Tournament Recap

Parents and Players,
The past three weeks have been pretty intense.  It's been our philosophy that as long as we keep showing we can hold our own, we will keep scheduling the very best teams possible.  We have competed in four tough tournaments and one very challenging scrimmage.  Here's an overview of how we fared as we head into the school year:

Where We Played:
Traverse City 
Stowe Stadium - Kalamazoo
Ann Arbor
Okemos
Canepa Tennis Center - East Grand Rapids

Who We Played:
Traverse City Central
Rochester
Grandville
Brother Rice
Ann Arbor Pioneer
Ann Arbor Huron
Midland Dow (twice)
Portage Central
Grosse Pointe South
Saline
Bloomfield Hills
Holly
Forest Hills Northern
East Grand Rapids

How We Fared:
Overall Team Record: 46-32  (59%)
Singles Record: 24-14  (63%)
Doubles Record: 22-18  (55%)

Both in singles and in doubles, the boys showed that they can play the best and still come out ahead over half the time!  Not only are we very good, but we are a balanced team.  Every player on the team is contributing and giving us wins.  

Some Observations: 

1. Nick Schnobel - Your ability to construct points and matches is light years ahead of 12 months ago. Your junior year is when you got all the strokes, now you understand the game.  Someone recently described you to me as a once in a decade player.  While I very much hope I get to coach another player of your ability before 2024, the comment was very appropriate.  
   
2. Mark VanderStoep - Everyone needs to take notice of the amazing player Mark is.  If he played #1 singles, he'd be one of the best #1's in West Michigan.  Mark, thank you for all the early morning workouts all summer long.  Thanks for all your dedication, you are doing a terrific job.  
   
3. Joe Miller - The past few years it has taken you several matches to get into a rhythm.  This year you came out ready to go from the start.  Like Nick, you  put a complete game together.  Thanks for putting in practice sets before the season to get sharp and for injecting fun to the team.  You really are a tremendous athlete, and it's fun watching you do things that I just can't do:)
   
4. Tayler Bethke - You had a breakthrough today with EGR and FHN.  You earned the right to start the season at 4th singles through tryouts, but it was today that you earned the right to keep it.  There's no one I'd rather have there than you, and I'm looking forward to seeing what you can do going forward.  
5. Nick and Austin - You just played 10 matches against the best teams in Michigan, and you went 5-5 against all of their very best doubles teams.  Just like Schnobel has to go against their very best singles player every day, you have to take on every town's very strongest doubles team.  I'm so impressed at how well you made it through these tournaments.
6. Hugh and Kyle - I'm going to go ahead and give you the most improved flight award over the past 7-10 days.  You two are really clicking.  I like how you are working in practice, how you are competing in matches, and how you are supporting your teammates at tournaments.  
7. Spencer and Sam- Sam, I was clicking around on the website, and it sunk in to me that it was just three months ago that you were playing on the Harbor Lights middle school team.  Just 12 weeks later you are battling the best varsity teams in Michigan and holding your own.  How cool is that!  And Spencer, a lot of the credit for that goes to you.  You've been a great leader, plus you have just improved so much since last Fall.  You are a much steadier player, but you still kept that explosiveness that you've always had.  
8. Travis and Adam - Just like with Sam, the transition you have both made to middle school tennis to varsity in 12 short weeks is incredible.  Every match you seem to soak in another piece of information, and you keep learning and getting better.  You are the first all-freshmen doubles team since 2009, when Kyle Harper and Greg Christie played together at 4th doubles.  And you both share something in common, which is the ability to find ways to win!
9. Dominic and Justin - Honestly, you two are improving more quickly than I anticipated.  Your win against Midland Dow the other day floored me.  Also, your ability to implement stroke improvements and then immediately use them in matches is terrific.  Justin, I love your positive energy in practice and in matches.  Dominic, I love that even though you are pretty quiet in practice, the moment a match beings you come alive and can I hear and see your fight. 
10. Parents - Thanks one more time for the driving, the food, the drinks, the encouragement, and all of the little things do to get the boys ready to be their best.  I can't really single anyone out because it really is everyone.  
11. Coach Metz - Thanks for all the time you put in with the boys over the past few weeks.  I have fun when I'm around you.  You give me energy.  I know you do the same for the players too.  The Harbor Lights girls are lucky to have you coaching them this Fall.  

Everyone have a great weekend!  Here's the plan for Tuesday:
3:00 depart for Lakeshore High school via bus by the athletic office
5:00 ish  begin match with St. Joseph as soon as they are done with Lakeshore
7:00  isn leave for home
8:30 ish arrive back at the high school outside the athletic office