday, June 8 through Friday, June 12

WHERE: Angola, IN at The Church

WHAT: 2 tennis practices, 1 conditioning practice, 3 awesome meals, 1 team bonding event (speedball, dodge ball, hide-and-go-seek, go-kart, video games), 8 hours of sleep. EACH OF THESE, EVERY DAY!!!

Contact Matt to confirm your participation.

Tuesday Traditions : Sarasponda

In 2005, we avenged a very difficult loss from the 2004 season, defeating what used to be a heated rival in Lakeland and in so doing, we won the Lakeland Invitational. When I say heated, it was to the point where they were cursing at us when we would change sides of the net. In 2005, we had a pretty good team, but they had six seniors and had beaten us the year before, and I think they thought they would win again. It didn't work out that way, as we won 4-1, sweeping the doubles with Joel King and Wes Klassen picking up singles victories.

Both of the doubles matches had been very tight, so in winning them we were in celebratory mood on the bus ride home. All of a sudden, Michael Steury busts out with "Boom-da, boom-da, boom-da, boom-da." I had never heard the song before, but all of the rest of the guys had and joined in a spontaneous and loud version as never heard before. I remember Wes Klassen in his highest, squeakiest voice, shouting out the nonsensical words at the top of his lungs. It was so much fun.

Then we defeated NorthWood, in what may have been one of the tightest matches that I've coached. This time we gathered on the court, our home courts, to sing our new victory song. And tradition was born.

Through the next few years, we sang the victory song on many different occasions. Let me point out that our team record is 41-20 since we started this tradition, so maybe we're just really excited to sing! But we never sing it on an opponent's courts, unless it is Sectional, because Sectional is supposed to be neutral courts. We also only sing it after we win. I can remember at the 2007 post-season celebration we were sitting around the campfire and the parents wanted us to sing it for memories sake. No one would. Some of the parents wanted me to encourage you, but I didn't want to. I like that it is special, only for victory. Singing it as a team at other times cheapens it.

I remember singing it so many different times. That 2005 NorthWood match, the 2007 Fairfield Sectional victory. The 2008 Penn victory. I continue to hope that there will be many more.

Tuesday Traditions : Magic Wand

"Fact: Matt Thomas can inhale two magic burgers, large fries, and a large shake in the van in under five minutes." --- From Finding Our Way, Witmarsum 1993

The tennis team played its first season in the fall of 1992. It was also in the fall of 1992 that the Magic Wand tradition began. Like many traditions, it was born of necessity. Coach Jim Buller and I were talking the other day about the Magic Wand, and Jim said that when he started coaching tennis in 1992, there was no McDonald's in Churubusco, no other place to eat before making the 50 minute drive back to Goshen besides the Magic Wand. So it was the only choice.

And now, 16 years later, we make special team trips just to make sure that the tradition takes place every year.

It's a funny thing, why we love the Wand so much. It's a creepy place really, with clowns plastered all over the walls of the back room where we normally sit. The food is just regular diner quality food. The ice cream is your typical small-town ice cream shop fare, soft serve with Reese's Pieces and chocolate sauce (or at least the E.T. Sundae has that). But somehow it has made it's way into our hearts...

Maybe it's the donuts.

Yea, that is one really weird part of eating at the Wand with the tennis team. Everybody is ordering burgers, fries, shakes, and things of the dinner nature. But just about everybody also orders donuts, the cinnamon-y fresh out of the oven kind of donuts. It's like breakfast and dinner together. But it's not as weird as the clowns.

And yes, this really is a clown from the Magic Wand.

Some of my personal favorite Magic Wand memories...
- Evan Stahley ordering more than $20.00 worth of food for himself including a steak(?)...
- Alex Bullard taking food on the bus from the Wand and getting it thrown at him on the way back...
- Taking our Wayne Invitational individual trophies in with us and setting them on the table...
- The waitresses botching our orders every single year...
- Tator tots and those E.T. Sundaes...
- Never eating there after a loss...
- One year not having a match in Busco or Fort Wayne, so we checked out a van and went after practice just to keep tradition alive...
- I'm sure there will be plenty more to come!

If you read this, comment with your own thoughts on the Magic Wand meal and fun!

Tuesday Traditions : Night Out

Night Out started as a simple tradition. Basically, we would get together and do something fun on the night that I went to find out who we were playing in Sectional. In 2003, it was very informal. I put the guys into groups and gave them some silly things to do, then some more serious things, like praying together. Then we met at the courts at NorthWood, to pray on the courts that the Sectional would be held at. While we were there, someone was video taping, and it gave me the idea for a bigger and better video scavenger hunt.

The idea for the whole practice at all came from when I was in high school. We used to get together at the coach's house for a party, and then the assistant coach would come back and tell us who our Sectional opponent would be. Then we would leave, only to come back to the coach's house about an hour later and TP him, then we went to the assistant's house and TP'ed it as well. Then we would drive to DeKalb, the site of our Sectional, and claim their courts as our own. We'd get really excited and jump around and do cheers and other things.

Anyways, I thought we should do something like that. So the 2003 year was tame, but 2004 started the video competition. This was the first list of Night Out ideas:

Tennis Stuff

Facing the net between the legs shot, must go in (10 pts)

Three overheads into the court then over the fence in a row (20 pts)

Hit a serve from outside the fence, into the correct box (20 pts)

Imitate the playing style of one player on our team, tell us who it is (20 pts)

Hit an overhead in while falling backwards to the ground (20 pts)

Hit a serve that goes in and then gets stuck in the fence (30 pts)

Back to net, between the legs shot after you’ve been lobbed over, must go in (40 pts)

Get an actual rally that lasts 100 shots (50 pts)

Challenge a random person to one man war, and get them to play (60 pts)

Hit ten first serves in, in-a-row (70 pts)

People Stuff

See if you can get a cookie from my Grandma (20 pts)

Make a prank call to one of your own houses (30 pts)

Write and sing an original song for our departed seniors (40 pts)

Deliver dinner to a person you know, with a secret admirer note (50 pts)

Paint someone’s toenails while singing a love song (70 pts)

Use a pickup line, on a random guy (70 pts)

Gross Stuff

Try to eat 6 saltines in one minute with no drinks (10 pts)

Eat a full can of anchovies, no drinks (20 pts)

Get a video of three of your team members brushing each others hair and singing (20 pts)

Have an eating contest, you decide the food, between your group members, the worse the better (30 pts)

Pass the same marshmallow from mouth to mouth of each of your team members (30 pts)

Make the worst tasting food you can, every body take 2 bites (100 pts)

Make a disgusting mixture of drinks, find someone other than one of your group members to drink it (50 pts)

Drink vinegar, all group members (50 pts)

Lick the lines, make a court at Bethany yours by licking the sidelines and baseline, the whole line (60 pts)

Wash each others feet, in a bucket of your combined saliva (70 pts)

So, then it proceeded from those humble beginnings to what we see today. General craziness. My favorite memories from Night Out...

- Jeremy Thomas going through the car wash as a freshman.
- Joe Friesen offering flowers to a Goshen College student.
- All of the groups showing up and singing my wife songs, and giving her flowers ripped up from Goshen College.
- Jay Mast's group getting his cousin to join them on the whole scavenger hunt.
- Casey Diener's group convincing soccer fans to drink their concoction of grass, dirt, Sprite, spit, hamburger and fry remains, rocks, and other generally dirty things.
- The various disgusting foods that are blended together.

Anyways, enjoy "Night Out" all over again!