Blog Archives

Traverse City Reminders

8/19/2013

After talking with the boys, we decided that since Linda Schnobel is now going to drive, we can move the departure time up to noon from transportation. I told all the boys this, but I wanted to post it here since it's different than what I said when talking with the parents.

Notes:
1. Wear clothes to practice in to transportation so you don't have to change.
2. Bring a water jug for the event so we don't burn through so many water bottles.
3. Schnobel, if you are reading this in time, bring the hydration supplies!
3. Let's have some fun up North:)

Reminders:
- The full itinerary for all these trips is linked in the post right below this one.
- We now only have 7 opportunities left for drivers. Parents, don't miss this opportunity. If you volunteer too late, you might miss your chance. Remember, don't get left out!!!

Coach

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Beginning of the Season Information

8/14/2013

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*Note, Parent / Player Meeting is for both Varsity AND Junior Varsity.
*Please bring $35 for Insurance to the meeting tonight. If we can settle things by then, that would be ideal.

Our Parent / Player Meeting will be at the following:
Monday, August 19
6:30 PM @ High School North
LGI Room
Attendance by the player and at least one parent is expected.

Prospective Varsity Parents and Players, CLICK HERE for important details on our three overnight trips this Fall.

JV Practice Schedule:
Now through August 20, JV will practice from 9 - Noon.
Starting on August 21, JV will practice from 4 - 6 PM until school starts.
Once School Starts, JV will practice from after school until 5:00 PM

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Announcing New Middle School Coach - Dan Owens

8/5/2013

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We have a new Middle School Coach, and I think he's a good one! I met him today, and he is excited to get started. He has a strong tennis background. More importantly, he is a lot of fun!!! My only concern with Dan is that he was raised in Ohio, and I forgot to make sure he is not a Buckeye fan (although he seemed pretty smart, so I honestly doubt it). Either way, let's welcome him to West Ottawa. I've included a bio on Coach Dan below. Then, scroll down to the next few blogs to meet our other new coaches this Fall.

Coach Dan is a 2013 graduate of Hope College where he studied History and Political Science. He played on the Hope Men’s Tennis team for 3 years, lettering twice. His tennis career began in his home state of Ohio, where he was a two-time captain of his high school team, a District Qualifier, and four-time All-Conference recipient. He coached juniors and adults at River Oaks Racquet Club in Rocky River, Ohio.

Coach Dan is currently living in Holland and serves as Administrative Director for Nibakure Children’s Village, a non-profit that operates an orphanage in Rwanda. He is excited to join the West Ottawa staff and is looking forward to helping develop the middle school program!

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Announcing new Junior Varsity Head Coach - Mike Floch

8/4/2013

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This may end up being a big hire for West Ottawa Tennis. When looking at candidates, I look for the following (in order of importance):
#1 Do they love kids and love West Ottawa Tennis?
#2 Do they have a high knowledge of the game?
#3 Are they likely to make a long-term commitment to the program?
I will consider any hire if they love our kids and our program enough. If they have #1 and #2, then we've got an excellent candidate. When they have all three, that's the home run. It looks like this may be what we have in Coach Floch. He loves this community, has a high tennis IQ, and I don't get the impression he likes to be average at things he cares about. I've asked him to write an introduction, and I've included it below for you to read:

I love tennis! I have been playing and coaching for over 30 years. I believe tennis is not only a game of wins and losses but a game that teaches us a lot about ourselves and about life. In his acceptance speech in 2011 for his Hall of Fame induction Andre Agassi said the following:

"Tennis has not only given me much, it has taught me much. It is no accident that tennis uses the language of life; service, advantage, break, fault, love. The lessons of tennis are the lessons of maturity. In tennis you prepare and you prepare and one day your preparation seems futile; nothing is working and the other guy has got your number cold. So you improvise. In tennis you learn what I do instantly affects what you do and vice versa. Tennis makes you perceptive, proactive and reactive all at the same time. Tennis teaches you the subtlety of human interaction, the curse and blessing of cause and effect." ... I couldn't agree more Andre.

After a junior career I played for two years at Oakland Community College and then two years of Club Tennis at Michigan State University. I became certified via USPTR (United Staes Professional Tennis Registry) in 2009 and have been teaching at MVP Athletic Club in Holland since. It is at MVP that I met Coach Pete Schwallier and many West Ottawa players, girls and boys. I love the passion that Pete has instilled in the WO program and I am thrilled to be a part of the WO tradition.

I also like to have fun. So in the words of the great Yoggi Berra, "It ain't over until it's over."

Here we go!

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Announcing New JV Asssisant Coach Kyle Kreps!

8/2/2013

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Mike Floch approached me this Spring asking if he could fill the vacant Boys Junior Varsity Position this Fall. He told me that his first order of business was going to be surrounding himself with good help. Mike has found good help, and I'd like to welcome Kyle Kreps to our staff. Coach Kreps was offered a paid coaching position this Fall, but accepted this volunteer position instead. Below is a short introduction for Kyle. It is going to be a great Fall Season!

Kyle Kreps
Coach Kreps graduated from Holland High School, where he served as team captain his junior and senior seasons. While at Holland, he earned 3 varsity letters. As a senior he played 1st singles and was voted Team MVP. Coach Kreps continued his tennis career at Hope College. As a senior in 2013, he captained the team to an MIAA co-conference championship. During his time at Hope, Coach Kreps was voted Most Improved Player as a freshman and sophomore. As a junior he earned the Hope tennis Sportsmanship award. In an unforgettable senior season, Coach Kreps earned his team’s Sportsmanship award for the second year in a row, received the Spirit of Hope Tennis award, and also won the Allen B. Stowe Sportsmanship award for the MIAA conference. For winning the Stowe Sportsmanship award, Coach Kreps was featured in an exhibit at the NCAA Hall of Champions in Indianapolis, IN. He has been a teaching pro at the Macatawa Tennis Club for the past two summers. During the Fall of 2013 he will be student teaching at Mac Bay and Waukazoo.

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Are you here to sign your child up for the Lakeshore Elementary Tennis Camp? Click the Button below!

Traverse City Reminders

Beginning of the Season Information

Announcing New Middle School Coach - Dan Owens

Announcing new Junior Varsity Head Coach - Mike Floch

Announcing New JV Asssisant Coach Kyle Kreps!

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