THANKS ANIKA - Anika Seguin is a writer for the West Ottawan. A week ago she came to my classroom and interviewed me about the coaching transition. Click Here to read her article. If you already read the previous post below on the topic, it will include some of the same information. The main difference is that Anika is a more talented writer than me, so you'll likely enjoy reading her account a little more:) Thank you Anika!
WE ARE WO - Well, I turned on the announcements today and I saw this video. It's pretty awesome, so I thought I'd share it to the West Ottawa tennis community. Click ahead to 2:30 for when the part about Kennedy begins. A special thanks to WOBN for putting this out. THANKS ANIKA - Anika Seguin is a writer for the West Ottawan. A week ago she came to my classroom and interviewed me about the coaching transition. Click Here to read her article. If you already read the previous post below on the topic, it will include some of the same information. The main difference is that Anika is a more talented writer than me, so you'll likely enjoy reading her account a little more:) Thank you Anika!
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Dear West Ottawa Tennis Community,
After much thought and many conversations with my wife, I’ve decided to resign from coaching the varsity boys team. With two young children and Pam and I working full time, it is becoming too difficult to be the varsity coach of two teams. It’s been a while now since I’ve felt like I’ve had the balance I want in my life. My hope is that by reducing my role in the tennis program, it will provide me with balance and allow me more time to spend with Landon and Avery. When Pam was a teacher, she could be with Landon and Avery during August while I coached. This year, that was another month where the kids were away from Pam and I for a large portion of each day. I recognize that it’s a luxury to be able to spend August with the kids that many parents don’t have, but it’s a luxury I want to take advantage of, especially when they are so young. The eleven years I’ve coached this team have been one of the most positive experiences of my life. It’s almost impossible to put into words how much coaching has enriched my life. Many of my happiest moments have come from times spent on the courts with the players. Few things make me feel alive more than being around them. However much I’ve taught them, I’ve learned many times more from them, from you, and other coaches. Coaching has made me feel a closeness and connection to the West Ottawa community that goes beyond the tennis courts. This is my home, and love it here. With regards to the transition process, I want to start by saying that I would not be stepping down unless I felt there is a completely capable person to step up and lead the program. If things go as I hope, then I believe in the long run both the boys and girls programs will be ultimately stronger as a result of this change. My hope is that the new coach will be able to put their full attention to the boys program, and I can now do the same for the girls. Because of the process needed to hire a new coach, I expect it may take some time for a person to be hired. If that happens, know Pat Marsman cares a lot about the program and is doing everything he can to make the best hire possible. Doing this well is very much on his mind. In the meantime, I’ll help players coordinate what they are going to do to improve in the offseason as I normally would. I’ll gladly take your emails with questions about getting into the best programs possible at the clubs for your child and to help them with USTA tournaments if they are interested. I’ll work very hard to make sure that our JV program and our middle schoolers are working hard in the offseason. I want our returning varsity players to finish their season at the state finals next year. Finally, I want to say thank you to you for all of your support throughout the years. All of you have treated me with a level of support and kindness that, again, I don’t have words to convey my appreciation for. I have loved every moment coaching this team over the past eleven years. Respectfully, Peter Schwallier Players, thank you a season that I will not forget.
Parents, thank you for raising 12 outstanding young men. Coaches, thank you for your constant and continued dedication to this program. Congratulations to the whole West Ottawa tennis program today. Three big matches were played today, and they were all fantastic:
Varsity Boys: West Ottawa 5, Rockford 3 Junior Varsity Boys: West Ottawa 7, Rockford 1 Middle School Girls: Both teams were undefeated against every school not named West Ottawa going into today's match against each other. I didn't see the final result, but that's not so important, since we are all part of the same program. There are many talented young girls on both teams, and they competed hard. Both teams said that today's match against each other was by far the toughest competition they've played all year. That's the way it should be! Well done everyone! Below are results from the Varsity match with Rockford: Singles No. 1 — Travis Bethke, WEST OTTAWA HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS, def. Terrence Maskell, 6-2, 6-1 No. 2 — Sam Duckworth, WEST OTTAWA HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS, def. Johnny Mellin, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 No. 3 — Michael Hoffman, WEST OTTAWA HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS, def. Ben Howard, 6-0, 6-1 No. 4 — Dominic Aquino, WEST OTTAWA HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS, def. Will VanEck, 6-4, 6-4 Doubles No. 1 — Matt Hall-Ryan Blackburn, ROCKFORD HIGH SCHOOL, def. Tyler Zoerhoff-Jake Cabana, 6-1, 6-2 No. 2 — Joseph Besta-Nicholas Besta, ROCKFORD HIGH SCHOOL, def. Matt Heckman-Sam Gruenler, 6-4, 6-7, 7-6 No. 3 — Caleb Werdon-Will Lewis, ROCKFORD HIGH SCHOOL, def. Danny Mauger-Luke Linart, 6-0, 6-2 No. 4 — Tanner Drain-Paul Stryker, WEST OTTAWA HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS, def. Jackson Danner-Nate Boer, 6-3, 7-6 Thanks to all of the players, parents, and coaches at EVERY level for the hard work you put in. I'm so proud to be your coach every day, but it feels extra special on days like today. Singles
No. 1 — Travis Bethke, WEST OTTAWA HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS, def. Ben Walski, 6-3, 6-4 No. 2 — Sam Duckworth, WEST OTTAWA HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS, def. Trevor Gelfius, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 No. 3 — Michael Hoffman, WEST OTTAWA HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS, def. Cameron Lang, 6-0, 6-0 No. 4 — Ethan Rysenga, GRANDVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, def. Dominic Aquino, 7-6, 3-6, 7-6; Doubles No. 1 — Kyle Kukla-Brock Walker, GRANDVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, def. Tyler Zoerhoff-Jake Cabana, 6-1, 6-1 No. 2 — Matt Heckman-Sam Gruenler, WEST OTTAWA HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS, def. Jason Li-Alex Lin, 6-0, 7-6 No. 3 — Jake Tallon-Christian Breuker, GRANDVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, def. Danny Mauger-Luke Linart, 6-2, 6-7, 6-1 No. 4 — Patrick Clark-Brad Sanders, GRANDVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, def. Tanner Drain-Paul Stryker, 6-3, 6-1 I always love the Grandville match. Lots of support from the community at the match today. Thanks to all the girls and former tennis parents who came out to support. And players, the hard work you put in each day shows. Every one of you looks vastly improved from the day we drove up to Traverse City. I love being your coach. Looking forward to seeing how the next month unfolds. Lots of very tough but fun tennis ahead. Let's GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
I can't ask for a harder working team. Every extra thing you do at practice, before practice, after practice, after long tournaments, all year long...it all adds up. It is the reason you get to have days like today. When I am pacing and watching you all compete, I feel so proud to be your coach. Thank you to every person on this team. Congratulations to Kennedy Dumas, our newest player to earn a West Michigan Top 15 Ranking!
Kennedy was initially a competitive figure skater. A couple years ago, she made a decision to switch to tennis. During the school year, it's common for her to put in 8-10 hours per week on court, and during the summer, it's very normal for her to be on court between 20 and 30 hours a week. Regardless of how many hours you play, to get a USTA ranking, you have to play tournaments and actually compete and beat other players to accumulate points. She's been doing this over the past year, and has earned several impressive wins. In sanctioned play, she has beaten the current #1 singles player for Grandville, the #1 doubles player for Grand Haven, and the #4 singles player for Holland Christian. Pretty impressive for someone just entering 9th grade. Thanks Kennedy for all your hard work and congratulations on your amazing progress! Note: I'd like to end by adding that several other members of our program, both boys and girls, definitely have the talent RIGHT NOW to go after a ranking like this. Kennedy's ranking is a reflection of her talent, but it's also a reflection of putting in the time on weekends to compete around West Michigan. If this is a goal you want to pursue(and it's absolutely ok if it's not), then I want to encourage you to enter USTA tournaments and start competing. I like to encourage this because USTA tournaments teach players to compete under PRESSURE. This is something that you can't simulate at your drill or at academy. Ideally, I want my varsity players already used to pressure tennis before they ever put on a varsity uniform each fall and spring. So, while getting ranked is something I advertise and celebrate, know that the reason I'm excited about Kennedy's ranking is that I know with confidence that she can win when the pressure is on. Great job today boys. East Kentwood is a solid squad, and this is a strong result. Keep it up.
A reminder that full results of this match and all others can be found under Results/Photos under the Mens Varsity tab. Thanks to all of the team for working so hard each day. I'm proud of each one of you. Congratulations to Madison Wollenzier on recently breaking into the Top 15 in West Michigan in the Girls 18's Division. In the most recent ranking(Click Here), she has now climbed to #8. Click Here to see the rapidly growing list of West Ottawa players who have achieved a West Michigan Top 15 ranking or a Midwest Top 150.
Players who do special things usually have unique stories, and so does Madison. Most players who get a ranking like this have been playing tennis for quite a long time. Although Madison played tennis in middle school, she did no training outside of the season, and her primary sport was gymnastics. She didn't even go out for tennis as a Freshman. Then, two months before her sophomore season she approached me with an interest in tennis, as she made a decision to step back form gymnastics. I remember the day. We went to a club so I could get to know her, meet her, and talk with her family about what seriously training for tennis looked like. A couple hours later I got a text form the director of the club informing me that the girl I'd been hitting with earlier was back up playing again. He texted me a third time that evening saying she was up there AGAIN. That was 18 months ago. Over the last year and a half, playing with that type of a work ethic has been a daily routine for Madison. A few weeks ago, she beat a solid #1 singles player of a nearby school in a USTA tournament. If you want to get into something new, but feel like it's too late for you because everyone around you is too far ahead of you, that isn't necessarily the case. If you are willing to work hard enough, you may be able to get there. Remember, it doesn't take a certain amount of years to master things, it takes a certain number of HOURS. If you put enough hours in, you can get several "years" better in far less time. Madison still has her entire senior year to keep improving ahead. I'm looking forward to seeing where it leads. Thanks Madison for all your hard work and keep it up! (Note: Another Top 15 update will be coming soon!!!) |
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April 2022
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