Jimtown Match Report - 2019

Scores

V: Jimtown 3, Bethany Christian 2
JV: Jimtown JV 6, Bethany Christian JV 2

Photos
Click here for photos from the match.

Varsity Recap
I went into this match very confident about who this team is. I came out of this match very confident about who this team is.

I loved our energy starting out this match. We took leads at almost every position because we started with energy and quick feet. It was taking our opponents a while to adjust to our games, and we were taking it to them. To quote the "Strategy Session," we were bossing most of the points.

That doesn't mean matches weren't close. Jimtown is a very experienced team this year. At #1S, they have a sophomore, Matt Margraf, who moved up quite a bit from last year. This allowed other players to stay in the same position they played last year or in other instances even move down. All told, they returned 4 varsity players. And so they stuck close.

The only match that we didn't start well in was #2D. Jimtown was playing with a lot of power and it forced Will and Tyson off the net. They also were loose with their overheads, so they were chasing back and hitting overheads as Will and Tyson tried to lob them off the net. Will and Tyson through everything they had at the match, even sacrificing their own bodies as Tyson tumbled to the concrete. Unfortunately we ended up losing that match.

But, at #1D we were equally dominate. Joseph and Nathan took control of the net early and found the "down the middle solves the riddle" volleys. I loved watching their confidence and encouragement. In their second set, that began to get pushed off the net a little. But we focused on where we were placing our passing shots and found quick success. Actually, Joseph and Nathan were the first off the court with their two set win.

At #2S, Braden had a great matchup with senior Bill Pawlak. Based on their lineup last year, we had been expecting Pawlak to play #1S, but he was back at #2S. Last year, he had defeated Caleb relatively easily. Braden started off the match hitting aggressively, but when he got to the business end of the set, he backed off. Up 4-3, Braden got tight and slowed his movement. He began standing up straighter as he hit his shots. Pawlak took the next games, and then built a lead in the second set based on the same patterns. But Braden recovered, and found his aggressive stroke. He came back to make it close, but fell 6-4, 6-3.

Josh's match had a similar story. Josh worked hard and kept the match close, forcing his freshman opponent into uncomfortable shots and spots. But his opponent played really well. And Josh found himself defending quite a bit. At the end of each set, Josh found that he needed a little bit more offensive firepower. So, that's a goal to work on.

Caleb's match at #1S was one of the most interesting roller coasters to watch. After a fairly even start, Caleb took control at the end of the first set as his opponent made some nervous errors and Caleb emoted positivity. Caleb soared away and took the first set. In the second set, it was Caleb's turn to doubt himself and hit tentatively. After a break for new balls, Caleb charged out of the gate with belief and took a large lead. He was again driving his opponent back and around the court. Though Caleb tightened up a bit at the end, he was able to finish off the set for his first win at #1S.

So, we played well, competing and learning as we went, but dropped our first match 3-2.

Junior Varsity Recap
Jimtown has one of the deepest JV teams I've seen. They have two talented seniors in the singles lineup. They have hard hitters across the lineup, which can be intimidating, and which we don't have too many.

This was a match where our JV really learned, I hope. In singles, Aaron learned that when your opponent attacks, you pick a spot and hit a confident shot. Cameron learned to play against a consistent opponent, using pinpoint accuracy and coming to the net. Matthew learned how to play a crafty opponent and that he needs to continue to work on his approach shot. Josiah learned that he can win, and also got to deal with nerves in finishing out a match, learning to relax and play.

The doubles was filled with lessons as well, Theo and Austin learning the importance of belief and simple doubles movement. Chris and Kameron learned how to get into great positions, and now need to confidently finish the points with volleys. Jacob and Jacob learned to move forward to the ball, and to have a consistent contact point. Xudong and Breece learned that to control the net, they'll need to work on simple, solid volleys.

But just like the varsity, I loved the fire and desire that I saw from the JV guys. Theo and Austin didn't quit when down 7-3, but pulled it back to 7-6. Chris was fired up about playing this match. Kameron was his jovial self, but also has a very improved forehand and much more consistent serve. Matthew was moving well across the court. And a lot more... suffice to say that I am confident in what we are doing despite the loss. We're going to win a lot of JV matches :-)

You are accepted.
Before this match even began, I was confident in you. Saturday's practice had shown me how much tennis means to all of you. What I love about what I've seen from this team is how many leaders we have. In every match, it makes me confident that you will bring your best. It was amazing to experience that tonight.


You are sustained.
Tonight, we are sustained by these moments of joy...

1. Reinforcement of our good habits.
It was really amazing to see that when we did things the right way, we were able to find success. I think about Austin and Theo's match, that when they stood still and got stiff, they didn't score well. When they played simple doubles and "moved with the ball," they found success and made a comeback. When Caleb and Braden weren't playing well, they weren't shuffling their feet but they were standing up straight. When they made comeback or dominated games they moved and got down and hit approach shots and came to the net. When our varsity doubles played well they were taking away the net and keeping the ball away from the other net players. I loved seeing us put into practice the things we've learned.

2. Caleb's winners and celebrations.
As Caleb took control of the first set and third set, he had one shot that was setting it all up. That shot was his mid-court attack ball. Caleb did a great job of moving forward when he was playing well. It was such a jolt of energy to hear Caleb shout "Let's go!" or "C'mon!" after smashing a winner down the line from one of these shots.

3. Josiah's first win.
Josiah played singles tonight, and he played really well. After not getting a win last season, he came out tonight and got a great one, winning 6-1 over his #4SJV opponent. I could tell that Josiah got a little nervous toward the end, after getting up 5-0 he lost the next game on his serve. But he responded and finished off the match. And I could see his joy and relief as he did.

You are significant.
How have we used our God-given gifts to serve the needs of others? Cameron manning the Instagram story maybe :-) ?

I loved Joseph's confident encouragement tonight. I heard it as he and Nathan were playing their match. Joseph can have great belief in himself and his shots and his strategy. It was super awesome to see him transferring this over to his team, to his doubles partner. It is a significant gift, that flows out of him feeling comfortable with his partner, because he knows he is accepted. He's not worried about Nathan's reaction, he's just being himself in his best version. I loved watching that!

You have achieved.
We played with effort tonight. That is an achievement.
We played with perseverance tonight, always coming back to the match. That is an achievement.
We got some victories tonight. That is an achievement.
We learned areas that we will need to focus on. That growth is a big achievement.

Prayer
God, let us relax into this tennis season. It is so fun to smack a tennis ball between two opponents at the net, so fun to spin a sere into the backhand, so fun to cut a volley off at the net or hit an overhead down. Even as we prepare for close matches, let us recognize the joy of these things. And God, help us to continue to look outside of ourselves, encouraging others and celebrating with them.

Scores
Varsity
#1S - Caleb Shenk - 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 - Matt Margraf (10)
#2S - Braden Bohn - 4-6, 3-6 - Bill Pawlak (12)
#3S - Josh Cartwright - 4-6, 4-6 - Beau Kaler (9)
#1D - Nathan Oostland/Joseph Mounsithiraj - 6-1, 6-3 - Christian Vanderwerf (11)/Sam Wart (12)
#2D - Will Nisley/Tyson Miller - 1-6, 3-6 - Preston Phillips (12)/Lucas Flick (12)

Junior Varsity
#1SJV - Aaron Shenk - 4-8 - Koleton Dover (12)
#2SJV - Cameron Heinisch - 3-8 - Ben Behrens (11)
#3SJV - Matthew Dyck - 3-8 - Andrew Coble (12)
#4SJV - Josiah Schlabach - 6-1 - Caleb Koets (9)
#1DJV - Theo Siemens-Rhodes/Austin Shenk - 6-8 - Aidan Short (10)/Luke Bottom (10)
#2DJV - Chris Craw/Kameron Branum - 3-8 - Dylan Cook (9)/Kole Ross (11)
#3DJV - Jacob Leininger/Jacob Shank - 1-8 - Beau Barhams (11)/Budha Rice (10)
#4DJV - Xudong Sun/Breece Erickson - 1-6 - Anderson Slabach (10)/Joe Saunders (11)
#5DJV - Matthew Dyck/Cameron Heinisch - 6-0 - Ivan Herden/Payton Phillips