The Story - Chapter 1 - Bethany Christian at Lakeland

Video Highlights

Coming Soon...

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 - ??? / ???

Growing in Wisdom - Fairfield Match

Video

Varsity Recap

The Bruins took on the third ranked team in northeast Indiana, the Fairfield Falcons. After a rainy day, it cleared off and some great tennis began.

For the varsity, the senior laden Falcon doubles teams were very strong. Big forehands and big serves made it difficult for our team to be the aggressive players that are needed for doubles. But I was proud of how Malachi and Isaya attacked with abandon and how Dom and Aaron handled the pace and brought a challenge. Both teams ultimately fell, but not without big moments.

The singles were close battles. Ethan fell behind in the first set, but then suddenly found his groove. Being confident and aggressive, he pulled himself back into the set, and then despite losing it, he moved out to a lead in the second. Ethan's continuing to learn how to sustain that aggressive, attacking, movement filled tennis even when he begins to feel the nerves. He made it close, but lost in two.

Judah had the opposite pattern. He got out to an early lead, then saw the first set dragged into a tiebreak. He played a brilliant tiebreak, continuing to find weakness with his variety and consistency. He then raced out to a lead in the second set and was able to close out the victory despite some nerves.

Gideon also got down early in his match. But he completely flipped things entering the second set. Still, his opponent had the answers, hitting lines, angles and unbelievable passing shots. Gid hung around, took a lead, lost it, denied 5 match points to force a tiebreak but couldn't get it to a third set.

So the Bruins lost 4-1, but lots was learned. We certainly have opportunities to grow because we brought great effort.

JV Recap

On to the JV, where Elias led us off again with a win. Elias continues to lead a strong effort from our JV team, picking up his 12th win of the season. Last year's top JV record was 11 wins, so Elias eclipsed that tonight. And overall, the freshmen are doing a great job. Jordan had a close match at the next singles spots. And lower at the singles spots Ethan continued to show what he's learning. Sam won with Eli, actually winning 2 doubles matches and showing the power and skill varsity shots at times. I can't wait to see how these 9th graders continue to develop, as a group they have 30 wins on the season, leading a very nice winning record.

Our sophomores aren't doing bad either, with Eli being part of those doubles victories tonight. Lucas and Josiah also were in close matches, with Lucas and Silas being matched up against some really good seniors. Josiah and Ender provided some of the highlights of the whole night, almost sealing two more wins for the varsity. And Ayden played his heart out, getting three singles matches and pushing for his best in every single one. 

It was a lot of tennis for the Bruins, and I love it when we have to push ourselves to raise our level. Hopefully that type of challenge is something we see as a joy, a way to improve and progress. That's a wise way to look at things.

Let's go Bruins!

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

On a Tower

It was fun to listen to the conversation from the tower as we watched Ender, Josiah, and Ethan finish up their final matches. Teammates consoling other teammates. People talking about how they intended to get better. Some wondering how long until matches would end because they were hungry :-) I love just being around when the team is just being the team.  

WHEN WE ARE WISE: Wisdom is Playing the Percentages

Finding a Weakness

In Judah's match, he found what he thought was a weakness in his opponent. He then proceeded to go to that weakness until it could be proved that it was no longer a weakness. Sometimes it looked weird, Judah just hitting to similar spots of the court. His opponent adjusted and then so did Judah, but he really set himself up to have success by identifying a shot that he could use to help him in the match. 

Play to Improve

To improve when you play a good player, you have to play with true belief. You have to put your best game up against their best game, and then you'll know where you have to grow. It takes courage, because we're all afraid our best game isn't enough so we're tempted to be either too timid or too over the top... both of which don't help us grow. Tonight, Dom and Aaron took their best game and competed. They won great points, they withstood great pressure, they kept their heads up and improved with the experience. I'm looking forward to where that will take them.

Wise Quote of the Day

"Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome." - Arthur Ashe

THEN WE ARE STRONG: Exceptional Outcomes

Gets and Smashes

I think the two most exciting parts of a tennis match are crazy "gets" and aggressive "smashes." Josiah and Ender gave us both of those in one point. Daniel had told them at the fence that Josiah needed to be ready to put something away at the net because, "Ender is going to set you up for one." Sure enough, Ender scrambled from one side of the court to the other to flick up some hard passing shots that had gotten by Josiah at the net. But as Ender sprawled to put up another lob, the opponent's scooped a lob right to Josiah, and he sent it screaming through the middle of the court for an overhead winner.

Judah Slice

Judah had an unbelievable point near the end of his first set. With the match really close, his opponent dropped a shot low to Judah's backhand. Judah sprinted forward and did a cross court backhand slice flick, that he hit for a clean passing shot winner. It was ridiculous and fun.

Awards

Cheerleader: Sam and Ethan M.

Hustle: Dom, Aaron, and Judah

Dig Deep: Ayden and Gideon

Prayer

God, help us continue to grow. Help us lean into being people of wisdom, who commit to playing the percentages, letting go of the outcome, and trusting You. Amen.

Scores

Varsity

#1S - Gideon Miller - 1-6, 6-7 (4) - Drew Beachey (11)

#2S - Judah Miller - 7-6 (2), 6-2 - Cameron Cripe (12)

#3S - Ethan Claassen - 3-6, 4-6 - Ben Penrose (11)

#1D - Dom Ramer/Aaron Hochstetler - 1-6, 1-6 - Brant Garber (12)/Andrew Mathews (12)

#2D - Malachi Yoder/Isaya Magatti - 2-6, 0-6 - Grady Garber (12)/Brady Park (12)

Junior Varsity

#1SJV - Elias Magatti - 8-3 - Conner LeCount (12) 

#2SJV - Elias Magatti - 3-8 - Ethan Clem (11)

#3SJV - Jordan Hochstedler - 1-8 - Andrew Bailey (10)

#4SJV - Jordan Hochstedler - 5-8 - Justin Herber (9)

#5SJV - Ayden Lehman - 0-6 - Jacob Mast (10)

#6SJV - Ayden Lehman - 0-6 - Evan Hart (9)

#7SJV - Ayden Lehman - 2-6 - Easton Garber (10)

#8SJV - Ethan Miller - 0-8 - Austin Lehman (9)

#9SJV - Ethan Miller - 1-8 - Darren Moore (10)

#1DJV - Silas Martin/Lucas Bateman - 2-8 - Isaac Mast (12)/Israel Moreno (12)

#2DJV - Silas Martin/Lucas Bateman - 2-8 - Adler Bender (11)/Zach Mehlberg (11)

#3DJV - Ender Finnigan/Josiah Aguilar Clark - 6-8 - Eli Lehman (12)/Logan Moore (11)

#4DJV - Ender Finnigan/Josiah Aguilar Clark - 8-9 (4) - Liam Fowler (10)/Austin Gall (10)

#5DJV - Eli Steiner/Sam Brenneman - 8-5 - Alex Uslaustev (11)/Daniel Stout (10)

#6DJV - Eli Steiner/Sam Brenneman - 8-4 - Liam Clem (9)/Ean Shoopman (9)

Growing in Wisdom - Portage and East Noble Tournaments

Video

Varsity Recap
The Bruins varsity traveled to the Portage Invite, and experienced a day of blessings. Blessings that weren't all about the tennis. First of all, we drove through rain on the way, but the tourney started right on time and the sun actually came out as the Bruins began their match semi-final against Merrillville.

In that match Elias got us on the board with a quick match. He got to experience the rare "golden set." Winning a whole set without losing a point! Judah followed off the court, also with a win, as he had an opponent that rallied well with him but couldn't match Judah's consistent placement.

Next came the doubles, who had displayed great footwork and energy in sealing their matches. In many cases, the serves were just too much for the opponents. It was also a contrast in movement, with the Bruins covering the courts really well and exploiting the gaps their opponent's didn't move into.

Finally, Gid wrapped up the first round with a win. All the matches were quick and we had a lot of energy as we stood around and discussed the prospects for the final. We were blessed by family who brought fruit and drinks. It started to sprinkle on us again, but the rain pushed to the east and the sun came out again. This time we faced Portage, who had defeated Marquette Catholic in the other semi-final.

We got out to a lead behind Judah this time. His opponent hit the ball big, but couldn't find any openings against Judah. Judah served extremely well, hitting a high percentage of first serves in and putting the pressure on his opponent early.

Elias followed with another easy win, where he did a good job of staying focused, using his split steps to get his aggressive opponents shots back, forcing his opponent to be consistent, which he didn't do.

#2D clinched the tourney for us, a simple win with simple aggression. They put away overheads and moved in tandem. This group is really starting to dominate together. I love the way that they've been playing. Can't wait to see how they continue to grow!

Then the two final positions won for us as well. #1D dealt with the big serve of the Portage opponents well, and really took any net play away from Portage. Ethan had a great serving day and Malachi cleaned up at the net.

Gideon played with great positivity and power. His serve looked really natural and dominated all day, but it was his transition game that really shone out in this match. He did a great job of making smart aggressive shots and following them in. But he just played really in control tennis, striking from the baseline with spin when needed, coming in when he saw the opportunities.

With that, it was trophy time. The Bruins posed with the trophy, which had an unfortunate accident before we got it. It was all smiles on the day. We had the blessing to enjoy a meal together as well, watching football, eating sampler platters and laughing together. What a day of blessing.

Let's go Bruins!

JV Recap

Of course, because I wasn't at the JV invite it's hard to give an accurate impression. But I know from texting with Daniel that we were close to winning it all. There were close matches all over the JV tournament, with 9 tiebreaks being played throughout the day. In some ways, I think the varsity would have loved to have that type of close competition to really get ourselves moving. 

Those tiebreaks really made the difference in each of the three matches. In the Fremont match, the JV came out on top in 3 of the 4 tiebreaks... and actually that meant we won the match 5-0. In the East Noble match, 2 of 3 went to the Knights and they got the 3-2 team victory. Against Oak Farm, the tiebreaks were even, but we still couldn't claw out a victory. One tiebreak could have changed it all. 

And that's okay, it's good to get experience. Not quite accomplishing what we hoped for helps us reset, refocus, and find out how to perform better the next time we get a chance. Let's hope it does that for the Bruins!

I'm proud of how the team competed. Players who were put in new positions responded well, and I hope that continues. Let's go out and compete with great belief Bruins!

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

Back Together

The busses arrived back to the school from our separate tournaments at approximately the same time. And when the players saw each other, they were both drawn into conversations about how the day went. There was genuine interest to hear the stories, the jokes, and the fun that each team had. I'm glad most people didn't hop straight into their cars and drive away, but stayed to get a sense of how each other fared. 

WHEN WE ARE WISE: Wisdom is Playing the Percentages

Footwork Makes the Difference

In the Merrillville match, the difference in footwork and commitment to it was visible. The Bruins split steps were awesome, bringing energy and life into the match. And that energy was the difference in a lot of ways. That energy has helped us improve instead of stay stagnant. Each Bruin position is playing better tennis right now because we've committed to footwork. Because we've committed to bringing energy. Because we can see what it looks like when we don't play with good footwork and energy... it looks and feels boring without it :-)

Confidence

We've won this tournament for a couple of years in a row now, and we enter expecting to do well. We get nervous, but we quickly calm down and play. Other teams know that we are going to play well, and so they enter nervous and often make errors against us that they didn't make against the other teams. We have to enter every match with confidence, knowing that we will bring our best. That is all that confidence is.

Wise Quote of the Day

"I always believe I can beat the best, achieve the best." - Serena Williams

THEN WE ARE STRONG: Exceptional Outcomes

He Played Out of His Shoes

In the Portage match, Malachi was really trying to patrol the net. At the end of one of the points, a ball was lifted into the middle of the court just behind him. His slid into the shot, moving quickly and his shoe came right off. He had won the point with one shoe :-) 

Too Many to Count

We served well today. There were many aces and unreturned serves. As the season goes on, we should be growing in confidence, especially in our ability to focus and swing through. I loved to see that today!

Prayer

God, thanks! Today was a day of blessings, a day of tremendous growth. The JV got crazy good experience in tight matches and the varsity got a day of good feelings and good play. We pray that You continue to help us focus not on the outcome, but on the growth and the people. Help take every situation and help us be directed toward You. Amen.

Scores

Varsity against Merrillville
#1S - Gideon Miller - 6-0, 6-0 - Avion Matthews

#2S - Judah Miller - 6-0, 6-0 - Tristan Thomas

#3D - Elias Magatti - 6-0, 6-0 - Xavier Kumar

#1D - Ethan Claassen/Malachi Yoder - 6-0, 6-0 - Dariyan Ganaway/Isaac Rodriguez

#2D - Dominic Ramer/Aaron Hochstetler - 6-0, 6-1 - Isaiah Rodriguez/Brian Richardson

Varsity against Portage 
#1S - Gideon Miller - 6-0, 6-0 - Kyle Gorgei

#2S - Judah Miller - 6-0, 6-0 - Cole Pollard

#3D - Elias Magatti - 6-0, 6-0 - Paul Baum

#1D - Ethan Claassen/Malachi Yoder - 6-1, 6-0 - Kayden Loera/Bryson Loera

#2D - Dominic Ramer/Aaron Hochstetler - 6-0, 6-0 - M. Hernandez/K. Kowalczyk

Junior Varsity against Fremont

#1SJV - Lucas Bateman - 3-6, 6-3, 10-7 - Avi Patel (11)

#2SJV - Jordan Hochstedler - 6-4, 7-6 (3) - Garrett Forrest (10)

#3SJV - Eli Steiner - win by forfeit

#1DJV - Silas Martin/Isaya Magatti - 6-3, 7-5 - Chris Thober (10)/Tyler Mynhier (10) 

#2DJV - Ender Finnigan/Josiah Aguilar Clark - 6-7 (6), 6-2, 10-4 - Conlon Smith (10)/Quinten Escelante (10)

Junior Varsity against East Noble

#1SJV - Lucas Bateman - 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-10 - Braxton Hardesty (10)

#2SJV - Jordan Hochstedler - 1-6, 4-6 - Luke Zuehsow (9)

#3SJV - Eli Steiner - 6-2, 0-6, 3-10 - Dayde Hudson (10)

#1DJV - Silas Martin/Isaya Magatti - 6-1, 6-1 - Karsten McKinley (12)/Dallas Wilson (10)

#2DJV - Ender Finnigan/Josiah Aguilar Clark - 6-2, 6-3 - Max Benedict (10)/James Deveau (9)

Junior Varsity against Oak Farm

#1SJV - Lucas Bateman - 0-6, 1-6 - Ryan Kochanski (12)

#2SJV - Jordan Hochstedler - 4-6, 5-7 - Ryker Elias (12)

#3SJV - Eli Steiner - 6-4, 2-6, 6-10 - Fyo Hayden (10)

#1DJV - Silas Martin/Isaya Magatti - 3-6, 6-4, 10-8 - Ivy Witmer (12)/Lilly Moser (12)

#2DJV - Ender Finnigan/Josiah Aguilar Clark - 6-2, 6-1 - Riley Fitzharris (11)/Afron McGinnis (11)

Growing in Wisdom - Jimtown Match

Video

Varsity Recap

The Bruins traveled to Jimtown on a bright and sunny September Thursday, to take on the Jimmies. A good team with a winning record, we were ready for another close match in this week. 

But I have to say, the Bruins came out ready. All across the courts early, the Bruins took the first leads of the match. Especially fast out of the gates was Elias, who bounced back from a tough #3S match on Monday to play awesome today. His footwork was so much faster, as was his decisiveness. Once again he forced errors from his opponent, and got a great victory on the board for the Bruins.

Right next to him, Judah continued to do what he does. Using all sorts of different shots and an opponent-frustrating penchant for unpredictability, Judah took a close match and pulled away. From 2-2 in the first set Judah reeled off 10 straight to seal a 2-0 lead for the Bruins on the night.

#1D clinched it for us. Malachi and Ethan played beautiful doubles tonight. I loved watching them play the cross courts so well. Their consistency was key in the match. But they also boxed their opponents in and controlled the net. That led to several amazing moments, like Ethan finishing the match by slamming an overhead down into the court and then over the fence.

#2D took a while to get going, but once they warmed up and got themselves humming, they played great. Again, they are starting to really understand who they are as a doubles team - up tempo players, controlling the net, playing with confidence and positivity. It's been fun to watch them continue to grow this season!

The closest battle on the night was at #1S. Gideon played a really talented, power filled player. But Gideon can counter power with his own serve, and Gid is really a top notch returner. His positioning and timing was excellent, and he put a lot of pressure on his opponent's serve while often holding his easily. He broke late in the first set and served it out, then traded breaks in the second set before serving it out with some great decision making. That win sealed a 5-0 victory for the Bruins! 

JV Recap

On the JV, it was a 6-0 sweep. The Jimmies were gracious enough to have their 3 JV players play 3 no-ad sets. But the Bruins took each match. The growth of this group continues to be astounding. Lucas was more consistent and much better at his 1-2, 1-2 footwork. Jordan continues to learn what his weapons are and how to use them, and how to move into the court and finish in different ways. Ayden relies on hustle and a big forehand. 

At doubles, Isaya and Silas had all sorts of great points, struggling some with consistency on serves but then finding great effort and more at the net. Josiah and Ender continued their great run of form, and Eli and Sam got another doubles win as they continue to develop their net and movement games.

And the key to any season is joy, and it was a joy to spend time with the team tonight. And a victory song on the bus is the best way to end an "Away Day." 

Let's go Bruins!

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

Ease

Tonight felt easy to me. It felt like everyone was getting to play, everyone was comfortable, everyone was ready to go. Sometimes there is a lot of nerves and anxiousness, but I appreciated that there was none of that in this match. I really believe that we are learning that it's going to be okay. That we can do tough things. That our teammates want the best for us. That ease is not too hard to keep when we win our matches, and I pray that the same sense of ease and place can be around if we are dealing with disappointment. 

WHEN WE ARE WISE: Wisdom is Playing the Percentages

When the Pressure is On, Start with Ball in the Court 

Often times, we need to relax under pressure. We can do that by playing with smart aggression, or "smaggression" as we used to say with Daniel's teams. Gideon showed us a great example of this in his close-out game. Struggling a bit with nerves and double faults when closing out the match, Gideon decided to hit aggressive second serves as his first serve when he got to deuce. This meant that he made all of his first serves and got the point started. In a pressure situation, aggression shots that you can rely on are the best choice. 

Playing the Lob Game

At #1DJV, Silas and Isaya did a great job pushing to control the net. About halfway through the match, their opponents decided to try the lob game. Isaya ran down the first lob and lofted his own high into the air and Silas got ready to attack. But again another lob came over from the Jimmies. When being lobbed, the best reply is usually to re-lob. And so Isaya did it again. And then another time. By the time the teams were trading the fourth lob, the Jimmies lob fell short while Isaya had moved up and was ready to pounce. The patience displayed here was excellent.

Wise Quote of the Day

"When you chase perfection, when you make perfection the ultimate goal, you're chasing something that doesn't exist... It's all about your head, man." - Brad Gilbert

THEN WE ARE STRONG: Exceptional Outcomes

Overhead Smashes for the Win!

Overheads are fun. In the match tonight, two varsity matches ended with awesome smashes. One was #1D, where a weak groundstroke floated in the middle of the net and Ethan shuffled quickly over to slam the ball down and over the fence. He let out a roar to Malachi and then calmly shook hands. I loved that. The other match to end with an overhead was #3S, where Elias scrambled all over the court. Drawn forward by a short slice from his opponent, Elias flicked over a backhand volley. His opponent tried a quick lob by Elias leaped and smacked the overhead away through the middle of the court. He also let out a "Let's go!" and then calmly shook his opponent's hand. A sweet way to end a match!

Speaking of Leaping Overheads

Judah had an unbelievable point in his match. Though Judah often plays with variety and unpredictability, this point really made that fun. Judah played with lots of shots in this rally, a hard serve to start, a looping forehand to drive his opponent deep and then a sliced backhand short in the court. As his opponent moved forward to pick up the low ball, Judah snuck forward to. When his opponent flicked up a desperation one handed backhand, Judah was right there, leaping up to smack the ball away. It was a night for cool overheads!

Making It Routine

It's harder and harder to find these exceptional points, because we are continually making our strengths into our patterns. Malachi slams a lot of balls at the net. Ethan hits great serves. Ender pounds forehands. Josiah hustles. Isaya finishes volleys. Ethan gives his all to get to every shot. Ayden scrambles back deep shots in the court. Eli hits topspin passing shots. Sam hits great returns and simple volleys. Aaron screams his forehand through the middle of the court. Elias lobs. Judah slices. Dom puts the ball away. Jordan hits deep shots onto the baseline. Silas hits aces. Gideon rips passing shots. Lucas controls the points with his forehand. We're turning strengths into patterns - that's a wise thing to do!

Awards

Cheerleader: Ender and Dom

Hustle Award: Elias

Dig Deep Award: Gideon

Prayer

God, I loved so many things about this night. You are teaching me about delight, and how to delight in the work. Tonight, You helped me remain calm and delight in the difficult parts of each match. You protected us from injury or sickness in the heat. You helped us maintain our positive mental strategies. You inspired us to cheer on our teammates. We had a lot of time just hanging out together. Thank You, we are grateful. Amen.

Scores

Varsity
#1S - Gideon Miller - 6-4, 6-4 - Dalton Cook (12)

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

#3D - Elias Magatti - 6-0, 6-1 - Ethan Creech (11)

#1D - Ethan Claassen/Malachi Yoder - 6-2, 6-2 - Bradyn Warp (12)/Leighton Gingerich (12)

#2D - Dominic Ramer/Aaron Hochstetler - 6-2, 6-1 - Juan Amaya (12)/Colten Allen (11)

Junior Varsity

#1SJV - Lucas Bateman - 6-1 - Hayden Hines (10)

#2SJV - Jordan Hochstedler - 6-0 - Alex Pyfer (9)

#3SJV - Ayden Lehman - 6-0 - Jacob Anthony (9)

#1DJV - Silas Martin/Isaya Magatti - 6-3 - Hayden Hines (10)/Alex Pyfer (9)

#2DJV - Ender Finnigan/Josiah Aguilar Clark - 6-3 - Hayden Hines (10)/Jacob Anthony (9)

#3DJV - Eli Steiner/Sam Brenneman - 6-0 - Alex Pyfer (9)/Jacob Anthony (9)

Growing in Wisdom - Blackhawk Christian Match

 Video

Varsity Recap
Once again, senior night proved to be a really fun night! We started out with senior speeches about Dom and Gid, about how much we appreciate them. Then we headed out to the courts to take on Blackhawk.

And starting with our seniors, it was a great night of tennis. Gideon did a great job of serving tonight, and then backed it up by finding a game of consistency and control. He seemed to balance things out well tonight between having consistent rallies and finding the ball to step in on.

Dom and Aaron continue to really impress with great tennis. Once again, they controlled the net. Once again, they played with great attitude and belief. Once again, they were able to force their opponents into difficult positions. They got the win, so both seniors won on their senior night.

But we needed one more spot for the team victory on the night. And actually, the first match off the court was Judah. He had to figure some things out in his first set, especially returning a big lefty serve. But once he got that figured out, he really began to relax and roll.

Ethan got us a fourth victory on the night. He too started slowly and had to figure things out, but then rolled. Ethan used good positioning and aggressive shots to simple spots to put his opponent in difficult spots.

The only position dropped was #1D, but we saw a lot of growth there as well. Malachi and Isaya struggled with consistency against Blackhawk's athletic sophomores in the first set. Once they found consistency, they needed a bit of strategy. They enjoyed really joyful tennis in the second set where they controlled the net, but couldn't quite turn the match on its head.

JV Recap

A 4-1 victory for the varsity flowed right into a great JV night. Elias got things started with an awesome shutout at #1SJV. When Elias is confident and moving lightly on his feet, he is a tough opponent for any singles player. He played with great confidence tonight in his match.

At #1DJV, Silas and Lucas continue to build on their strengths. In this match, Silas served very well and Lucas continue to pressure net players with his forehands. Especially when Lucas and Silas drove their shots through the middle of the court, they present problems to all their opponents. They won 8-3 giving us victories at both #1 positions.

At the #2 positions, matches were tighter. Both Jordan and Josiah and Ender fell behind early in their matches. Then Josiah and Ender put on a run of great tennis, they went from behind 4-3 to leading 7-4. This run was marked by great positivity, not letting poor shots bother them. They finished off the match with some solid play and the Bruins led 3-0.

Jordan hit the ball beautifully, but couldn't find the combinations to finish out enough games. But he showed enough flashes of brilliance to let us know he'll continue to improve.

The other JV guys challenged each other in matches. There was an intense match between Sam and Ayden, both challenging each other's skills. Eli and Ethan played some singles, and showed off their hustle and improving touch and skill. The JV players are improving by leaps and bounds throughout the season, and I'm still convinced we have a very good team. It was a 3-1 win tonight, a lot of good to celebrate!

And then we celebrated the seniors, eating cake and ice cream and hanging out. I love this team.

Let's go Bruins!

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

Play

Ping pong. Volleyball. Ginormous hot dogs. A whole sheet of cake. Hanging out an hour and a half after the match ends. I love that we love to be together. It was a night of laughter and fun celebrating our seniors, and I'm glad we could do it. You can read more about our seniors here -

Dom Ramer

Gideon Miller

 

WHEN WE ARE WISE: Wisdom is Playing the Percentages

Our Strengths are Becoming Routine

One way to focus on playing your best tennis in a match is to try to do the things that you do well repeatedly. We're really starting to do this. Judah's using his variety, Gideon is using drop shots and passing shots regularly, Dom and Aaron are dominating the net. Elias is outlasting his opponents in rallies. Lucas and Silas are attacking the other net players. Ethan is rallying with deep topspin. Malachi and Isaya have great putaways at the net. These skills and many more are becoming routine, things we can count on in our tennis. Now we need to build the rest of our games around that.

Just Re-quoting Arthur Ashe

"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can."

THEN WE ARE STRONG: Exceptional Outcomes

Favorite Point of the Season

I love points where we scramble then get back in control. Tonight, we had a point where we got lobbed over and Malachi ran it down. Then the ball came back to him and he hit another groundstroke. Then it was hit mid-court to Isaya and he swung but couldn't pick it up from his feet - but Malachi was behind him to hit back. Isaya then centered himself on the net, and put away the comeback shot. Isaya picked himself up mid-point to stay focused for the putaway. Great! 

Jordan's Dropper

Jordan was hitting the ball beautifully but not finding ways to finish points. Later in the match he started approaching the net, and that's when he hit the most awesome backhand drop shot. Jammed a bit by a passing shot, he quick pulled his racket across his body with the most delicate touch. The ball slid over the net and had wicked side spin because of the angle that Jordan had to hit it at. His opponent had no chance!

Ethan's One Hand Backhand

On the JV, Ethan has been working on a backhand slice. When he has to stretch or come forward, he's been using this shot to get shots back into the court. Tonight, he got a ball his wide to his backhand and reached out with the slice. It dropped cross court for an almost perfect winner. He couldn't have placed the ball in a better spot. It's great to see him get winners as he continues to grow and improve! 

Awards

Cheerleader: Isaya

Hustle Award: Josiah

Dig Deep Award: Seniors!

Prayer

God, I am so grateful for our two seniors. I have watched with pride as they've gone through high school, stepped into leadership positions, worked hard and listened well to their teammates. May Your blessings be well received by them. For the rest of us as well, may we mature in our ability to see how You delight in helping us in trouble. Thanks for all you do! Amen. 

Scores

Varsity
#1S - Gideon Miller - 6-3, 6-0 - Marshall Treesh (9)

#2S - Judah Miller - 7-5, 6-0 - John Dykstra (10)

#3D - Ethan Claassen - 6-2, 6-0 - Grayson Nigg (12)

#1D - Isaya Magatti/Silas Martin - 1-6, 3-6 - Drake Sefton (10)/Quinton Richard (10)

#2D - Dominic Ramer/Aaron Hochstetler - 6-2, 6-3 - Duke Faupel (10)/Ryan Dykstra (10)

Junior Varsity

#1SJV - Elias Magatti - 8-0 - Ram Zehr (10)

#2SJV - Jordan Hochstedler - 4-8 - JD Tilma (11)

#1DJV - Silas Martin/Lucas Bateman - 8-3 - Jonny Scheumann (12)/Austin Greenwalt (10)

#2DJV - Ender Finnigan/Josiah Aguilar Clark - 8-6 - Warren Tobo (11)/Isaac Tilma (9)

Dom Ramer - Senior Statement

 

Coach's Statement
Dom has been an important part of our tennis team ever since he moved back from Kansas just before his freshman year. As I remember, tennis camp was in the first week or so after the family moved back, and Dom really didn’t know that many people at Bethany yet. But he came and had a great time (I think) and the rest is history. He’s been a varsity player for us the last two years, really hitting his stride in doubles recently. He’s also been involved in the girl’s tennis program, being a manager in the spring for Daniel and the girl’s team. In all of those roles, he’s been so valuable.

My favorite tennis memories with Dom have come recently. In the past two matches I’ve seen him play with confidence and belief that is awesome. He and Aaron’s comeback victory against NorthWood is a memory from this season that I’ll always cherish. It seemed as if they were discovering things right in front of my eyes and I love that. He’s had other matches that have made for good fun to, matches at Northridge his sophomore year playing singles where we all gathered up to cheer him on. Matches where he’s been the cheerleader, encouraging others. But there’s nothing like seeing the confidence he’s brought this month.

Beyond the court, Dom is a determined self-improver. He’s not the type of person to float through a drill or take it unseriously. He pushes himself to become better when he takes on the task. I love that determination. But when it comes to how he interacts with others on the team, we’ve really seen Dom turn into a leader this summer and fall. As a leader, Dom is a “uniter,” someone who brings people together. That’s part of why he makes such a good manager for the girl’s team. For our team here in the fall, he’s someone who has brought team concerns to me, who notices how other people are feeling, who cares about his teammates. He’s a leader for our team, but a leader who clothes himself with compassion. That’s why I’ve chosen the following verse to represent both a feeling of who Dom is but also a prayer about the type of leader he can continue to be in the world.

Colossians 3:12-14
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Dom, you have been a great representation for our team this year of wisdom. You have embodied much of what we want this team to be about - creating a place of belonging, humility and accountability. My prayer for you is that these wonderful gifts strengthen and grow in you, and that you continue to carry that wherever you walk in this world. Thanks Dom!

Senior Statement - Gideon Miller

 

Coach's Statement
Gideon has been a member of the Bruin varsity team since his very first match of freshman year. He’s a hard working leader, who throws everything he has effort-wise into every drill. He expects a lot of himself, and has improved on his natural skills with a lot of hard work. He’s worked on quickness, anticipation, and his serve to be able to play at the highest level he can. He’s constantly analyzing and figuring out what tiny tactic he can switch to squeeze a little more out of his game. Sometimes it’s a little too much for his coach-of-a-dad when we’ve had a long 4 hour practice day and he wants to talk about it some more, but it shows how dedicated he is.

I have so many great memories of Gideon on the tennis court. From winning an 8th grade tournament in the spring and then being the clinching point in his first match in high school that fall. The way Gideon holds the record for most unfinished matches, now standing at 3 in his career (because it gets dark or it rains in the middle :-) I love his ability to keep fighting, like his sophomore year when he told me he couldn’t beat the player he was playing so I told him he should just go ahead and come off the courts, then he went on to win in a third set. And one of my favorite characteristics of Gideon’s game is that he always gets better the second time that he plays someone. From early in his career, Gideon was someone who could figure things out.

It’s served him well. Most people know that Noah set the record for most victories last year, but Gideon is going to finish in the top 5, if not higher. If not for the rain outs of tournaments that he has experienced over the years, he’d already be near the #2 slot. Still, his successes are not what make him valuable to the team. It’s his never-give-up attitude that inspires us. I have encouraged Gideon many times over the years with the message - if it’s down to the end, you can outlast anyone. I’ll always put my money on you.

Gideon as a person is someone who is full of belief. He believes in himself, he believes in his teammates. That makes me so proud. Gideon carries a deep belief that things can be better, that with focus and perseverance what is broken can be fixed, what is lost can be redeemed, what feels impossible can get a little closer. The next adjustment, the next step of faith, the next nugget of wisdom - that might turn everything around. The world needs that kind of hope. Our team needs that type of hope.

My prayer for Gideon is that he will feel the peace of God. That he will know that he is seen and loved. While there is the opportunity for improvement, Gideon is loved so deeply just as he is. You all are. Here’s a verse that I picked that I hope resonates for Gideon, as it displays both pieces of his character and pieces of my prayer for him.

Colossians 3:15-17
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Finally, as my son, I cannot end this time without saying how proud I am of you. How dear it has been to me to spend these 4 years together, celebrating and working. How much I delight in growing and learning with you (and your brother now too). I love you more than I could ever say in a 5 minute speech like this. I am so pleased with you!

Growing in Wisdom - Triton Match

 Video

Varsity Recap
Another night and another exciting opportunity for the Bruins to grow and enjoy tennis.

Tonight's match started with difficulty, as 2 varsity players were sick and out of the lineup. That meant JV players had the opportunity to step up and take the challenge. We called on Elias and Silas to jump into #3S and #1D... and they gave us great effort in their matches.

The Bruins got off to a winning start. Gideon was also playing someone filling in for a sick player, and Gid played great. After an unfocused start, he reeled off 11 straight games. He was especially impressive coming forward into the court. He got the Bruins our first point.

The match was evened then at #1D. The Trojan doubles pair combined tough hard serves with good net play. We couldn't quite rally enough balls in play to control the net ourselves, but we really showed good attitude and effort.

The Bruins earned their second point through Dom and Aaron. The #2D pair started off tight, but relaxed and controlled the net really well through their match. Much like Gideon, they figured out a confident strategy and reeled off 10 straight games to take their win.

At #3S, Elias got out to an early lead and eventually clinched the first set. He was playing with smart shots and forcing errors. His opponent shifted gears at the end of the first set, and Elias struggled to adjust as well. While giving effort, Elias couldn't quite find the energy and conviction to puzzle out the winning strategy. It went three sets but we ended up falling.

Which meant the match came down to Ethan at #2S. Playing up a position for where he normally does, Ethan moved and attacked well. His loose serves and approaches forced his opponent into errors and Ethan won the first set and took the lead in the second.

Then he tightened, and the match became very pushy. The second set went to a tiebreak, but Ethan didn't win. Which meant the 3rd set would determine the team winner. Ethan got bouncy and did his best to stay loose. In the first game, he blasted a deep topspin forehand and I knew he'd be okay. Indeed, he flew through the third set, winning 6-1 and securing a 3-2 team victory!

JV Recap

On the JV side, there were epic matches there as well. People played new positions, like Lucas at #1SJV, but everyone came with effort. Lucas found the consistency of his opponent a challenge, trying to figure out how to be consistent but also how to force errors from a player who mostly just lifted the ball back into play.

Jordan came back, fighting off a match point and forcing a tiebreak that he won. Jordan's match was also similar to Lucas's, with Jordan trying to find ways to be consistent and win points. Much like his match against NorthWood, Jordan found that when he could control the points he would play better.

I love talking to Ayden and Ethan about their matches. These two are really aware of the things that they are making mistakes on, and the ways that they need to improve. I also appreciate that they aren't being to hard on themselves, but just seeking to improve. 

Josiah and Ender continued their winning ways, this time at #1DJV. They had good consistency and their serves are both improving. I loved that I often see them being the team controlling play, either at the net or from the baseline. Finally, Sam and Eli slogged through a distracted match to win their second in a row together. They continued to move well against a team that hit a lot of really random looking shots. I thought this was a different type of mental test, but they did really well!

So great job team, and we'll continue growing this season.

Let's go Bruins!

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

Gratitude

We had a lot of unexpected twists last night. Players who were sick, players playing new positions, long matches under pressure, comebacks, letdowns, great play and simple mistakes. Through it all, I watched people care.  Gideon walked around to encourage and give energy to players if he could, JV guys walked between Elias's third set, Jordan's comeback and Ethan's long match, trying to figure out how to encourage and cheer everyone on. When I tried to gather up players to cheer Ethan through his third set, several told me that they had been over cheering on Ayden and Ethan M. It's awesome to have a team who wants to make sure everyone gets cheered for. 

 

WHEN WE ARE WISE: Wisdom is Playing the Percentages

Dom Found His Word!

In thinking about our mental approach to tennis, I've encouraged the players to find a positive word that helps describe when they are playing their best tennis. Dom told me last night that he'd found his word, "Up-tempo," and that it really helped him. This is no surprise. We have to find positive mental practices and repeat them, and they work when we do. It was awesome to see Dom and Aaron lift their mental game and see their physical tennis go with it. Mentality matters, and the mental practices help.

Ethan is Bouncy and Shakes When It Matters!

Ethan's match was full of pressure. He wanted to win. We needed him to win. He had chances to win and didn't quite get there. So of course, as any human would, Ethan began to get tight. You could see it in the end of his second set. It was very natural, but there are ways to counter our nerves in tennis. The best way is to be bouncy, let your arms flow, and to shadow swing your shots with looseness. This is made even stronger when you combine it with a positive mental practice, saying "I got this," or something as you bounce and swing. In the third set, Ethan literally bounced around before the points and got his arms loose. Then he played the more aggressive and loose tennis between him and his opponent. Not coincidence, but simply Ethan taking action on wisdom.

Just Re-quoting Arthur Ashe

"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can."

THEN WE ARE STRONG: Exceptional Outcomes

Wicked Dropper

So many times when we really hustle, we are rewarded with good outcomes. Our focus shouldn't always be the outcome, but the effort and attitude that we're bringing to the matches. In Elias's first set, he had a point where super hustle was rewarded. His opponent came to the net and hit a short ball, a drop shot basically. Elias had to sprint and stretch to get to the ball, but he made an all out effort. Elias slid his racket under the ball, sending a weak, floated, defense shot over the net. It was all the Elias could do with that point. His opponent saw it was at an awkward height, so decided to let it drop before he could calmly stroke it past Elias. But when the ball bounced, Elias was rewarded for not giving up on the point. The ball bounced straight sideways, diving to the right with tons of spin. The Trojan #3 lunged for the spinning ball, but it was out of reach and Elias took the point. 

Loosen Up :-)

In tight games and matches, it sometimes only takes one point to loosen things up. In #2D, Dom and Aaron started out the match playing poorly and were down 2-1 with Dom serving. The game went into a crazy amount of deuces (10?) and began to feel more and more important. Dom and Aaron instinctively noticed this, and while they were hitting okay, you could feel them tightening and being more nervy. At another one of those deuces, Dom lifted a plus-one ball (the shot after the serve) deep into the Trojan #2D backcourt. The Triton duo retreated a step and tried to lob over Aaron. It didn't get deep enough and Aaron pounced, sending the ball down into the court and then bounded up, off the top of the fence, and out into the grass. He let out a roar, and it seemed that the entire #2D team loosened and were ready to go. Dom and Aaron won the next point finally, and seemed to really relax into their best tennis. It was an important shot and an important point!

JV Simplicity

At the end of the day, tennis is actually kind of simple. Hit the ball off the middle of your strings, hit the ball in, hit it to the easiest parts of the court. We sometimes complicate it. But tonight on the JV matches, I saw several examples of this simplicity. First was Sam at the net in #2DJV. Playing the net on the right side of the court, his opponent floated a backhand volley to Sam. Instead of overhitting, Sam struck a clean volley back to his opponent's backhand, and they slung another passing shot over. But this went right to Sam and he volleyed simply, flat, and clean - right through the center of the court and between the two doubles players. Simple and very effective.

At #1DJV, Ender and Josiah were facing an opponent with a weaker second serve. As the serve brought them toward the net, it was always in their minds that they could attack that serve. Sometimes they tried to crank the ball, but that didn't work. Ender began to use wisdom - to strike a solid return but to really put it right at the serving partner who was at the net. Without a lot of space between where Ender was hitting the return and where the player was positioned at the net, Ender was able to rush the net player and take away his time. The Trojan player repeatedly couldn't get a racket on the ball. These were just two examples of simple JV tennis that relied on wise, high percentage plays rather than on fancy spins or risky power.

Awards

Cheerleader: Derrick

Hustle Award: Jordan

Dig Deep Award: Ethan

Prayer

God, thanks for a beautiful evening. I am always struck at Your provision for us, in times of need. When I needed calm tonight, the skies were beautiful as the sun set and the color of the world was highlighted with its rays. That beauty is such a blessing. There is a beauty too in our team and the way we are approaching challenges. Help us to continue to grow in this. Give us the wisdom to see You in all of it, bringing You both hopes and fears. I do that today. Amen.

Scores

Varsity
#1S - Gideon Miller - 6-1, 6-1 - Max Ritchison (11)

#2S - Ethan Claassen - 6-3, 6-7 (1), 6-1 - Colton Large (11)

#3D - Elias Magatti - 6-4, 2-6, 0-6 - Levi Mcfarland (10)

#1D - Isaya Magatti/Silas Martin - 1-6, 2-6 - Brayden Nifong (10)/Max Johnson (10)

#2D - Dominic Ramer/Aaron Hochstetler - 6-3, 6-0 - Clayton Andrews (10)/Camden Large (9)

Junior Varsity

#1SJV - Lucas Bateman - 3-8 - Brayden Nelson (11)

#2SJV - Jordan Hochstedler - 8-7 (4) - Jackson Faulkner (10)

#3SJV - Ayden Lehman - 4-8 - Brady Heckaman (10)

#4SJV - Ethan Miller - 2-8 - Kayden Hummitch (10)

#1DJV - Ender Finnigan/Josiah Aguilar Clark - 8-2 - Oliver Ickes (11)/Criss Stoddard (10)

#2DJV - Eli Steiner/Sam Brenneman - 8-3 - Aiden Emkow (10)/Juddah Stephenson (10)