What We Really Enjoyed 4: Bremen Invitational

Enjoy Some Highlights!

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What Happened in the Match?

Saturday was a gorgeous day. Cool and cloudy in the morning, opening up to sun in the mid-day hours. It was a perfect day to play a tennis match.

Or three tennis matches.

Or three, intensely close and competitive matches.

Which is what the Bruins did. We headed to Bremen to compete against the Wawasee Warriors, Bremen Lions and Fremont Eagles. And every single match ended in a 3-2 score. Not just our matches either, but every match played at the tournament was decided by one position. It was crazy.

The first match was against Wawasee, and our team started out slowly. At every position except for Ian at #3S, we started out behind. Noah fell behind 3-0 and Gideon fell behind 5-0. #1D was close, but we were always trailing by just a game. 

Ian really was confident and struck really solid passing shots and lobs during the #3S match. Ian took the first set comfortably, and gave us one really good bright spot to start the day.

Suddenly, all the other courts began to turn it around as well. In tennis, when one position surges and let's out some positive energy, you can start to see it ripple across all the courts (at least, to the players who will receive it and echo it :-) And suddenly Noah was coming back in his first set, letting out roars and being cheered along. Then Gid was carried by the wave, winning his first game in the second set. And #1D recommitted to sticking close and making the second set a tight battle.

Noah confidently extended rallies and found spots to be aggressive. He got a collection of overheads and forehand winners to go along with shots that his opponent missed. Suddenly, he pushed the match to a tiebreak. Trailing 2-4 in the 7 point tiebreak, Noah reeled off a streak of 5 points won in a row to take the first set. 

Gideon, playing next to him, also had an incredible mental turnaround. He went from losing the first set 6-0 to being in position to take the second set, leading 5-2. Gideon's opponent buckled down in the 5-2 game. The Wawasee #2 kept attacking the net, sending Gideon wide into the corners to slap passing shots and throw up lobs. In a long deuce game, Gideon found an amazing sliding backhand pass to fend off an ad point, then finally finished the game to start a third set tiebreak to 10 points. In the third set tiebreak, Gideon took a lead, but then found himself tied at 6-6. In a way similar to Noah, Gid won the next 4 straight points to seal an amazing comeback win.

Ian, unfortunately, had become tentative in the second set. Lobs were landing a bit shorter and passing shots didn't have quite the same direction. As a result, Ian lost the second set and was forced into the third set tiebreaker as well. The Wawasee #3 really played aggressive, and took a 9-3 lead to the tiebreak. Ian kept working, winning three straight points to make it interesting. However, a final shot fell in the net for the Bruins, as we lost #3S. 

Noah finished off his second set in #1S. And #1D was broke in a long game down 4-3 in the second set to fall in their match. So we were tied 2-2 with Wawasee as Emerson and Keagan headed onto the court. The first set was very tight for the Bruins. We were missing returns, but winning a majority of the points that we put in play. It was a close set, but we lost 5-7. The second set started amazing, with the Bruins taking a 3-0 lead. But then we lost concentration and momentum. Unfortunately we lost the set as well, and the match 3-2. 

All three of the Bruin losses were so close. So we moved on to the next round with confidence in what we'd done well. The next match was against Bremen, and honestly, it went by for me in a bit of a blur. The middle match of a long day can be difficult and at times this was. Some positions, like #2S and #3S, the Lions were just amazingly good. Their #2S player had incredibly touch on his shots, and the #3S player used much more power than is typically seen at that position. Noah was struggling with energy early in his match, but was able to figure it out and get back in a groove after winning a tight first set. #1D looked really good in this match, moving and playing confidently. #2D had some really good games, which were tied a lot to the games in which they moved and focused well. In the end, the Lions took #2S, #3S and #2D all in two sets to seal a 3-2 win.

We moved on to our final match against Fremont. Again, at the end of the day, things can be difficult. We were able to win 3 singles matches to get the final point. Gideon and Noah played well against less experienced opponents. Justin sealed the match for us with a come-from-behind victory in a 10 point third set tiebreak. But again, the match was close and ended 3-2.

That's how many of our matches are going to be this year. And we're not always going to rely on the same positions, but each match each position matters. I hope this is motivated for the Bruins, because it means we could win some epics! I'm really looking forward to some more of these tight matches!  

What Were the Moments of Joy?
These are going to be moments that I saw in the match that were fun, beautiful and memorable! Again, just from what I happened to see :-)

Gideon's Comeback

After losing the first set 0-6, it didn't seem possible that Gideon would be able to get back into his match. Talent wise, he had the skills to compete, but it is difficult to bounce back mentally when you are getting down on yourself. However, Gideon had an incredible turnaround, and actually controlled most of the rest of his match. It was great to see him set a course for the day that was so positive.

Noah's Determination

Noah may not always look like he has the biggest weapons (he does), but he always is determined. Down 3-0 and 4-1 in his first set, he determined to make a comeback. Being that determined to simply keep things alive, get balls back deep, to make your opponent beat you instead of beating yourself - that is a huge weapon in playing tennis! When these succeeded, and Noah found himself drawing shorts balls to put away and making lunging cross court volleys, that was joyous.

Justin's Serve

All day Justin served really well. In big moments, in regular games, Justin could be counted on to put the serve in and not make it easy for his returning opponents. In closing out Bremen especially, Justin found two unreturned serves to grab two of the four points needed to close it out. They weren't his biggest serves of the day, but they simply set him up well. I love to see us use our strengths in ways that help us!

Simple Doubles Footwork

At #2D, we actually played really well all day. This was especially true when we got the point started well. In the match against Bremen, Daniel and I encouraged Emerson and Keagan to concentrate on small shuffle steps, getting themselves to balanced positions to hit their returns and volleys. And amazingly, in two concentrated games they played outstanding, kept the ball in play, and won two in a row. Unfortunately, they couldn't get all the way back in the match. But it set them up well to learn and continue to grow.

What Were the Moments of Encouragement?
This segment is where I'll highlight ways that we built each other up during the match or the lead up to it.

Videographers

I love making video highlights of days like this. But I couldn't do it with my video takers. Dominic and Adam took my phone today and collected over 300 points of play! But my favorite thing was hearing their voices. On the videos, as I culled through them this weekend, I could hear them calling out encouragement at the end of the points they had filmed. Whether a point we won or one we dumped in the net, they would call out each player by name. Teammates like them are so valuable to the feel of the day. And I am grateful for them!

Let's Take a Moment of Intention

This is a space where I will offer a short prayer for the team.

Lord, last week was a long, hot week. So often, we are as hard on ourselves as the heat and humidity. In reading through the team focus again, I am struck by the line "let your gentleness be evident to all." Gentleness, that is clear to see for everybody. Maybe that means for ourselves. Help us to be gentle with what we demand from ourselves, knowing that we are ultimately loved. 

Amen.

Scores

Wawasee 3, Bethany Christian 2

#1S - Noah Schrock - 7-6 (4), 6-4 - Joey Harper (11)

#2S - Gideon Miller - 0-6, 6-2, 10-6 - Kane Dukes (11)

#3S - Ian McHugh - 6-3, 1-6, 5-10 - Brayden Miller (11)

#1D - Tristan Mast/Justin Hochstedler - 4-6, 3-6 - Ty Brooks (12)/Evan Byler (11)

#2D - Emerson Landis/Keagan Meyer - 5-7, 3-6 - Caden Pratt (12)/Dane Cripe (11)

Bremen 3, Bethany Christian 2

#1S - Noah Schrock - 6-4, 6-2 - Camden Hickman (12)

#2S - Gideon Miller - 3-6, 3-6 - Max Varner (12)

#3S - Ethan Claassen - 1-6, 0-6 - Brock Ginter (11)

#1D - Tristan Mast/Justin Hochstedler - 6-4, 6-4 - Corbin Van Vuren (10)/Micah Porter (10)

#2D - Emerson Landis/Keagan Meyer - 2-6, 3-6 - Maddux Hickman (11)/Bryce Miller (9)

Bethany Christian 3, Fremont 2

#1S - Noah Schrock - 6-2, 6-0 - Zander Reetz (10) 

#2S - Gideon Miller - 6-1, 6-0 - Charlie Senecal (10)

#3S - Justin Hochstedler - 1-6, 6-1, 10-5 - Jake Hilvers (10)

#1D - Tristan Mast/Ethan Claassen - 2-6, 1-6 - Colton Guthrie (11)/Tyler Miller (10)

#2D - Emerson Landis/Keagan Meyer - 2-6, 2-6 - Corbin Beeman (12)/Isaac Perez (11)