The Story - Chapter 8 - Bethany Christian v. South Bend Washington

Video Highlights
Highlights coming soon...

The Varsity Story 

“Stories”

The match against the Panthers from South Bend Washington tonight was a night full of stories. Stories as the guys chatted amiably with one another after their matches. Stories - as the Washington coaches told great stories of their college days, their tennis triumphs and their favorite strategies. Stories as the older players on our team got a chance to play matches with the younger guys. Stories as we literally sat with bowls of chili on the court and enjoyed the slow sunset. It was a night of enjoying the stories. 

The tennis was fun too. Washington is a small team in terms of numbers, having only 4 players and 3 positions. Each of the positions the Bruins won comfortably, but there were many things I saw that I liked. I really liked Judah's serve. I really liked Elias's consistency. I really liked the simple play of Malachi and Ethan. 

In the end, we grabbed the victories. But it was all the stories that we will remember :-)

The JV Story

There was no JV in the match against Washington, but we played some intra-squad matches. In most of them, we had an older, more experienced player team up with a younger guy. This way, everyone would really be involved in a high level tennis match. It was really fun to watch a couple of our guys get their first match play in. 

Who Can Focus in the Moment?
Moments of Wise Play

I Can

For a night that had a lot of really fun tennis, our team did a really good job locking in and playing good tennis, even when we were against ourselves. We really kept getting better, no matter the situation. 

Who Can Have Peace in the Match?

Moments of Belonging and Encouragement

You Can

We talk about how we can have peace because we know we hold each other in encouragement. And tonight in our mixed matches, we saw that. I loved how our older players reacted to being paired with the freshmen. They just went out and played fun tennis. And I love how our younger players reacted. They played some of their best tennis of the season. Above all, it was good to see each of them encouraging each other and not worrying about any mistakes. 

Who Can Have Joy for the Season?
Moments for Celebration

We Can

Nothing more joyful than a good conversation. Tonight, Sam and Eli talked with the Panthers #1S and #1D players for a long time. Laughing and lingering on the court. It was such a fun connection.

Awards

Cheerleader: Eli 
Hustle: James
Dig Deep: Sam

Over All This is Christ's Love for Us
Moment of Prayer

God, thanks for simple night. We want to become more like the life that Jesus showed us. That means connecting with the people around us. Help us to do that. Thanks!

Scores
Varsity
#1S - Judah Miller - 6-0, 6-0 - Chris Sykes (10)
#2S - Elias Magatti - 6-0, 6-0 - Jacob Mnichowski (12)
#3S - Aaron Hochstetler - Won by default
#1D - Ethan Claassen/Malachi Yoder - 6-0, 6-0 - Elijah Smith (10)/Zyeer Vancamp-Love (10)
#2D - Lucas Bateman/Jordan Hochstedler - Won by default

The Story - Chapter 7 - Bethany Christian v. Westview

Video Highlights

Highlights coming soon! 

The Varsity Story 

“Sustain-Ability”

On a darkening September evening, the Bruins competed against the district ranked Warriors from Westview. Statistically, they will be one of the best teams we compete against this season.

And compete the Bruins did. At every position in the lineup, the Bruins pushed the Warriors to the brink with tenacity, timely serving, angled net play and energetic execution of their strategies. Well, for one set in each match we did that.

At #1S, Judah needed to remember that his biggest strength is variety and depth. He left the ball too short in the first set and paid for it, as the Warrior #1 found angle after angle for winners. In the second, Judah dug in. With the ball deeper, his opponent made more errors trying to force offense. Judah took the set deep, but couldn’t quite grab a lead. He made it nervy, but couldn’t quite get the break.

The match that was maybe the closest contest of the whole night was the one that had the most lopsided score. Elias fell 6-2, 6-1, but he was actually the last two set match on the courts. His style of play required his opponent to come up with offense again and again, and his match was full of long points and deuces. Many times, it seemed Elias just lacked the final shot to end a rally.

At #3S, Aaron had the closest scoreline of the night. In a very consistent first set, he played with a simple confidence and ease. His opponent made a lot of errors and Aaron wrapped up a great first set. But his opponent refocused for the second set. Aaron made a few more errors, but his opponent had stepped up his aggressive play. He forced a third set, and Aaron made a good effort at changing a couple of tactics of his own. In the end, the Warriors attacking shots put Aaron in difficult defensive positions, and he lost in 3 sets.

The doubles were tight first sets. Both teams were doing a great job on serve. At #1D, we were really ripping serves well and when weak returns came our way, we finished them with authority. But we couldn’t find a rhythm on our return games. Struggling to put them in play, we were finally broken at the tail end of the set. The lack of rhythm continued into the second, and we didn’t keep up our level of resistance.

It was really a similar story at #2D, where we would have excellent points and groundstrokes, but then just couldn’t find the rhythm. In the first set, we were finding the shots that finished the points. In the second set, we couldn’t quite get our nervous feet to move in position to attack those shots. As they went wayward, so did the second set.

So, a 5-0 defeat with some real bright spots. We played up to the level of a really good team. For us to step up to that level, we need the ability to sustain our highest level. To stay concentrated and energetic. We can do it. We can bring ourselves to sustain that. We know that we need to, and can challenge ourselves to do it now.

Let’s go Bruins!

The JV Story

Our JV matches continue to be full of drama. They are fun matches that have surprising twists and turns, where our players are challenged to dig in and compete. It's really developing some talented tennis players.

Isaya at #1SJV was the first to experience that. He fell behind early in his match and the scoreline stayed close, but always with him just a game behind. The match was also taking a while, as both players hit consistently and constructed long points. But Isaya figured out what he needed to do right at the pressure point of the match, when he was down 4-3. Then he was able to execute on his strategy and it paid off. He really enjoyed the pay off of a match like that, and it was fun to talk afterward about how rewarding it can be to form a plan and watch it work!

Isaya got to play a second match as well, and in this one he took a big lead to start the match. Then his opponent made the tactical switch and mounted a comeback, which Isaya had to fend off. After losing some match point chances when he led 5-2 and 5-3, Isaya was able to get over the line for his second victory on the night.

At #2SJV, Eli's match looked to be on a similar trajectory. But instead of things kind of coming together, they just fell apart a bit. Eli had played consistently at the beginning of the match, and that fell off a bit at the end as the match entered its tight stages. 

Speaking of tight matches, Ayden played two of the closest. Unfortunately, he couldn't quite mark either of them in the win category. Ayden's game relies on consistency and hustle, and the hustle is never in question. But sometimes he can have inconsistent moments. When these happen during big points, like in close games or at the end of a set, it can cost. Ayden did an incredible job tonight of fending his opponent's off in big moments, defending multiple match points in both matches. His tiebreak to end the singles match went all the way to 11-9 because he kept making his opponent earn it. I'm really proud of that ability in Ayden.

And I was also proud of Ethan at #6SJV. He rarely plays singles match, instead usually playing doubles. In fact, he had secured a doubles victory earlier in the night with James. So, he fell behind here 5-1. Then Ethan really came to life. He started swinging with a little more intensity. I think that swing intensity also helped the speed of his footwork. His improved footwork put him in great spaces, and he made a comeback that fell just short.

In the doubles, Ender and Sam got us started first. They were playing #2DJV, but happened to be the next match we started with. There match was close all the way to the end, and there were spectacular efforts and spectacular shots that helped them secure a 7-5 win. But what really helped them get the win was the way they did the routine things well. Returns in the court, serves in the box, making the other team play. Sam and Ender did that well in this one.

At #1DJV, Josiah and Silas had opponents who hit the ball a bit harder and played just a bit more offense in general. Therefore, Josiah and Silas found themselves playing defense a lot. This meant that they needed to have early preparation and good placement. Sometimes this came off brilliantly, with angled volleys or shot directed up the line. Sometimes it didn't. In the end, the aggressive Warriors team took the match.

James and Ethan played #3DJV tonight, and they got a great win. James and Ethan really controlled the net, which is so key in doubles. They made it difficult to get the ball around them in the rallies, and found open court when they hit from the baseline. They continue to get better at their serving consistency as well, as there were not many double faults taking points away from them.

Finally, the last doubles of the night was Leo and Josiah S. This was Leo's first match of the season, and so there were some nerves around that. Nerves usually take their biggest toll on movement, and it looked like that was true for this group. Though they hustled well after their opponent's shots, they moved late. But when they were in good positions, their forehands and backhands looked really good. Josiah moved around and patrolled with a consistent shot most of the match, which was really nice to see.

Who Can Focus in the Moment?
Moments of Wise Play

Behind the Runner

Elias did a really good job of recognizing what was available to him when he came to the net tonight. He often finished those points with an overhead into the open court, but late in the match he showed another kind of wisdom. He approached to his opponent’s backhand and got a volley in return. His opponent was already preparing to cover the open court to his right, so Elias simply directed the volley back into the baseline corner. It wasn’t a hard shot, and it certainly wasn’t flashy. It was just solid, purposeful tennis. He saw where his opponent was going and calmly put the ball somewhere else. Often, wise play is just that - seeing the court clearly and letting the simple shot do its work.

Who Can Have Peace in the Match?

Moments of Belonging and Encouragement

Who Needs Us?

The guys did a really good job of moving from court to court tonight, looking for teammates who needed some encouragement. They seemed especially drawn to the biggest moments—the tiebreaks, the final games, the points when a match was hanging in the balance. And that encouragement lasted all the way to the end. Ayden and Isaya were the last matches on the courts, and the guys gathered around them, getting loud and cheering them on. There’s something really good about a team that doesn’t just care about what’s happened in their own matches. We want our teammates to win, too.

Who Can Have Joy for the Season?
Moments for Celebration

Aaron's Angled overhead

Aaron, playing #3 singles, had one of those points that was just a joy to watch because it had a little bit of everything. He came forward for a ball and used our adjusted tactic of putting the approach right on the service line. Then he volleyed his opponent to one side of the court, then the other, patiently moving him around. Eventually, his opponent pushed Aaron back with a scooped lob that went just over his head. Aaron took two quick steps back and carved an overhead volley for a winner, breaking the short-angled forehand sideline with the shot. Movement, tactics, patience, adjustment, and then a really fun winning shot at the end. That’s a pretty enjoyable way to win a point.

Ethan's Power and Movement

Ethan M was down late in his match and getting a bit frustrated. He had missed a couple of shots in a row to go down Love-30 on his opponent's serve. On the next point, he moved quickly to a return and absolutely smashed it into the forehand corner. It went in for a winner, and we called out some encouragement to him. And then, inspired, he did it again on the very next return. And then a third time! Suddenly, something had changed. Ethan had found some new energy, and he started dragging himself back into the match. More than that, his attitude had changed. He was enjoying tennis again. Sometimes joy doesn't come because everything is going well. Sometimes it comes when you find your fight again—and remember that tennis is supposed to be fun.

Awards

Cheerleader: Ender
Hustle: Ethan M
Dig Deep: Isaya

Over All This is Christ's Love for Us
Moment of Prayer

God, tonight was a late night. We played until the sun was down and we could barely see the ball we were trying to hit. Those nights leave me with a satisfied type of tiredness, one that feels good that I was able to spend the day doing things that mattered - encouraging others, trying to get people to push themselves, consoling and congratulating. Thanks for surrounding us with a team that matters, that is full of people that have awesome personalities, talents and ways of thinking. May we learn, grow and live in Your joy. In Jesus' name! Amen.

Scores
Varsity
#1S - Judah Miller - 0-6, 5-7 - Kaden Hostetler (12)
#2S - Elias Magatti - 2-6, 1-6 - Luke Stults (12)
#3S - Aaron Hochstetler - 6-3, 0-6, 2-6 - Ethan Miller (12)
#1D - Ethan Claassen/Malachi Yoder - 4-6, 1-6 - Pierce Yoder (12)/Jaxon Miller (11)
#2D - Lucas Bateman/Jordan Hochstedler - 4-6, 2-6 - Hudson Yoder (11)/Avery Christner (10)

Junior Varsity

#1SJV - Isaya Magatti - 6-4 - Evan Roth (10)

#2SJV - Eli Steiner - 2-6 - Brigham Rahn (9)

#3SJV - Ayden Lehman - 4-6 - Alex Stutzman (9)

#4SJV - Isaya Magatti - 6-4 - Miles Yoder (9)

#5SJV - Ayden Lehman - 5-6 - Grady Yoder (10)

#6SJV - Ethan Miller - 3-6 - Declan Ryall (9)

#1DJV - Silas Martin/Josiah Aguilar Clark - 2-6 - Ethan Roth (10)/Brigham Rahn (9)

#2DJV - Ender Finnigan/Sam Brenneman - 7-5 - Grady Yoder (10)/Miles Yoder (9)

#3DJV - Ethan Miller/James Weaver - 6-3 - Durrel Frey (10)/Declan Ryall (9)

#4DJV - Josiah Shue/Leo Schlabach - 2-6 - Durrel Frey (10)/Alex Stutzman (9)

The Story - Chapter 6 - Bethany Christian v. Prairie Heights

Video Highlights
Um... I may have accidentally deleted the highlights 😬

The Varsity Story 

“Simple Joys"

A heat wave swept through Northern Indiana this week, and right on its front end, we went and played at Prairie Heights. It was a chance for us to move into a winning record for the varsity season. And the Bruins took that chance.

Tonight, all of our positions seemed to follow the same general patterns.

A little rusty after a long bus ride, all the positions struggled to play clean tennis in the beginning of their first sets. For the first 2 or 3 games, every point felt like a little bit of scraping and clawing to find our form. Luckily for the Bruins, the Panthers were struggling too. But it wasn’t the prettiest of tennis.

We were especially a bit sluggish with our adjustment steps. Not for lack of effort, but maybe for lack of pressure. The Panthers' shots were not hit with huge pace, and having time to prepare for shots sometimes meant that we took too much time. We were leaning back on shots that we had plenty of time to get on balance for. We were jammed on shots that we had plenty of time to move away from. Because of this, we missed a number of shots that we could have made.

It is funny how tennis can work that way. Sometimes the harder ball is actually easier to hit because it forces you to react. When you have more time, you have to make your own decision to move. Tonight, we had to remember that.

But once we started moving well, we all of a sudden found ourselves flowing through the match. Judah hit approaches that caused attacking balls to float just long. Aaron put topspin pressure on his opponent’s groundstrokes. Malachi and Ethan were being smart and aggressive, putting away a lot of balls from the net. Jordan and Lucas were finding the gaps in the middle of the court. Elias was working angles, but having to dig in for lots of long points.

We really began to play better, and the games going in our favor added up as well. What had started with a little bit of scraping and searching turned into a night where the Bruins were simply playing good tennis. Moving. Making shots. Attacking when the opportunity was there. Trusting the things we have been practicing.

And sometimes that is a really satisfying thing to watch.

The JV Story

The same could be said for the JV. Josiah and Isaya represented us tonight, and I appreciated their calm and control as they played. They both won a number of easy points on serve, and then easily controlled the rest of the game. There wasn't anything flashy that needed to happen. They just played solid tennis, took care of what was in front of them, and kept putting themselves in good positions.

In the end, the tennis got a bit cleaner and we enjoyed a fairly stress-free 5-0 victory for the varsity, 2-0 for the JV.

Sometimes these nights are needed. Not every match needs to be a dramatic three-setter or a fight to the very last point. Sometimes we need a night where we can enjoy sitting with our teammates and cheering for our friends without anything being at stake.

We got to enjoy the end of Elias’s match, eat some popsicles before they melted in the heat, and sing on the way home.

Simple joys.

And I'm grateful for them.

Let’s go Bruins!

Who Can Focus in the Moment?
Moments of Wise Play

Serving Advantage
Elias’s flat serve was really cutting through the court tonight, and it was forcing errors on the return. There’s something wise about a serve like that: it doesn’t need to do something complicated. It just needs to be placed well, hit with conviction, and make the opponent deal with it. Elias was doing that over and over again, and it made the first ball of the point a pretty good one for us.

Good Feet
Judah had really good feet tonight. Always bouncy, always ready to split step, always moving before the ball got to him. It doesn’t look like much when you watch one individual point, but over the course of a match, it makes such a difference. Good feet give you balance, and balance gives you options. And when Judah is moving like that, he just becomes a much more consistent tennis player.

Who Can Have Peace in the Match?
Moments of Belonging and Encouragement

Who Can Have Joy for the Season?
Moments for Celebration

Simple Volley
Ethan had one of my favorite points in doubles tonight. He was at the net and made a subtle slide toward the middle. When the ball floated his way, he could have tried to do something impressive with it. Instead, he made a simple backhand volley right between his opponents. Nothing flashy. Just the right shot in the right place. That’s smart aggression—being ready to attack, but not feeling like every attacking opportunity needs to become a highlight. I especially enjoy this, because it was so simple. There’s a joy in watching a player resist the temptation to make a point harder than it needs to be. Sometimes the best shot is just the obvious one.

The Point That Kept Giving
Elias had another point that I really enjoyed. He earned a lob, then hit an overhead that pushed his opponent all the way off the court to the forehand side. His opponent managed to flop the ball back, but Elias didn’t rush. He adjusted to the new ball and then slammed it through the open space on the backhand side. I love points like this because the winner isn't really the final shot. The winner was created by the two shots before it. Elias moved his opponent, saw the space, and then took what the point gave him. One good decision created the next opportunity, and eventually there was just a big open court waiting for him.

Awards
Cheerleader: Josiah
Hustle: Aaron
Dig Deep: Elias

Over All This is Christ's Love for Us
Moment of Prayer

God, thanks for all that You provide. Joys. Friends. Warmth. Wind. Trees. Songs. Ever more. Love You. Amen.

Scores
Varsity
#1S - Judah Miller - 6-1, 6-0 - Chase Hayward (12)
#2S - Elias Magatti - 6-1, 6-1 - Luke Johnson (11)
#3S - Aaron Hochstetler - 6-0, 6-0 - Michael Messer (11)
#1D - Ethan Claassen/Malachi Yoder - 6-0, 6-0 - Landon Wylie (11)/Mason Crites (9)
#2D - Lucas Bateman/Jordan Hochstedler - 6-0, 6-0 - Kalob Hensch (11)/Josh Mullet (9)

Junior Varsity

#1SJV - Isaya Magatti - 6-0 - Alex Weller (10)

#2SJV - Josiah Aguilar Clark - 6-0 - Alex Weller (10)

The Story - Chapter 5 - Bethany Christian v. Concordia

Video Highlights

The Varsity Story 

“Running It Back”

It has been said that basketball is a game of runs, which is to say that momentum seems to play a big part in a team’s ability to succeed in their attempts to defend or score.

I say that is even more true in tennis.

It’s important to learn how to combat those momentum swings, and catapult ourselves into places where the momentum is behind us. Tonight gave us that opportunity.

The two positions where this “game of runs” idea was most obvious were the top two singles positions. These were also the most competitive positions and the last two matches to end. #2S was the most epic match of the night. Elias lost the first game against a player with a very similar game to him. But then, Elias rode a confident wave of momentum to six straight games to clinch a straightforward first set.

Then momentum changed, the match became a grind, a tug of war. Elias would win 2 games, then the Cadet #2 would grab the next 2. With Elias up 4-3, Concordia loosened up their attacking tennis and reeled off 3 games to win the set.

This set up a third set tiebreak, played to 10 points instead of a full third set. To begin, Elias fell behind 6-3, making a couple of tentative errors. Then his game flipped. He began to drive his backhand a bit more, he found some well placed lobs... all of a sudden he ran off 7 straight points to finish the match with a vicious overhead slam.

Elias had learned that an attitude of aggression, control and confidence can really create a timely run in tennis.

Judah had to run it back in his #1S match as well. Judah moved easily through a first set where his opponent made a number of errors. But like all varsity matches, his opponent started the second set with a fresh start and a fresh strategy. This challenged Judah, and suddenly he trailed 3-2 in the second set. Judah was trading games and needed to start a run of his own.

It started with confidence, it started with going back to locking in on what he does well. For Judah, that’s playing 4 dimensional tennis and changing the attack points for his opponent on their swings. Judah once again found the combination, and locked in on it to run off 4 games and a two set victory.

At the #3S, Aaron was locked in on his strategy from the beginning. He simply stuck with what was working well, which is another key strategy for going on a run in tennis. His mindset from the last match against Goshen was serving him well again tonight, so he brought that same mindset and strategy.

The doubles teams went on big runs, each sweeping their matches with 6-0, 6-0 scores. This takes concentration and confidence, but it also means that they weren’t giving away cheap errors. Clean tennis can also create runs in tennis. But so can big shots. An overhead slammed away or a big serve can change the mindset of our opponents, or of ourselves, and allow us to take a couple of games in a row.

So tonight, we saw how a run of games can be created...
- A big shot that excites us
- Clean tennis without a lot of errors
- Sticking to the strategies that are working
- Locking in to the strengths that we have
- Playing with an attitude of confidence and control

The JV Story

With the 5-0 varsity win, we turned to watch the JV. Eli Steiner took the win at the first singles position. He continues to improve his serve, but didn’t need too many other shots tonight as his opponent made a few too many errors. But Eli got to take home the win, as did Sam at the second singles position. Sam really served well tonight, a solid shot that is becoming the base of a solid game. He continues to work on his readiness and adjustment steps to be completely ready for anything.

And that was the 2-0 JV victory. After that, we had two intra-squad doubles matches. Isaya and Ayden took on Ender and Josiah in what was a really high level doubles match. The points that were played in that match surpassed some of the varsity play tonight for their intricacy and touch, as well as the movement that these players had across the court, particularly at the net.

And then Ethan and James played against the other Josiah and Leo. Each of these players continues to improve, especially in terms of their net game. I loved the number of times I got to see them patrol the net and slam down an overhead like we practice in our overhead drill each day.

A team meal ended the evening on a good note. We ran out the sunlight of the day playing and laughing on the courts, ready for our next chapter.

Let’s go Bruins!

Who Can Focus in the Moment?
Moments of Wise Play

Hustle Brings Rewards

It's so tempting in tennis to not commit to running to the shots that drop in front of us. I see it all the time in practice, a shot comes in low and we let it bounce twice until it's in our comfort zone. But in a match, we're not ready for that. One player who I don't see do this is Aaron, and in his match tonight, he followed that practice-grown instinct and sprinted forward to dig out a backhand that had fallen just barely over the net from his opponent. Sliding his racket underneath, he spun up the most beautiful backhand drop volley, arched over the net and then spinning back toward it after the bounce. His opponent tried but had no chance. The instinct to hustle had paid off.

Who Can Have Peace in the Match?
Moments of Belonging and Encouragement

One of my favorite things every year is when we finish a match and there is still daylight. Inevitably, some players head back to the court because they just can't get enough tennis. Tonight, Judah, Aaron, Mason and Sam knocked tennis balls around the court in the falling dusk. A whole 45 minutes after the match, they laughed and tried crazy shots and just had fun. These are the moments for me, easy to forget, but building that belonging.

Who Can Have Joy for the Season?
Moments for Celebration

Ethan's Amazing Trick Shot

Ethan M. had an amazing shot in his match. Returning serve, he went to hit a forehand and he swung. And no one could figure out where the ball went. They turned in circles. They looked behind him and in the net. Then Leo and Josiah saw that the ball had wedged itself in the neck of his racket, in the small space below the strings. It was a shot that would be hard to do again if he tried, but was pretty awesome to see. 

Elias Hits 7 in a Row

Yeah, Elias's tiebreak run has to be mentioned here. The coolest thing about this run is that though Elias's game often relies on consistency, he brought a little bit of firepower to the tiebreak. Of the 7 points he won in a row, 4 of them were winners. Two were lobs, and two were overheads. It is good to see us finishing points in pressure situations. So much fun!

Awards
Cheerleader: Eli
Hustle: Elias
Dig Deep: Judah (but all of us had moments!)

Over All This is Christ's Love for Us
Moment of Prayer

God, with this match completed, we get to take a bit of a deep breath before we resume match play. Thanks for keeping us safe from injury in this first third of the season. Thanks for helping us grow. I pray that we are taking seriously being the people You have created us to be, knowing that we are loved. May we experience that in ways that are full of joy and reality. In the name of Jesus, amen.

Scores
Varsity
#1S - Judah Miller - 6-0, 6-3 - Neil Jain (10)
#2S - Elias Magatti - 6-1, 4-6, (10-6) - Ian Satterlee (9)
#3S - Aaron Hochstetler - 6-1, 6-0 - Jude Peters (12)
#1D - Ethan Claassen/Malachi Yoder - 6-0, 6-0 - Thomas Milholland (12)/Julian Van Meter (9)
#2D - Lucas Bateman/Jordan Hochstedler - 6-0, 6-0 - Ethan Harris (9)/Lucas Neuenschwander (9)

Junior Varsity

#1SJV - Eli Steiner - 8-0 - Liam Herman (11)

#2SJV - Sam Brenneman - 8-1 - Ben Kremer (9)

Intra-Squad Matches

Isaya Magatti/Ayden Lehman - - Ender Finnigan/Josiah Aguilar Clark

Ethan Miller/Josiah Aguilar Clark - 6-3 - Josiah Shue/Leo Schlabach

The Story - Chapter 4 - Bethany Christian v. Oak Farm

Video Highlights

The Varsity and JV Story

"This is Nice"

It was such a gorgeous evening. The clouds were perfectly painted in the sky. The breeze was cool across the fields and through the forests behind the court. The facilities were very nice at Oak Farm. We had four of our fantastic seniors along for the match, as our JV took on Oak Farm's varsity team.

And since it was so nice, we decided to stay and play awhile.

Ayden matched up perfectly to his opponent at #2S. His opponent liked to play a lot of slice balls and try to make Ayden run for them. But Ayden is excellent at runnings for these types of shots. Once, his opponent let out a whispered "No way..." as Ayden got to the drop shot and won the point. The wind played a little bit of havoc on some of the games, but Ayden was able to mostly breeze his way through the match with hustle and consistency.

#1D played much differently. Ender boomed away with serves. Silas spun the ball all over the court. Both players ended up with big aces. Silas had a point where he hit an overhead down into the court so hard that it bounded into the second bay of courts. They enjoyed the opportunity to play together, and that was also really cool to see. It took them a moment to catch their rhythm, but then they reeled off 10 straight games to pull away with the match.

But we had the most fun supporting Isaya. He continues to grind through the closest matches. So far, Isaya has had a match go to a tiebreak, and then two matches that went to three sets. In this one, Isaya lost the first set against an opponent who used every spin in the book. Especially lethal were his opponent's drop shots, which he then followed up with inch perfect lobs. The Falcon #1S was brilliant at lifting them just a fingernail's width above Isaya's racket. But in the second set, Isaya really locked in. He readied himself for the short ball and hit massive approach shots when able. With this focus, he found himself in a third set.

The third set went back and forth, no player able to hold their serve. It was remarkable how Isaya would recover and come back, time and time again, with confidence and movement. Throughout the match, it was amazing how consistent Isaya was. He rarely missed a rally ball. But right at the end of the match, the rally ball was the thing that just couldn't find the court. However, in our courtside cheering section, we were proud at how well Isaya had played this tricky opponent.

And with the match over, we took off together to find a nice meal. And while it took quite awhile for our fast food to arrive (some might even say it shouldn't be called "fast food" when it takes over 30 minutes for it to arrive :-) - it was still quite a nice drive home together with a group of guys I enjoy being with.

Let’s go Bruins!

Who Can Focus in the Moment?
Moments of Wise Play

In the wind tonight, Ayden repeatedly made really smart choices. Rather than try to power through the ball, he repeatedly used short angles to take his opponent out of position. He got up to short shots quickly and then angled the ball towards the sideline (kind of like our "Short Ball Two Ball" :-) These shots took the wind out of play, because they didn't have a ton of air underneath them, they didn't float high through the air. I don't know if this was a strategy that Ayden thought about, or if it was just instinct, but it worked really well.

Who Can Have Peace in the Match?
Moments of Belonging and Encouragement

Isaya can have peace. Throughout his really tight and nervous match, the other three seniors continued to encourage Isaya. They even echoed when his mom would cheer for him. After a difficult match, they picked him up. When can have peace because we know our relationships with our friends don't change based on the outcome of a tennis match. Win or lose, the story remains that we are loved.

Who Can Have Joy for the Season?
Moments for Celebration

Ender's Laser Serve

I don't know why this made me smile, but Ender hit a serve last night that was straight and fast. It hummed over the tape and then bounced up straight toward the Falcon returner. He leaned toward his backhand, trying to get a forehand swing on the ball but Ender's serve bounded right through the gap between his arm and his body. It was a really cool ace!

Drop Shot Mania

After being drop shotted all the time in his match, Isaya did get a little revenge. Down 4-5 and 40-40, Isaya came forward to the net and his opponent actually slammed a forehand pass down the line. Isaya lunged down and out for the ball, but it ticked the frame of the racket and spun frantically in the air. Luckily for Isaya, it flipped onto his opponent's side and then the rapid spin carried it back into the net. It was a big point that allowed him to get back into the set, and it looked really cool - even if it had a little element of luck :-)

Awards
Cheerleader: Lenora :-)
Hustle: Ayden
Dig Deep: Isaya

Over All This is Christ's Love for Us
Moment of Prayer

God, I'm super proud of the four seniors who played tonight. They embody much of what we want our team to be about. Joy for the season! Encouragement for each other! Wisdom and perspective too. Thanks for their influence over our team, and for a nice evening together. Amen.

Scores
Varsity
#1S(JV) - Isaya Magatti - 5-7, 6-3, 5-7 - Fyo Hayden (11)
#2S(JV) - Ayden Lehman - 6-2, 6-2 - Afton McGinnis (12)
#3S(JV) - Bethany Christian wins by default
#1D(JV) - Silas Martin/Ender Finnigan - 6-2, 6-0 - Riley Fitzharris (12)/Liam Reynolds (9)
#2D(JV) - Bethany Christian wins by default

The Story - Chapter 3 - Bethany Christian vs Goshen

Video Highlights

The Varsity Story

"Learning Our Lessons"

Tonight, the Bruins showed that we are learning our lessons.

What I mean is that we are taking the experiences we have in matches, adapting to them, and putting that new learning to work. Or we are taking what we learn on the drill court and bringing it straight into the match court.

No where was that more evident tonight than at #3S. Aaron has been working on playing attacking and smart tennis, and tonight he did exactly that. He had such a great attitude, just trying to have fun and attack his opponents weaknesses when possible. He did that to the tune of a 6-1, 6-2 victory.

Or take Elias at #2S, a position where the Bruins took a loss tonight. Still, in practice we worked on finding a passing shot down the line. And what happened on the first attack of Elias’ backhand? A perfectly placed passing shot down the line.

And at #1S, we’ve been getting Judah used to the firepower he’ll face in a loaded #1S gauntlet this year. Facing his second All-District returning player in a row, Judah upped the depth of his shots, but even more importantly, his belief that he could just play. Though he lost, he showed great grit to keep coming back at it.

At #1D, we learned to shift strategies mid-match against Northridge. Tonight against Goshen, that mid-match strategy wasn’t working. So we shifted again to a new style, being more aggressive and moving forward. This gave us a lead in the 2nd set. Unfortunately, the RedHawks shifted as well, which good teams will do, and we couldn’t take the set. Still, great learning steps.

Best of all was #2D. Jordan and Lucas had experienced a long three setter on Tuesday, and on this Thursday, they found themselves under that pressure again. Against Northridge, they got nervous and their feet got stuck. Against Goshen, they shook it out and swung through. Going behind 3-0 in the deciding set, they came back again and again. They served so well under pressure. And finally behind some timely serving from Jordan, they closed out a 3 set win. 

The varsity Bruins dropped the match to the defending Sectional champs 3-2. But it was a great night of learning. And it was a great night of learning that we tend to play our best tennis... when we just play. When we get out there and have fun!

Another big thing we learned was the importance of projecting confidence. Tonight, it was very noticeable when we believed we could compete and were full of confidence and energy - and when we got down on ourselves and were just going through the motions of the match. We need to play with that little bit of swagger, a bit of knowing that whatever happens, whoever we play against, we can bring it and be proud of our effort. We did that in many positions at points in the match. We are learning we can bring it all the time.

The JV Story
In the JV match, there were close matches up and down the lineup. Isaya had probably the best of the lot, a three set classic that also saw him shift strategies in the middle and gain momentum. I loved his simple game and attitude throughout, and the cheering section that came along to encourage him in the long match.

Also going 3 sets were the #2DJV, Eli and Ender. They battled nerves, tiebreaks, frustration and more. They kept coming back again and again. This is something we talk about at practice. The simple practice of taking a deep breath and starting each point again is worth celebrating.

Another three setter occured at #2SJV, where Ayden displayed amazing hustle and grit. After dropping the first set 4-0, Ayden really began to fly around the court and display amazing consistency. He pushed the match into a tiebreak third set, but couldn't find the winning combinations right at the end of the set. Still, he maintained belief.

A final three setter occurred at the final doubles spot on the night #4DJV. In this match, we were able to break through and take the tiebreaker. Ayden and Sam were tired and hot, but managed to make a great comeback. In the tiebreak, Sam caught fire. He didn’t miss a serve, fired away winning volleys and backhands. It was a focused display that I loved to see.

Other positions on the night learned and grew as well. Silas and Josiah had their first match against true varsity quality doubles players, and grew in their ability to deal with that as the match went on. Ethan got to play his first singles match of the season, and really got to work on his anticipation and improved at it. James and Josiah played their first doubles together.

And overall, it was great to see the Bruins out supporting one another. The echoes were louder tonight and more frequent. The things we are working on are coming together for growth. We can continue to move toward these excellent, noble and praise-worthy things.

Let’s go Bruins!

Who Can Focus in the Moment?
Moments of Wise Play

Elias Does the Practice Drill in a Match!

I referenced this above in the match report, but during practice on Wednesday, James, Eli, Sam and Ayden helped run Elias through a passing shot drill. In this match, the drill came into play immediately and Elias placed it brilliantly down the line. Throughout the match, he continued to see the drill pay some dividends. It wasn't always perfect, but you could see the growth right in front of us. Love it when hard work, both by a player and his teammates, begins to pay off.

Aaron Does the Practice Drill in a Match!

For Aaron, one skill we've been continuing to strengthen is his ability to get to the net. Each day in practice, we work on coming forward with accurate aggression. Today, he displayed that confident ability again and again in his match. It makes me anxious to get back to the practice court.

Lucas Does the Practice Drill in a Match!

In the third set, Lucas and Jordan were really trying to be aggressive and active at the net. In Wednesday's practice, we had done a drill practicing that. In the midst of the drill, we kept taking big swings at shots that were headed far past the baseline. So we stopped and practiced knowing if a shot was in or out. I hit hard topspin shots at the net person and encouraged them to swerve out of the way if the ball was smashed with high speed above the level of their eyes. In a crucial sequence of the third set, Lucas "matrix-ed" a shot, ducking his head and letting it fly past the baseline. The knowledge and experience was growing.

Jordan Does the Practice Drill in a Match!

Late in the match, Jordan was trying to serve out the win. These moments can have pressure in them. During practice, I had asked players to visualize a pressure moment in the match, then concentrate and hit the serve. Jordan did just those things, along with the other pressure relievers we've been talking about - shaking it out before the point begins, bouncing the feet, taking a deep breath. Then he served it out with brilliance.

Who Can Have Peace in the Match?
Moments of Belonging and Encouragement

More Echoes Please!

In each match, the echoes have been growing. This match brought forth the most. What encouraged me so much was where they came. In big moments, or after big disappointments, players were calling out to their teammates so that they could hear the encouragement coming back their way. Lucas, Jordan, Aaron, Isaya, Ender, Judah... and more. Love to hear our team vocally pick each other up.

The Girls Team Shows Up!
Just wanted to throw in a moment of appreciation for the Bethany girl's tennis team, many of whom showed up at the match and lended their voices to the encouragement. They picked Isaya up at a crucial point in his second set, then picked up #2D at an important point in their third set, then cheered for the final matches on court as Isaya and #4DJV finished up. Thanks ladies, we appreciate you!

Who Can Have Joy for the Season?
Moments for Celebration

Sam's Brilliant Tiebreak

Sam just played about the most perfect tiebreak possible in his final match. Booming serves put his opponent's on the back foot. He didn't miss a serve in the tiebreak. Even better, his net game was solid. He didn't do anything spectacular at the net, just hit simple volleys to the right spots. I was so excited about how he stepped up to pull out the win!

Awards
Cheerleader: Isaya
Hustle: Ayden
Dig Deep: Lucas

Over All This is Christ's Love for Us
Moment of Prayer

God, I'm just grateful for a good week. I pray that we can stay focused and keep building. Keep building friendships and support. Keep building our game play and strategy. Keep building our faith and belief, that Your way in the world is truly the best way to live. We are loved. Thank You! Amen.

Scores
Varsity
#1S - Judah Miller - 0-6, 3-6 - Logan Beck (10)
#2S - Elias Magatti - 2-6, 0-6 - Logan Yoder Rupp (10)
#3S - Aaron Hochstetler - 6-1, 6-2 - Graham Ebright Zehr (10)
#1D - Ethan Claassen/Malachi Yoder - 0-6, 4-6 - Holden Ebright Zehr (12)/Tristan Keiser (12)
#2D - Lucas Bateman/Jordan Hochstedler - 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 - Aiden Saner (11)/Andrew Hughes (12)

Junior Varsity
#1SJV - Isaya Magatti - 3-6, 6-3, 3-6 - Shaun Paetsch (12)
#2SJV - Ayden Lehman - 0-4, 4-2, 7-10 - Leo Herber (11)
#3SJV - Sam Brenneman - 3-5, 0-4 - Josh Soto-Macias (11)

#4SJV - Ethan Miller - 2-4, 0-4 - Sam McDonald (9)
#1DJV - Silas Martin/Josiah Aguilar Clark - 1-6, 2-6 - Manny Arredondo (10)/Jordy Miller (12)
#2DJV - Ender Finnigan/Eli Steiner - 5-3, 3-5, 2-10 - Connor Yoder (10)/Vincent Castillo-Miller (10)
#3DJV - Josiah Shue/James Weaver - 2-4, 0-4 - Dom Keiser (10)/Tristan Schmitz (12)
#4DJV - Ayden Lehman/Sam Brenneman - 2-4, 4-0, 10-2 - Carsyn Querry (10)/Harold Hartzler Bhandari (10)

The Story - Chapter 2 - Bethany Christian vs Northridge

Video Highlights


The Varsity Story
"The Long Game"

This match is about the long game.

Literally, this match featured three positions that totalled over 9 hours on court! But more importantly, this match was all about the building blocks of confidence that will lead to a great season.

Even in the quickest of matches, Judah’s loss at #1S, there was a lot to be learned. Judah had opportunities to play against big serves and big groundstrokes, also hit with perfect placement. He got to see how his feet created opportunities, and how some strokes cause players more trouble than others. But ultimately, Northridge was just too good at #1S, and Judah’s match ended in less than 45 minutes or so. But by playing hard and never letting up, Judah was building up for the long haul of the season.

At that point, every other match was just getting started. No other match was even in the second set when Judah came off. In fact, it was more than an hour and a half later that Aaron came off court after suffering a lengthy two-set defeat. Again, Aaron learned a ton in this match - attacking weaknesses of his opponent and facing up against his own nerves. Every game was close, and sometimes single shots changed the complexion of a whole set. I was quite proud of Aaron’s ability to bounce back and keep the pressure on throughout this match.

That left three matches on the court, and we needed to win each one to grab a victory. And we came oh so close to doing exactly that. Two of these matches lasted over 3 hours, and the other went almost 2 hours and 40 minutes. It was a ridiculous level of tennis over a long period. Elias at #2S continued his great start to the season. He battled back and forth with an opponent who struck very attacking shots, but also made some mistakes. Elias was able to find the returns and change the contact points of his opponent, encouraging errors. His first set went to a tiebreak, which he prevailed in. The second set went back and forth, mostly against serve. But Elias fell behind and was eeked out 6-4 in the set.

This sent it to a third, and Elias fell down 3-2. He was a bit discouraged, because his earlier strategy was drying up. We talked about making one more stand, giving it all of his energy and seeing what happened. Standing up and taking the big punch and sending it back. What happened was that Elias ran off 4 straight games to take the third set and win the match in 3 hours and 10 minutes.

Also finishing up at that exact same long time was #1D. Malachi and Ethan similarly seesawed through the first set, taking an early lead but then fading late. In the second, they trailed the whole set but kept it close. In the middle of the set, they made a tactical change, choosing to use the lob more. Down 5-4 they won a big game. Then kept the momentum up to take the set to a tiebreak. Full of confidence in their strategy, they raced out to a 5-0 lead in the tiebreak, then took the set to force a third.

In the third, the match stayed close. But there was a confidence and security to Malachi and Ethan. They had discovered a strategy, it was still working, all they had to do was play. With that attitude they toughed through a tight third set, and in 3 hours and 10 minutes, defeated the Raider doubles crew. They were honestly serving their match point at the exact same time as Elias 🙂

But unfortunately, those two matches weren’t enough to win the match. Just 25 minutes before those matches ended, Jordan and Lucas had fallen in a long third set at #2D. They played great tennis throughout, especially serving very well. In each game, one error was keeping them from inching ahead. At the end of the first set, they went through a period of movement and focus that eliminated those single errors, and they took a tight first set. But that focus waned in the second set, and they fell behind and couldn’t make the comeback.

In the third, they came out with the needed energy and focus. Again, confident serving and net play were on the cards. However, the Raider team pushed back with joy and excitement. They upped their game and called upon Jordan and Lucas to do it to. We couldn’t quite overcome the nerves at that point, and double faults and first ball errors crept in. In the end, that cost the Bruins the final point. But there was brilliant tennis throughout for #2D.

In the long game, this was quite a victory for the Bruins. Experienced players gutted out long matches. Inexperienced players got experience under pressure, and a chance to learn from that experience. We all got to play competitive matches that tested us.

And in the long game, that can be a very good thing.

The JV Story
The story wasn’t that different for the JV. Long matches that were good challenges for our growth.

Isaya went on at #1SJV right in the middle of the varsity matches, figuratively and literally. On the center court, he built a lead with consistent and yet powerful strokes. His normal shot really zooms off the racket, with a lot of spin, and when it is controlled it does a lot of damage. His opponent made a lot of errors early. But after Isaya had a lead, his opponent began to play much more cautiously. The match tightened and went to a tiebreak. In the tiebreak, Isaya played brilliant tennis, but couldn’t quite find the finishing touch. In the end, the Raiders took the tiebreak in a long match.

Silas and Josiah then took center court, and began their match while Elias and #1D toiled away on either side. Silas looked really strong in parts of this match, especially on serve and when finding forehand passing shots. Josiah did a great job of angling a lot of volleys away for winner when playing the net. It was another tight one though! It also went into a tiebreak. This time the Bruins were able to pull away for the tiebreak win.

Eli at #2SJV didn’t have a tiebreak, and didn’t get the win either, but he played long points that required a lot of effort and running. He really had the ability to get a lot of shots back in play. His feet were good, and now racket preparation and recognition need to follow. Eli’s serve also continues to improve and that really helped when he played again in doubles.

#3SJV was Ayden tonight, and his match was crazy. Ayden isn’t a crusher of the tennis ball, but someone who’s effort is the way to victory. He built a lead behind crazy good effort tonight, offering shot after shot to his opponent and trying to draw an error. Up 6-5 with the light fading, Ayden offered to play a tiebreak because the light was going to make things difficult to finish. Unfortunately he lost the tiebreak, but I still consider it a win because of his generous offer and the fact that he had led by a game when the light was basically gone.

#2DJV of Ender and Sam struggled to find rhythm tonight. They made good shots but their opponents would return them. They couldn’t quite string 3-4 shots in a row to really keep the pressure on their opponents. Still, they kept things close and supported each other really wel..

#3DJV really showed what can happen when you keep the ball in play with good placement. Eli and Josiah excelled at simply finding the court with their shots, but especially because they were able to direct those shots to the open court. Rather than just lift shots toward the Raider net player, they would force the player in the back of the court to move and hit passing shots. This strategy wore away at the Raiders until Eli and Josiah S pulled away.

#4DJV continues to improve. Every time I watch Ethan he is serving better. Every time I watch James he seems more balanced and consistent. They had a great tennis battle with their opponents, finding the angles and advantages. Increasing their anticipation is probably the next step.

Overall, I’d say that’s a good word for the whole JV. We will run and hustle, giving it our all. We’ll do that all night long. But we need anticipation, court positioning, and feet moving before the ball is at our feet. That anticipation and preparation are the keys to getting better.

Who Can Focus in the Moment?
Moments of Wise Play

Finding a Strategy and Working It
Ethan and Malachi adjusted in the middle of their match. They realized things weren’t going their way, listened to advice from Coach Daniel, and turned things around. They incorporated another piece of information from me. From 5-4 down in the second set, they took simple doubles to a better level. From then on, they had a great chance to win the match. And they did. It was as simple as moving to a strategy that helped them keep the ball in the court more, and put themselves in advantageous positions. Malachi just used the lob a bit more, and Ethan made sure he was balanced before attacking. And they hunted for backhands, aiming at their opponent’s weaknesses. Then they stayed with it to secure the win.

Who Can Have Peace in the Match?
Moments of Belonging and Encouragement

The Meal
One of my favorite traditions is eating together. I love that we all wait so that we can enjoy the meal together. Tonight, we grabbed rice and fruit skewers and disappeared into the dark, under the pine trees. Laugh, we poured too much soy sauce on our bowls. We came back for seconds. We called everyone over to offer them a seat. Love it!

Who Can Have Joy for the Season?
Moments for Celebration

Ethan’s Passing Shots
Early in the match, Ethan had an awesome shot, that just deserves some attention. Running toward his forehand side, he slapped a forehand down the line for a quick winner past the net player. He let out a roar and it was awesome. Just a laser of a shot.

Lucas’s Angled Volley
Late in the first set, with the Bruins down 5-4 and Love-30. A shot slid cross court from the Raiders, and Lucas saw the ball dip low over the net. With great touch, he dinked a ball cross court at a crazy angle. The Northridge team had no chance to get it. From there, Jordan and Lucas came back and won the game, before capturing the set. It was a great point!

Josiah’s Four Overheads in a Row
In the #1DJV match, Northridge had great hands and kept getting shots back to us. In one point, Josiah slammed one overhead down that crashed past the net player, but the back player sent up another lob. Josiah slammed it down the middle. A quick lob was put back up. Josiah knocked it down the middle again. Finally, Josiah slammed the ball cross court for a winner. Good thing we practiced overheads so much :-)

Awards
Cheerleader: ??? We need someone to step up and make this their own!
Hustle: Elias
Dig Deep: Ethan/Malachi

Over All This is Christ's Love for Us
Moment of Prayer

God, we were so close tonight. Bring us growth in these close moments. Give us the grace of having a big match where we make the difference, we cheer for our teammates, we give the encouragement or make the shot. These are fun, and make for great stories. Thanks for every opportunity. Amen.

Scores
Varsity
#1S - Judah Miller - 0-6, 0-6 - Seth Lomas (12)
#2S - Elias Magatti - 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-3 - Ty Stahly (11)
#3S - Aaron Hochstetler - 3-6, 4-6 - Lucas Ellis (10)
#1D - Ethan Claassen/Malachi Yoder - 4-6, 7-6 (1), 6-4 - Grahm Tabor (11)/Miles Hainlin (12)
#2D - Lucas Bateman/Jordan Hochstedler - 7-5, 1-6, 2-6 - Grant Kauffman (11)/Finn Schmidt (11)

Junior Varsity
#1SJV - Isaya Magatti - 6-5 (8) - Brody Keeler (9)
#2SJV - Eli Steiner - 2-6 - Jacob Stephens (11)
#3SJV - Ayden Lehman - 6-6 - Landon Bennett (9)
#1DJV - Silas Martin/Josiah Aguilar Clark - 6-5 (4) - Brady Barkby (11)/Caleb Miller (11)
#2DJV - Ender Finnigan/Sam Brenneman - 2-6 - Lewis Rush (9)/Easton Caldwell (9)
#3DJV - Ethan Miller/James Weaver - 2-6 - Nickolace Karpenko (9)/Benaiah Rasier (9)
#4DJV - Eli Steiner/Josiah Shue - 5-3 - Garin Wilkinson (10)/Truman Mast (10)

The Story - Chapter 1 - Bethany Christian at Lakeland

Video Highlights

The Varsity Story
"Wrinkles and Knots"

The Lakers varsity team threw out different challenges for the Bruins on a beautiful Monday evening. Power, touch, two back returning. New wrinkles that the Bruins needed to face and figure out.

And then their were the knots of our own game. The tangles that cause us to lose confidence or get tentative. When we freeze, when we get tight, when we can't stay aggressive. The Lakers put our team under pressure with good tennis, consistency, and never backing down. The Bruins needed to respond.

The matches got off to good starts. Each position won the first game. But in many, the Lakers won the next game. But the Bruins were coming in with good confidence, built from a successful scrimmage at Angola. In each of the first sets, the Bruins were able to come through without much pressure. But it was the second sets - when the Lakeland team adjusted - that Bethany needed to smooth out the wrinkles and untangle their knots.

For Judah, his match was full of highlights. His forehand was on fire. He was keeping the ball low and making it difficult for his opponent to attack. He was cracking away when he got to the net. In the second set, he began to have to figure out his serve, which was beginning to get difficult for him. But the story he believed was that he could figure it out. We noticed the toss was off, and he lifted it a bit higher and into a better place. From a close 4-3 scoreline he reeled off the last two games to win the match. 

Those two games actually ended up securing the team match for the Bruins, because two other matches were off the courts before Judah. The first was Elias Magatti. At #2S, he was perhaps the most confident win of the night. He really impressed in this match in the way that he was able to get to the net, using both low short balls and also driven shots into his opponent's backhand. His overhead was really on fire as well.

The other early team point came Jordan and Lucas at #2D. They really dominated the first set, but ran into a knot right at the end of it. They were up 5-0, when their was a little wobble. Their consistency dropped a bit, double faults crept in, and volleys were left in the net. They finished out the first set, but went down 2-1 in the second. Jordan's serve led the same then, helping them breeze through a game. From their confidence grew and the two ripped off 5 more games in a row. It was a great job recovering their best game after a wobble.

With the three points secured, we turned our attention to #3S. That was the next match to finish. Aaron used his forehand well to set up attacking play. His well placed groundstrokes were also drawing random errors. All his skills added up to a first varsity singles win for Aaron.

Which led us to the team dealing with the biggest wrinkle of all, #1D. After a fairly easy first set, Malachi and Ethan found themselves down 5-4 in the second set. Their own games were full of little knots, shots that they weren't confident in. Because of that, their feet and their focus were kinda everywhere. But they really responded under pressure. They played two great games to turn a 5-4 deficit into a 6-5 lead. Then the Lakers responded with a great game to send it to a tiebreak. In the tiebreak, some great serving gave the Bruins an advantage. Both Ethan and Malachi served up some unreturned serves. A couple of solid overheads led them to match point. On that point, Ethan ripped a forehand return down the line to seal the match.

The match challenged us to respond. To nerves, to disappointment, to downturns in our play. And so the Bruins responded to those wrinkles and knots.  

The JV Story
A wealth of experience. Our JV started the night with many players with several years of JV experience. These are players who know what we want our Bruin team to be about: growth and joy. 

Isaya started this match showing both of those characteristics. His shots were strong and showed his growth. His confidence and demeanor showed joy. He breezed through his match and got the Bruins our first JV point. 

The other matches took much longer, but Silas and Eli were able to put point number 2 on the board. Despite some early struggles with focus and consistency, Silas's net game was enough to put them on top. Eli played reliably from the baseline, putting shots in for their opponents to hit to Silas, who put those shots away. 

Ayden provided the third Bruin point, a long match where he was dominant. His footwork and movement were real keys, allowing him to outlast his opponent in hitting balls in the court. He did have some awesome moments, where he got a ball in the mid-court and smashed it away into the corner.

Josiah and Ender apparently love to play close matches. Last year they were the kings of the close match, and this year started that way again. Little mistakes and shots that just didn't find the court sometimes cost them the advantage won from strong net play or strong groundstrokes. Getting that margin of errors to balls in court will be key to the Bruins success this year.

Our final point came from Sam. He played back against the Laker #1SJV player, but had great placement on his groundstrokes and was able to pull away. His backhand was especially laser-like, finding the cross-court corner often and forcing errors. 

The last match on court was Ethan and James. James was playing his first match of official high school tennis, and he definitely had some highlight volleys and put aways. He's really grown in his comfort level at the net over the young season. And Ethan continues to grow strengths he started last year. His serve improves and his backhand can be a weapon, especially on weak serves. He used those to his advantage, but the doubles pair fell, 8-4.

But the JV opened with a 4-2 win to follow up the varsity's victory.

Who Can Focus in the Moment? 

Moments of Wise Play

Silas Takes Out the Trash
Often during practice we do a drill that Daniel named “Take Out the Trash.” You start at the net, and if the ball fed to you is low over the net, you volley deep into the court. If it floats higher, you finish it with a strong shot. Silas put that drill straight into practice during his doubles match. A low passing shot dipped over the net and Silas bent his knees to send the ball back deep. This ball dropped near his opponent’s feet. This led to a shot that popped up, and Silas stepped forward to slam it away. It’s awesome to see our drill bear fruit in a match.

James Applies New Learning

Speaking of taking things from the practice court to the match court, James really did the same. Last week, we really tried to emphasize proper form for James on his volleys. We encouraged him to learn to not swing through on the volley, but a make a short forward movement. In the match tonight, he was ready. As his opponent's tried to pass him in doubles, James poked several volleys through the middle of his opponent's. James is learning fast. 

Ethan's Tactical Brain

Just a quick one. Ethan had some great cross-court returns to win points. After the match, he explained his thought process. He had realized that he was hitting backhands really well in practice. So he decided to return on the Ad side, the backhand side, during his doubles match. The tactical decision paid off in several points.

Who Can Have Peace in the Match? 

Moments of Belonging and Encouragement

Nerves

There were a lot of nerves tonight. It was the first match of the season to truly count toward our record. Many of us were in new positions for the match. Some of us had just dropped our oldest sons off at college (oh, wait, I guess that was just me :-) In that, we needed each other. During the matches, we were a bit quiet. But after the matches, it was great to see the players process with one another the good and the bad. This chatter will help us as we move forward.

Cheers for #3DJV

Loved seeing the team gather around the final court and cheer on the volleys and overheads from James and Ethan. There are always the temptations to lose ourselves in phones or in private conversations, but when the team cheers on those who remain on court, it is special. Loved that Lakeland came down and did the same.

Who Can Have Joy for the Season? 

Moments for Celebration

Judah's Overheads

Judah started his #1S career with a victory, and a large separator between him and his opponent was the ability to do damage at the net. For Judah, a lot of this came from his overheads. Late in the first set, he approached the net and was lobbed. With no hesitation, he stepped in a pounded a flushed overhead. The ball exploded down off the court and then hopped over the fence. It was a cool point to witness, again, something that carried over from practice to the match.

Ethan and Malachi's Tiki-Taka Point

In soccer, tiki-taka is a style of intricate passes that end up breaking down the defense. In the #1D match, there was a sweet point where Malachi hit a great forehand deep in the court, and then the next ball was placed to Ethan. Ethan hit a drive forehand volley at his opponent's feet, who picked up a reaction volley and lifted it towards Ethan's feet. Ethan slid back and placed a flat shot near the middle of the court. This caused his opponent to shuffle over and bend down to lift another soft volley near Ethan's feet. Ethan shuffled quickly too, this time lifting a long, low half volley into the backhand of his opponent, who missed a passing shot from the low contact point, hitting it into the net. The whole point was played with such precision and patience. It was a way of attacking shot after shot with accuracy and control. Kinda like tiki-taka.

Over All This is Christ's Love for Us

Moment of Prayer

God, what a gorgeous evening. The clouds were fluffy and huge. The sun was glowing up the courts. It was warm but not hot. Thanks for that. Continue to teach us to rely on You for perspective about this season, about all the things that are to be rejoiced over. Continue to work in the lives of each of these players. I can't wait to see what you can do in and through us.

Scores
Varsity
#1S - Judah Miller - 6-1, 6-3 - Logan Curtis (11)
#2S - Elias Magatti - 6-2, 6-1 - Matthew Miller (10)
#3S - Aaron Hochstetler - 6-1, 6-3 - Zeke Jacobson (11)
#1D - Ethan Claassen/Malachi Yoder - 6-2, 7-6 (4) - Bradley Miller (10)/Adrian Troyer (10)
#2D - Lucas Bateman/Jordan Hochstedler - 6-1, 6-2 - Maxwell Mishler (12)/Will Hofer (12)

Junior Varsity
#1SJV - Isaya Magatti - 8-1 - Jacob Hofer (9)
#2SJV - Ayden Lehman - 8-3 - Alex Resor (9)

#3SJV - Sam Brenneman - 8-2 - Jacob Hofer (9)
#1DJV - Ender Finnigan/Josiah Aguilar Clark - 6-8 - Caleb Hahn (11)/Ethan Huppenthal (10)

#2DJV - Silas Martin/Eli Steiner - 8-2 - William Barrick (11)/Luke Hofer (11)

#3DJV - Ethan Miller/James Weaver - 4-8 - Caleb Hahn (11)/William Barrick (11)

The Story - Prologue - Scrimmage vs. Angola

Video Highlights

The Varsity Story
The varsity scrimmage kicked off the final segment of the preseason for the Bruins. It was great to finally got to play another team, rather than just practicing against one another. 

Each of the Bruins players got good work in during the scrimmage. The scrimmage format is three different time measured segments. The singles positions had really good battles against three players who were really similar to them. Judah had some of the longest points I've ever seen, long rallies trading groundstrokes and trying to find a way to the net or put their opponents into bad positions on the court. Elias also had long point trading consistent strokes, but Elias kept finding the depth and variety to pull out the final points of the games. Aaron's match had a lot more spin and speed, but Aaron had just a bit more consistency. The singles players did a good job throughout each of the rounds building on their strengths.

In all, the singles players ended up 6-3 in the nine segments played. But the doubles squads did even better. Ethan and Malachi continued using their strengths of speed and net play. Even at that, it was their positioning, consistency and touch that made the difference. They seemed to grow stronger through the segments, playing their best at the end against probably the best competition.

#2D rotated their partners somewhat, but again it was the consistency that ruled the day. Simple shots through the middle of the court were having a great effect, and often setting them up to finish at the net. It was really fun to watch them build cohesion and good play.

The JV Story
Angola didn't have a ton of JV players, so our team rotating around so that everyone got a chance to play. In the first round, Isaya played stellar singles. His pace on serve was really difficult for his opponent to return and he moved effortlessly to retrieve a lot of shots in the match. Josiah and Ender scratched out a win in doubles, taking advantage of weaker blooped shots and putting many away from the net. Jordan continued the Isaya theme in his one JV segment, and Eli pulled out a big victory as well. Ayden played with effort but saw his match end in a tie. 

In the final segment, Sam, Ethan and Josiah all got a chance to play some singles. No one pulled out a win, but each got to play a lot of shots. That's the beauty of singles, every time you have to play the shot, which means you get a lot of practice. We'll hope that what we saw tonight will help these guys learn and grow and be ready for the next match.

In all, the JV pulled out wins in 4 of the 7 segments played!

Who Can Focus in the Moment? 

Moments of Wise Play

Judah was struggling early in the match to find a way through his very talented opponent. After 3 games he was down 3-0. He was getting frustrated, but he calmed himself down and thought about what he could do. Over the next 5 games, he increased his variety and made his opponent hit shots from all over the court. Over the next five games, he held about even and was really making the match into a tussle. It was a great job "coming back at it." It is totally worth celebrating that adjustment, determination, and faithfulness to a task.

Who Can Have Peace in the Match? 

Moments of Belonging and Encouragement

JV Rotation

Because Angola didn't have the largest squad, our JV each only got to play one round of the three. But there were no complaints. Ayden even offered to sit out the first round, and then he circled the courts taking video so I could make the highlight reel. It was cool to see a bunch of guys make sure that everyone got an equal shot. And then some of the best tennis was played between those players who were sitting out the round. They both were understanding and growing in their games. What a blessing! It gives me peace of mind to have such generous players.

Who Can Have Joy for the Season? 

Moments for Celebration

Pizza King

One way that we celebrate each year at tennis camp and after this scrimmage is by eating at Pizza King. Some may not know, but this is because my wife and I used to eat at Pizza King after high school basketball and football games when we went to Angola High School, and my basketball team used to eat there together before EVERY game. So Pizza King is a special place to me, and it's become that way for the Bethany tennis team. We chatted and ate and had great discussions and took our traditional picture to celebrate the group we are forming together. Funnily enough, one of the Angola players was actually there to take the picture for us. We are grateful for that!

Over All This is Christ's Love for Us

Moment of Prayer

God, we are grateful that You always love us and support us. We are grateful that You are near to us, and that You have created life in ways that let us rejoice and enjoy. Tonight, the rain held off until just after our match. The temperature was perfect for outdoor activity. No one was injured or strained. It was an easy and gracious way to start competing. We are grateful for that. We are grateful for each other. Thank You for all the gifts. May we continue to see You in what happens this season and school year.

Scores
Segment #1
#1S - Judah Miller - 1-4 - Evan Kolar (9)
#2S - Elias Magatti - 4-2 - Keith Lucernas (12)
#3S - Aaron Hochstetler - 6-2 - Ethan Golliff (11)
#1D - Ethan Claassen/Malachi Yoder - 8-2 - Yhuan Mina (11)/Cayden Baron (9)
#2D - Lucas Bateman/Jordan Hochstedler - 8-3 - Myles Lang (12)/Alex Sanchez (11)
#1SJV - Isaya Magatti - 6-1 - Carter Vonderau (11)

#1DJV - Ender Finnigan/Josiah Aguilar Clark - 5-3 - Caleb Dinning (10)/Bode Boyer (10)

Segment #2
#1S - Judah Miller - 1-2 - Evan Kolar (9)
#2S - Elias Magatti - 5-1 - Ethan Golliff (11)
#3S - Aaron Hochstetler - 1-3 - Keith Lucernas (12)
#1D - Ethan Claassen/Malachi Yoder - 5-2 - Myles Lang (12)/Alex Sanchez (11)
#2D - Lucas Bateman/Isaya Magatti - 1-3 - Yhuan Mina (11)/Cayden Baron (9)
#1SJV - Jordan Hochstedler - 9-1 - Carter Vonderau (11)

#2SJV - Eli Steiner - 5-1 - Caleb Dinning (10)

#3SJV - Ayden Lehman - 3-3 - Bode Boyer (10)

Segment #3
#1S - Judah Miller - 6-0 - Yhuan Mina (11)
#2S - Elias Magatti - 4-1 - Myles Lang (12)
#3S - Aaron Hochstetler - 4-1 - Alex Sanchez (11)
#1D - Ethan Claassen/Malachi Yoder - 4-0 - Evan Kolar (9)/Cayden Baron (9)
#2D - Lucas Bateman/Jordan Hochstedler - 4-1 - Keith Lucernas (12)/Ethan Golliff (11)
#1SJV - Sam Brenneman - 1-3 - Carter Vonderau (11)

#2SJV - Josiah Shue - 1-4 - Caleb Dinning (10)

#3SJV - Ethan Miller - 1-4 - Bode Boyer (10)

2025 Season Review

 Team Record: 13-7

JV Record: 10-8

Match Recaps:

Scrimmage at Angola
BC - 5-0 - Lakeland

BC - 0-5 - Northridge

BC - 1-4 - Goshen
BCJV - 3-2 - Oak Farm

BC - 4-1 - Concordia

BC - 5-0 - Prairie Heights

BC - 2-3 - Westview

BCJV - 5-0 - SB Washington

BC - 4-1 - NorthWood

BC - 3-2 - Triton

BC - 4-1 - Blackhawk Christian

BC - 5-0 - Jimtown

BC - 5-0 - Merrillville

BC - 5-0 - Portage

BC - 1-4 - Fairfield

BC - 2-3 - Elkhart

BC - 5-0 - FW Canterbury

BC - 5-0 - Marion

BC - 5-0 - Wabash

BC - 2-3 - Bremen (Sectional)

State Awards

All-District Singles: Gideon Miller

All-State Academic: Dom Ramer & Gideon Miller

All State Academic Team

Conference Awards

All-Conference: Gideon Miller, Judah Miller & Ethan Claassen

All-Conference Academic: Gideon Miller, Dom Ramer, Ethan Claassen, Ender Finnigan, Ayden Lehman, Isaya Magatti & Malachi Yoder

Awards Selected by the Team:

MVP: Gideon Miller

Sportsmanship: Aaron Hochstetler

JV MVP: Elias Magatti

Most Improved: Sam Brenneman

Coach's Award: Ethan Claassen

Breaking Down the Varsity Season:

Record: 13-6 

13 wins:

- Portage Invite Champion

- Wabash Invite Champion

- Defeated 1 Sectional Champion 

6 losses:

- District Ranked Opponents - Northridge, Fairfield, Goshen, Bremen, Westview

- 2 losses to Sectional Champions - Westview, Goshen

Schedule:

-  10 of the 18 teams we played had winning records
- Opponents record

- Winning percentage of our opponents
- Winning percentage of the opponents we lost to

JV Record: 9-8-1 (10-8, I say )
- Defeated 2 varsity teams
- First JV winning record in many years! (probably since 2015...)

Random Records
7th in wins in a single season - Ethan and Judah
4th in career victories - Gideon
6th most sets won in a row - Judah
Dom and Aaron’s win over NorthWood becomes one of the closest wins
4th in career 3rd sets won - Ethan
3rd in games percentage in a season - Judah (He won by an average of 6-1, 6-2ish)
6th most matches won in first varsity season - Aaron (and Dom)

Coach Awards:

Hard Worker Award: Ethan Miller
JV MVP/Long or Short: Elias Magatti
Always in the Match: Jordan Hochstedler
Most Improved Award/Team Supporter: Sam Brenneman
Sportsmanship/Better Than He Knew: Aaron Hochstetler
Most Joyful and Cheerful Teammate: Eli Steiner
Team Culture Award: Lucas Bateman
Unlocking the Doors: Josiah Aguilar Clark
The Frustrator (But in a Good Way): Judah Miller
Flexibility Award: Malachi Yoder
Fly High Helicopter Hat Award: Silas Martin
Fighting For It/Mental Attitude Award: Isaya Magatti
Coach’s Award/Coachable Under Pressure Award: Ethan Claassen
Student of the Game: Ayden Lehman
AI Commentary :-) Intensity Award: Ender Finnigan
MVP: Gideon Miller
Positive Leadership and Improvement: Dominic Ramer

Growing in Wisdom - Wabash Invitational

Video

Varsity Recap

On a September Saturday, we arrived in Wabash, Indiana, grateful that no rain was in the forecast. Instead, we had two matches to play, for a chance at another trophy. First we would play the Marion Giants, a team we were supposed to face last year before we got rained out.

And the match got started right at noon. We took early leads at all the positions. Gideon was strong on serve, and came forward really well in the match.Judah had too much consistency for his opponent, as did Ethan when he was moving and hitting well. Once #1D was able to focus and be present for their match, they had too much power and net presence for their opponents. They also began to serve aces.

We got through these matches relatively quickly, and then opened up court space for a #2D. They continued their excellent form against inexperienced opponents. In fact, the whole team did a great job with this.

By staying focused and taking care of the simple things, we secured a 5-0 victory. That 5-0 victory meant that our match against Wabash would decide the winner of the tournament. Wabash had a strong top of the lineup this season.

For the year, their number one and number two singles had only lost six times combined. That matched the top of our lineup, and it looked like we'd have close matches there. And it started out that way, with Gideon pulling ahead but in very close games, and Judah falling behind 3-0.

But suddenly a switch flipped for both of them, and their play accelerated. Gideon just continued to pull away, and the games didn't stay close anymore. Gid's baseline game was too solid, which allowed him to take chances on midcourt balls. Gideon ran away with the second set, winning 6-1, 6-0. 

Judah found new energy and consistency, forcing his opponent deep, and then into making errors. From 3-0 down, Judah won 12 of the next 13 games to win.

With those two wins, we needed one more position to win the tournament. But we got three more. Ethan breezed through his match, dropping only two games. He continues to work his way into matches, and then ends up playing his best tennis towards the end of the matches. 

Malachi and Isaiah had opponents who stayed at the back of the court, which gave the net to our number one Dubs. We were happy to take it, and finish points easily. This match saw Malachi and Isaiah really find their stride with ground soaks, and really consolidate their serves as well. 

And Dom and Aaron wrapped things up for us, again with good serves and intimidating presence at the net. It was so much fun to watch our players succeed against new and different competition today.

It's a reminder of where our program stacks up against many other schools across the state. After the victory, it was trophy time. And then, time for a victory song as we drove home.

Let's go Bruins!

Awards

Cheerleader: Sam

Hustle: Gideon

Dig Deep: Judah

Scores

Varsity v. Marion

#1S - Gideon Miller - 6-0, 6-2 - Adam Lord (11)

#2S - Judah Miller - 6-1, 6-0 - Nick Smith (11)

#3S - Ethan Claassen - 6-2, 6-0 - Landon Beal (9)

#1D - Malachi Yoder/Isaya Magatti - 6-2, 6-2 - Gabe Clark (12)/Adam Elarnaouty (10)

#2D -  Dom Ramer/Aaron Hochstetler - 6-1, 6-0 - Logan Higginbotham (9)/Peter Lomagistro (9)

Varsity v. Wabash 

#1S - Gideon Miller - 6-1, 6-0 - Eli Mattern (12)

#2S - Judah Miller - 6-3, 6-1 - Cooper Long (12)

#3S - Ethan Claassen - 6-2, 6-0 - Dylan Pence (12)

#1D - Malachi Yoder/Isaya Magatti - 6-1, 6-1 - Karson Mckenzie (11)/T.J. Tracy (11)

#2D - Dom Ramer/Aaron Hochstetler - 6-0, 6-0 - Reed Wiles (9)/Eli Dafoe (9)

Growing in Wisdom - Canterbury Match

 Video

Varsity Recap

The Bruins arrived to Canterbury School on a gorgeous Friday evening for our first-ever conference tennis match. And boy, were the Bruins ready to play. From the first ball of Judah's match to the last point of one-dubs, we played a great evening of tennis.

Ethan got a slow start, but then really revved up to be the first Bruin off the court with a win. As soon as Ethan gets his feet going and finds his spacing, he really roars to life. He had a few amazing shots strung together to light the fire, including a running one-hand backhand, and then he cruised to a win.
Let's go, Ethan! 

Judah followed him off the courts. At two singles, Judah's opponent had a big serve that didn't find the mark in the first set, but then was causing some trouble as he got it dialed in in the second set. Judah took a deep breath, figured it out, and then used his accuracy and timing to pull away again in the end.

#2D got a simple win, nothing complicated about it, they just took control of the net like doubles should be. The Cavaliers tried to push them off the net with lobs in the second set, but it wasn't enough. Dom and Aaron's returns put them in position to finish, and that was awesome.

#1S was straightforward as well. Gideon had every skill tonight, serving, and rallying, and dealing with short balls. He moved forward well, and caused problems for his opponent. His serve also had many times where it was hard to return. And so, a fourth win. 

And that left #1D, who had a great match. They struggled early with consistency, but then they got it tuned in. They had awesome effort all night, actually colliding when they were going for a ball early in the first set. But then they really took over when they got some belief.

Isaiah began smacking serves down, and Malachi finished powerfully at the net. That power was simply too much for the Cavalier opponents. 

JV Recap

And the varsity thus wrapped up a 5-0 win, and we took a walk through the woods to go find the JV, who was playing at a different set of courts literally down a wooded trail.

They had also wrapped up a win as we arrived to see the birthday boy Silas get an 8-0 win with his classmate Ender. Lucas and Elias and Sam had all gotten wins as well, and it gave the JV a winning team record on the season. So it was a really fun night, and we decided that since we won over a conference foe, that must make us conference champs.

We celebrated that, and Lucas and Silas' birthdays, and then jumped on the bus to sing our way home. I loved it. Let's go Bruins.

Let's go Bruins!

Scores

Varsity

#1S - Gideon Miller - 6-1, 6-0 - Jacobo Diez Vilarino (11)

#2S - Judah Miller - 6-0, 6-3 - Grayson Achenbach (11)

#3S - Ethan Claassen - 6-2, 6-0 - Sam Freed (10)

#1D - Malachi Yoder/Isaya Magatti - 7-5, 6-1 - Henry Collins (11)/William Hirschy (9)

#2D -  Dom Ramer/Aaron Hochstetler - 6-1, 6-2 - Charlie Bolt (9)/Sam Landgraf (9)

Junior Varsity

#1SJV - Elias Magatti - 8-2 - Kellen Gupta (9)

#2SJV - Lucas Bateman - 8-2 - Braden Melo Rolland (11)

#3SJV - Sam Brenneman - 8-3 - ???

#1DJV - Silas Martin/Ender Finnigan - 8-0 - Braeden Melo Rolland (11)/Zane Faulstich (9)

Growing in Wisdom - Elkhart Match

 Video

Varsity Recap

Whoa, this was an intense match, and it didn't even really get to finish. The Bruins went to Elkhart and fell by a 3-1 scoreline, playing well but ultimately losing to a team that bumped everyone down a position as they got their returning #1S player back.

And in that #1S match, Gideon faced a player who has given him trouble over the years. Gideon came out firing, getting the first set with solid play and then holding a lead in the 2nd. His back tightened up, he got a little nervous, and he dropped the 2nd set. In the third set, the Lions #1 roared to life, finding new power and passing strokes as he got back into his rhythm, and Gideon battled hard but couldn't pull it out.

At #2S, Judah faced a player with immense power, especially in serve and forehand. Having played a fairly successful season at #1, the Lions now have a strong #2. Judah battled to a first set lead, but then it seemed like the Lions #2 couldn't put a shot wrong. Judah continued to bring effort and energy, but lost in two sets.

The Bruins were buoyed though by Ethan at #3S, who raced out to an early lead in his match. His combination was smart play on the neutral balls and then forcing his opponent into difficult spots when he had a chance to be aggressive. He took a big lead in the second set as well, faltering a bit before courageously raising his game and putting away a win.

At the doubles, Malachi and Isaya played well against another strong #1D team. Every night, our #1D takes on some great opponents. I was really proud of them as they battled against serves and forehands that were smacked at them, but put many of them right back. Especially early in sets, they put the pressure on, playing loose and aggressive at the net. They ultimately couldn't get the point, but continue to be close to a breakthrough.

Then at #2D, there was a most epic match that didn't get to reach it's conclusion. Dom and Aaron battled a back and forth match, where they never got discouraged when they got behind. In the first set, they came from 5-4 down to force a first set tiebreak. Here they kept it close but ultimately lost the set. In the second set, they went down 5-2 and were down 0-40 with three match points to the other team. But one by one they chipped those away, then won the game themselves. They held, to put it to 5-4, then saved more match points to get it to 5-5. There were incredible rallies as they saved a total of 6 or 7 match points before getting to a second set tiebreak. This time they won it, with a combination of solid volleys and some great defensive play. It was epic, but the light was gone. We had to end that match in a tie.

So the varsity was a 3-1 loss, and we really almost made it a victory against a strong squad. 

JV Recap

The JV again started with an Elias win, but this was something different. Elias was down 5-0, then began a comeback with a combination of solid play and his opponent really starting to miss. Elias won 8 of the next 9 games to take the #1S position for the JV.

Unfortunately, that's the only position the JV got on the night. There was lots of good play, but I didn't get to see as much of the match as I would have wanted to. But, like often, I trust our players to find the good things and they've done and build on them. That's how confidence really begins to grow.

And I hope that's what the whole team does from tonight, find what we can be grateful for. The way we dealt with a challenge. The way we kept our heads up and didn't give in when given the opportunity. The way we hit simple volleys or forehands. The way we blasted overheads over the fence. The way we gathered up behind the last court playing in the dark and delighted together in every great shot. I am grateful for each one of you players, and all you are bringing to this team.

Let's go Bruins!

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

All Together in the Dark

When the last match on the court is close, it's always fun to watch together. The whole team got to gather around and cheer for Dom and Aaron as they closed out the second set comeback. It was a joy to get to lift them up together.

WHEN WE ARE WISE: Wisdom is Playing the Percentages

Simple Aggression

Most of the times in tennis, we hurt ourselves when we try to do too much. When we try to work beyond our practiced skills, when we try to hit the shot that is the exception. Tonight, we saw from many of the doubles positions a great practice of finding the simple shot. Not overhitting the volley but simply finding the middle of the strings. Not overcooking the serve but simply finding it in the box. Simplicity helps us by simplifying our game. We can be decisive.

Wise Quote of the Day

"Every setback is a setup for a comeback.” 

THEN WE ARE STRONG: Exceptional Outcomes

Point of the Year Contender

I don't know how this point started, but what I know is that Dom got a ball hit at him that he had to scramble backwards away from. In moving for it, he slid and lost his footing. He popped his shot over, but was down and out of the play. Or so it seemed. When Elkhart tried to volley back at Dom, he jumped up and knifed a backhand volley into the open court past the Lion net player. The player leaned back and scooped up the ball, but now Dom had moved forward to hit a backspun volley short into the court in front of the back player. It double bounced for a winner. From on his back to hitting a winner, what a transition!

Awards

Cheerleader: Whole team (Josiah with a shout out from Daniel)

Hustle: Ethan M.

Dig Deep: Dom, Aaron

Prayer

God, tonight was uplifting and agonizing at the same time. So many times, that's true. We are so close and yet so far. But You pull us close, so that we can just be close to You. Help us to desire whatever allows You to pull us close and remind us that we are loved. Whatever allows us to love others better. Thanks! Amen.

Scores

Varsity

#1S - Gideon Miller - 6-4, 4-6, 2-6 - Logan Kelly (11)

#2S - Judah Miller - 3-6, 2-6 - Cameron Miller (11)

#3S - Ethan Claassen - 6-2, 6-3 - Nate Windy (12)

#1D - Malachi Yoder/Isaya Magatti - 2-6, 2-6 - Hayden Holdenman (12)/Adam Grolich (12)

#2D -  Dom Ramer/Aaron Hochstetler - 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4), DNF - Cortland Keim (12)/Jackson Mitchell (12)

Junior Varsity

#1SJV - Elias Magatti - 8-6 - Lucas Karbalaedali (12)

#2SJV - Lucas Bateman - 4-8 - Austin Linn (11)

#3SJV - Eli Steiner - 4-8 - Caden Foster (10)

#4SJV - Ethan Miller - 1-8 - ???

#1DJV - Silas Martin/Jordan Hochstedler - 4-8 - Jackson Sumrak (10)/Brady Cox (10)

#2DJV - Ender Finnigan/Josiah Aguilar Clark - 1-8 - Lucas Karbalaedali (12)/Austin Linn (11)

#3DJV - Ayden Lehman/Sam Brenneman - 2-6 - ??? / ???