The Difference

By Matt Miller
Bethany Christian Tennis

BAUGO TWP., Ind. — The Jimtown JV Invitational is an excellent tourney for our JV players. It truly gives the feel of what a varsity match is like: evenly matched players in a 2-out-of-3 set format. It also gives some experience in these Saturday matches, where it is hot and the days are long and you get tired. And when I arrived, the team looked tired.

But within that tiredness, the team learned a secret. The secret makes all the difference.

When I arrived, Sol Brenneman and Landon Weldy were Bethany's only players still on the court in the second round versus Jimtown. Both looked to be playing inferior opponents, but Sol was in a tiebreak and Landon was down big in the second set. It didn't take too long to figure out what was wrong.

The attitude was completely negative, and so was the movement. Those things are often related, but more on that later. Sol was playing against a singles player who rarely hit the ball hard, and yet, here was Sol out of position and reaching for shots. Landon was playing against a similar player, and yet he was having trouble keeping the ball in the court. Running at a straight line to the net after his returns, Landon either missed or made the volley, thus deciding the point.

But there was very little energy, either from the team or from the remaining players on the court.

And attitude and movement matter so much in tennis.

Just ask Nate from the Concord match. Down 0-5, he changed two things, his feet to hustle more and his attitude to get excited from his big shots and let the bad ones go. He won four straight games and the third set.

Or ask Abe, who got destroyed by a patient pusher at Columbia City and then turned around and did the destroying himself against a patient pusher against Fremont.

Or Joel and Hans, who turned their Jimtown match around on Saturday simply by deciding to be more aggressive.

The difference between a solid varsity player and a JV player is simple. It's rarely their strokes, their serves or their volleys. it's usually their minds and their feet. Good players know that these are connected, and they stay positive in attitude by moving their feet during the point.

If there was ever evidence of that, it was the third round match of this invitational. Sol went back and forth with Concord's in the first set, but then in the second he was coached to aggressively attack the ball with HIS FEET. The result? 6-1 in the second vs. 7-5 in the first.

Tristan had the same thing going: after a great first set, he tired and lost concentration in the second. One simple piece of advice for the super tiebreak — move your feet like a varsity player. The result? A 10-7 tiebreak win!

And I think that was the difference, the secret that we've got to get through our heads.

Move aggressively to the ball, get pumped about good shots, let the bad ones go.

Now, we have to start practicing this way. Now we have to start getting better.

NorthWood 4, Bethany 1
Sol Brenneman won 6-1, 6-1. Landon Weldy lost 0-6, 1-6. Tristan Clark lost 3-6, 3-6. Justin Zehr/Neel Bhagat lost 1-6, 0-6. Jack Erlacher/Ethan Lapp lost 1-6, 0-6.

Jimtown 5, Bethany 0
Sol Brenneman lost 6-0, 4-6, (9-11). Tristan Clark lost 2-6, 0-6. Landon Weldy lost 4-6, 3-6. Justin Zehr/Neel Bhagat lost 0-6, 2-6. Jack Erlacher/Ethan Lapp lost 6-7, 2-6.

Bethany 4, Concord 1
Sol Brenneman won 7-5, 6-1. Tristan Clark won 6-3, 1-6, (10-7). Justin Zehr won 6-3, 6-3. Wade Troyer/Landon Weldy lost 6-3, 6-7(5), (4-10). Neel Bhagat/Ethan Lapp won 6-4, 2-6, (10-7).

Matt Miller is head boys tennis coach and author of the Bethany Christian Tennis blog. His recaps are reprinted with permission.

Match Reports, 8/27/11

NOMINATE FOR ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Boys soccer
BRUSHY PRAIRIE, Ind. — Prairie Heights varsity 2, Bethany JV 0

• P: Christian Granados (22')
• P: Brooke Traxler (56')

Shots on goal — Bethany JV 6, Prairie Heights varsity 3. Saves — Bethany JV: Trent Yoder 1; Prairie Heights varsity: Kyle Burkholder 6.

Girls soccer
GOSHEN — Elkhart Memorial 2, Bethany 0

• M: Brionna Barnett (Allyson Crane assist) (25')
• M: Barnett (Tori Farr) (54')

Shots on goal — Elkhart Memorial 8, Bethany 7. Saves — Elkhart Memorial: Mallory Conrad 7; Bethany: Natalie Thorne 6. Corner kicks — Elkhart Memorial 1, Bethany 0. Fouls — Elkhart Memorial 8, Bethany 5.

Boys tennis
BAUGO TWP., Ind. — Bethany 3rd in Jimtown JV Invitational.

Bethany 5, Rochester 0
Jesse Amstutz def. Justin Schroder 6-2, 7-6 (6). Sol Brenneman def. Andy Feldman 6-3, 6-2. Landon Weldy def. Alex Denny 6-3, 6-1. Wade Troyer/Hans Miller def. Dannell Albright/Michael Kistler 6-0, 7-6 (2). Justin Zehr/Tristan Clark def. Wes Gohn/Connor Ulerick 6-0, 6-1.

Jimtown 3, Bethany 2
Wade Troyer lost to Jacob Gongwer 4-6, 0-6. Sol Brenneman def. Darin Martin 6-2, 2-6, (12-10). Tristan Clark lost to Justin Newland 3-6, 1-6. Jesse Amstutz/Hans Miller lost to Nicolas Floyd/Mikey Pawlak 5-7, 3-6. Landon Weldy/Ryan Duckworth def. Nick Beron/Brock Johnson 6-3, 6-0.

Concord 3, Bethany 2
Sol Brenneman lost to Jake Boyer 0-6, 1-6. Landon Weldy lost to Jared Searer 2-6, 2-6. Ryan Duckworth lost to Mitchell Lozier 2-6, 0-6. Wade Troyer/Hans Miller def. Ryan Bishop/Aaron Aller 6-3, 6-1. Justin Zehr/Tristan Clark def. Justin Ramsey/Spenser Jacnichen 6-2, 6-4.

Volleyball
HAMILTON, Ind. — Bethany def. Hamilton; Blackhawk def. Bethany; no scores reported.

Boys cross country
NAPPANEE, Ind. — Bethany ninth of 14 at NorthWood Invitational.
Team scores — Concord 63, NorthWood 90, Marion 108, John Glenn 128, Bremen 140, ECA 164, Westview 168, Triton 198, Bethany 225, LaVille 261, Jimtown 303, Oregon-Davis 334. Incomplete — Manchester, Culver.
Top runners — Jerry Schwartz (Wv) 17:12.8, Kyle Baker (Wv) 17:13.7, Tony Spalding (Mar) 17:32.6, Collin Chupp (Con) 17:45.8, Joel Hartman (ECA) 17:54.4, Nicholas Amor (LV) 18:01.6, Luke Runyan (JG) 18:12.3, Thomas Dean (Br) 18:15.0, Keenen Burnett (Con) 18:24.0, Matt Rozycki (Mar) 18:30.0, Matthew Fahs-Brown (Man) 18:32.6, Joe Mahank (JG) 18:34.2, Henry Zelaya (Con) 18:35.6, Nathan Bailey (NW) 18:35.9, Corban Wyatt (NW) 18:49.4.
Bethany runners — 23rd, Ben Hochstetler 19:11.4; 27th, Jesse Bontreger 19:24.4; 52nd, Jordan Glasgow 21:55.4; 58th, Joel Gerig 22:26.4; 65th, Noah Hochstetler 23:26.5; 72nd, Austin Hooley 25:40.6.

Girls cross country
NAPPANEE, Ind. — Bethany incomplete at NorthWood Invitational.
Team scores — NorthWood 41, Concord 63, Marion 75, Bremen 116, Westview 137, Manchester 179, Jimtown 190, ECA 214. Incomplete — Bethany, Culver, LaVille, Oregon-Davis, Triton.
Top runners — Cynthia Medina (NW) 19:44.9, Kayla Casaletto (ECA) 21:30.1, Gabi Skwarcan (Mar) 21:48.3, Karlie Kratzchmar (NW) 22:08.7, Heather Jonson (Con) 22:11.7, Brittani Grove (NW) 22:17.0, Jen Hilty (NW) 22:19.6, Brooke Bahr (Br) 22:21.5, Janell Bender (Wv) 22:27.9, Emily Davis (Con) 22:32.1, Kaitlyn Warren (Wv) 22:45.1, Jenny Waltman (Mar) 22:53.7, Megan Burchman (Br) 23:04.2, Laura Housman (Con) 23:10.4, Cassidy Field (Con) 23:18.0.
Bethany runners — 44th, Katie Hurst 26:51.9; 58th, Catie Kauffman 30:23.1; 60th, Sadie Gustafson-Zook 32:31.3; 62nd, Lena Yeakey 33:08.4.

This Week In Bruindom, August 22-28

NOMINATE FOR ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Sunday, August 22

• Athlete of the Week nominations due, 5:30 p.m.

Monday, August 23

• Boys tennis vs. Mishawaka, 4:30 p.m. (V)
• Boys tennis vs. Mishawaka, 5:30 p.m. (JV)

Tuesday, August 24

• Boys tennis at Columbia City, 5:00 p.m. (V)
• Girls cross country vs. Northridge, Lakeland and Westview, 5:00 p.m.
• Boys cross country vs. Northridge, Lakeland and Westview, 5:45 p.m.
• Boys tennis at Columbia City, 6:00 p.m. (JV)
• Volleyball at Lakeland Christian, 6:00 p.m. (JV)
• Girls soccer at Northridge, 6:30 p.m., Michiana Sports Authority
• Volleyball at Lakeland Christian, 7:15 p.m. (V)

Thursday, August 26

• MS volleyball at ECA, 4:30 p.m. (B)
• Boys tennis vs. Fremont, 4:45 p.m. (V)
• Boys soccer vs. Lakeland Christian, 5:00 p.m. canceled (JV)
• MS soccer at LaVille, 5:00 p.m. (B)
• Boys tennis vs. Fremont, 5:45 p.m. (JV)
• MS volleyball at ECA, 5:45 p.m. (A)
• Volleyball vs. Wawasee, 6:00 p.m. (JV)
• MS soccer at LaVille, 6:15 p.m. (A)
• Girls soccer at Goshen, 6:30 p.m.
• Boys soccer vs. Lakeland Christian, 6:45 7:00 p.m. (V)
• Volleyball vs. Wawasee, 7:15 p.m. (V)

Friday, August 27

• Boys soccer at First Baptist, 6:00 p.m. (C)

Saturday, August 28

• Boys tennis at Concord Invitational, 9:00 a.m. (V)
• Boys tennis at Jimtown Concord JV Invitational, 9:00 a.m. (JV)
• Girls soccer at Elkhart Memorial, 10:00 a.m.
• Volleyball vs. Hamilton and Clinton Christian, 10:00 a.m. (V)
• Girls cross country at NorthWood Invitational, 10:00 a.m.
• Boys cross country at NorthWood Invitational, 11:00 a.m.

Match Reports, August 29

NOMINATE FOR MENNO LANDS MEMORIES or ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Boys soccer "C"
BRUSHY PRAIRIE, Ind. — Bethany vs. Prairie Heights


Girls soccer

GOSHEN — Taylor Christophel scored off the rebound of her own shot and Mallory Conrad's 15 saves were not enough as Bethany defeated Elkhart Memorial at breezy Bodiker Field Saturday night.
Bethany 1, Elk. Memorial 0

• B: Taylor Christophel (11').

Shots on goal — Memorial 3, Bethany 18. Goalie saves — Memorial: Mallory Conrad 15; Bethany: Kelly Snyder 3. Fouls — Memorial 4, Bethany 10. Corner kicks — Memorial 2, Bethany 8. Referee — Jim Leeper. Linesmen — John Hulevic, Kristin O'Dell.

Lineups

Memorial: Mallory Conrad; Tori Farr, Brooke Cooper, Bre Gaugler; Stephanie Springer, Iris Herrera, Mary Leonard, Kendall Dolowy, Annamarie Dibley; Darby Bell, Stevie Allen. Bethany — Kelly Snyder; Natalie Thorne, Malaina Weldy, Karli Graybill, Anna Nafziger; Maddie Gerig, Sharisse Yoder, Marissa Weldy, Gina Gautsche; Emma Caskey, Emma Gerig.

Boys tennis
ELKHART — Seth Krabill dropped a total of six games over the two matches Bethany finished Saturday (two of those games occurring prior to last week's suspension), as Bethany dispatched Jimtown and Rochester en route to a second-place finish at the Concord Invitational.

Bethany 3, Jimtown 2; Bethany 4, Rochester 1 at Concord Invitational, resumed from Aug. 22 (results).
Jimtown: Ben Mast lost to Matt Candler 1-6, 0-6. Seth Krabill def. Shane Cook 6-2, 6-2. Mikey Kelly lost to Bret Giddings 6-3, 1-0, retired. Austin Loucks/Kyle Miller def. Josh George/Brett Aller 6-3, 5-7, (10-6). Nick Rebec/Russell Klassen def Jake Hoffman/John Gray 6-4, 6-1.
Rochester: Ben Mast def. Ryan Bohr 6-2, 6-2. Seth Krabill def. Aaron Stuart 6-1, 6-1. Misha Rebec lost to Jacob Schroder 6-7 (5), 4-6. Austin Loucks/Kyle Miller def. Phil Keim/Cody Hershberger 6-3, 6-4. Nick Rebec/Russell Klassen def. Kyle Calhoun/Josh Calhoun 6-2, 6-1.
Bethany Christian vs. Jimtown (Bethany Christian Tennis)
Bethany Christian vs. Rochester (Bethany Christian Tennis)

JV boys tennis
ELKHART — Jake Gerig went 3-0 on the day, winning twice paired with Evan Grimes at #1 doubles and once at #2 singles, as Bethany finished 3rd in the Jimtown JV Invitational.
Bethany 5, Rochester 0; Jimtown 3, Bethany 2; Concord 4, Bethany 1 in Jimtown JV Invitational.
Rochester: Matt Ebersole won 9-8 (5). Blake Shetler won 8-1. #3 singles won by default. Jake Gerig/Evan Grimes won 8-7 (4).
Jimtown: Blake Shetler won 8-4. Matt Ebersole lost 6-8. Ike Lehman lost 4-8. Jake Gerig/Evan Grimes won 8-1. Ryan Minter/Wade Troyer lost 2-8.
Concord: Matt Ebersole lost 1-8. Jake Gerig won 8-3. Evan Eby - 4-8. Blake Shetler/Evan Grimes lost 1-8. Ike Lehman/Himal King lost 5-8.

Volleyball
GOSHEN — Mandy Schlabach led the Bruins with 9 aces and 15 assists as they knocked off Hamilton in three sets, also adding 23 assists as Keystone met a similar fate in a three-way match Saturday at the Menno Lands. Keystone defeated Hamilton 28-26, 25-22, 25-16 in their match.

Bethany def. Keystone 25-16, 25-9, 25-11.
Aces — Mattie Lehman 6. Assists — Mandy Schlabach 23. Kills — Kate Steury 9, Marla zumFelde 8. Blocking — Corine Alvarez 3, Steury 2. Digs — zumFelde 4.

Bethany def. Hamilton 25-15, 25-13, 25-17.
Aces — Mandy Schlabach 9. Assists — Schlabach 15. Kills — Kate Steury 5, Marla zumFelde 5. Blocking — Steury 1 solo. Digs — Jama Yoder 3.

Boys cross country
NAPPANEE, Ind. — Ben Hochstetler ran a 19:52 to lead the Bruins over three complete teams and three more incomplete teams Saturday in the NorthWood Invitational at Stauffer Park.

Bethany 8th of 14 teams in NorthWood Invitational.
Team scores — Fairfield 56, NorthWood 71, Triton 82, Marian 97, ECA 104, Bremen 132, Westview 141, Bethany Christian 178, Manchester 203, Jimtown 223, Culver 253. Medalist — Austin Wenger (NW) 17:43. Top Bruin runner — 24th, Ben Hochstetler 19:52.

Girls cross country
NAPPANEE, Ind. — As has been customary the last few years, Ali Hochstetler was Bethany's top runner followed by Jenae Hershberger Saturday in the NorthWood Invitational.

Bethany in 7th of 14 teams in NorthWood Invitational.
Team scores — Fairfield 47, Bremen 70, NorthWood 87, Concord 127, Manchester 136, Westview 147, Bethany 153, Marian 158, Jimtown 183, LaVille 199, Glenn 233. Medalist — Hope Jordan (Br) 20:48. Top Bruin runners — 6th, Ali Hochstetler 21:56; 16th, Jenae Hershberger (BC) 22:53.

This Week In Bruindom, August 23-29

NOMINATE FOR MENNO LANDS MEMORIES

August 23

• Athlete of the Week nominations due, 5:30 p.m.

August 24

• Boys tennis at Mishawaka, 4:30 p.m. (V)
• Boys tennis at Mishawaka, 5:30 p.m. (JV)

August 25

• Girls cross country at Lakeland with Northridge and Westview, 5:00 p.m.
• MS soccer vs. Plymouth, 5:30 p.m. (B)
• Boys cross country at Lakeland with Northridge and Westview, 5:40 p.m.
• Volleyball vs. Lakeland Christian, 6:00 p.m. (JV)
• Girls soccer vs. Northridge, 6:30 p.m. (V): broadcast over Michiana Sports Authority
• MS soccer vs. Plymouth, 6:45 p.m. (A)
• Volleyball vs. Lakeland Christian, 7:15 p.m. (V)

August 27

• MS volleyball vs. ECA, 4:30 p.m. (B)
• Boys tennis at Fremont, 4:45 p.m. (JV)
• Boys soccer at Lakeland Christian, 5:00 p.m. (JV)
• MS soccer at LaVille, 5:00 p.m. (A)
• Volleyball at Wawasee, 5:30 p.m. (JV)
• MS volleyball vs. ECA, 5:40 p.m. (A)
• Boys tennis at Fremont, 5:45 p.m. (V)
• MS soccer at LaVille, 6:15 p.m. (B)
• Girls soccer vs. Goshen, 6:30 p.m. (V)
• Boys soccer at Lakeland Christian, 6:45 p.m. (V)
• Volleyball at Wawasee, 6:45 p.m. (V)

August 28

• Boys soccer vs. First Baptist, 6:00 p.m. (C)

August 29

• Boys tennis resumes Concord Inv., 9:00 a.m. (V)
• Boys tennis at Jimtown Inv., 9:00 a.m. (JV)
• Volleyball vs. Keystone, 9:00 a.m. (V)
• MS boys soccer vs.Whitko in Lakeland Christian Inv., 9:40 a.m. canceled (A)
• Boys & girls cross country at NorthWood Inv., 10:00 a.m.
• Volleyball: Keystone vs. Hamilton in triangular match at Bethany, 10:10 a.m.
• MS boys soccer vs. Lakeland Christian in Lakeland Christian Inv., 10:20 a.m. canceled (A)
• Volleyball vs. Hamilton, 11:20 a.m. (V)
• MS boys soccer vs. Caston in Lakeland Christian Inv., 11:40 a.m. canceled (A)
• MS boys soccer vs. Lakeview Christian in Lakeland Christian Inv., 12:20 p.m. canceled (A)
• MS boys soccer vs. Manchester in Lakeland Christian Inv., 1:00 p.m. canceled (A)
• MS soccer vs. Trinity, 1:00 p.m. canceled (B)
• Boys soccer at Prairie Heights, 3:00 p.m. (C)
• Girls soccer vs. Elkhart Memorial, 6:30 p.m. (V)

Breaking: 2009 High School Boys Tennis Schedule

NOMINATE FOR ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

A little bit less breaking is required on my part here, since this has been up on the Bethany Christian Tennis blog for about the last two weeks. By way of Benchwarmer Design, the 2009 boys tennis schedule (click to enlarge):