Each tournament gets progressively more challenging, and we met some tough teams today. I continually want more out of all of you, but you are improving quickly.
Doubles Players: The energy level today was light years ahead of where we were at the WO Invite. We are serving and volleying better as well. Our snipers are getting more confident at the net, and are providing good cover for the guys charging forward. I see you finding ways to communicate with your partners. Singles Players: You are continuing to grow as players. I'm starting to see you developing solid game plans. It's becoming easier for me to watch you and know exactly what you are trying to accomplish. My challenge for you is to take complete ownership of your on-court demeanor. Every part of you needs to say that you will not allow yourself to be beaten. Practice Tuesday-Thursday will be held from 9-noon. Be ready to work hard
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VARSITY Well done today. Our Varsity tied Birmingham Groves for 1st Place. Go to "Results / Photos" under the Mens Varsity tab to see complete results, as well as photos of the boys in action. Singles: Another solid performance. Lot's of intensity during the matches, and some quality wins. The singles players at the invite were tougher, and I feel we stepped up. Be ready to step up again on Monday, because each tournament should get progressively more challenging. Doubles: Intensity was not lacking today. From all four flights, I'm beginning to see the kind of positive emotion I want in doubles teams. We finished the day strong. We were definitely the highest energy team at the event. On Monday at Okemos, I expect to see you START the day strong, and keep riding that high all afternoon. We haven't really gotten off to energetic starts in either tournament, and this needs to change. At regionals, a slow start means your day is over. The next few tournaments will give us a chance to improve on this. Parents: I feel like you really brought your "A-game" today. The food rocked, and was probably a huge reason our boys had so much intensity in the 2nd and 3rd rounds today. Also, you really kicked it into gear with the photos. Hopefully everyone checks them out!!! OKEMOS INFORMATION Players, be ready to leave from transportation at 6:00 AM, which means be there a few minutes early. I will drive a van, and Mrs. Ballard will drive the other. Mr. Ballard has offered to drive additional players, so we should be set there as well. LIKE THIS ON FACEBOOK You may notice that for the first time ever, there's a button under this blog where you can "like" us on Facebook. Please do this, so everyone can see the sweet pictures/results from your day!!! JUNIOR VARSITY WINS MONA SHORES INVITATIONAL
Congrats to the Junior Varsity team on winning the Mona Shores Invite today. However, the real accomplishment is that we tied Forest Hills Northern for the win. In my 6 years coaching at West Ottawa, this is the first time our JV has ever played FHN to a draw or better. They are generally recognized as the Premier JV program in West Michigan, and perhaps that won't be the case for much longer. This is a product of the increased commitment so many of our players made last off-season. Players must arrive no later than 8:00 AM. Play will begin at 8:30 AM.
Coach Dan's Expectations for Singles Players: I need to see you making improvements and show a consistent effort to become a smarter tennis player. The things we worked on in practice will translate to match situations. Coach Pete's Expectations for Doubles Players: I'm looking for two things. First players will hit "body volleys". Your whole body will move in the direction you wish your shot to go. Second, you will play with greater intensity than you did at the West Ottawa Invite. We have 8 doubles players, and one of them is playing with proper State Finals intensity. If I can get two or three of you to that point by the end of the weekend, that would be good. Try to be one of those people. Note for Parents: Coach Dan will not be able to drive this year. Although he has zero points on his license, a speeding ticket in 2009 prohibits him from driving a van. We need a driver ASAP for Monday. If you can, please text me and quell my worries. Well done on our first tournament victory this year. Special kudos to our singles lineup in taking 1st at every flight. Doubles improved steadily throughout the day. If we are going to take things from the tournament, it should be that
a) We are good, and b) We all need to improve (hopefully this is the part we focus on the most) Also, it became clear to me today that Harsh Sehgal must be named a captain of this team. Anyone who has been around me long enough knows what I'm looking for with regards to intensity from my doubles players. Harsh brought State Finals intensity to the very first tournament of our season. You will no longer hear me asking players to display Reid-like intensity. Someone new has stepped up, and from now on, I want our team to have Harsh-like intensity!!!!! Complete results can be found under under "Mens Varsity", then click on "Results/Photos". Parents/players, please send photos to me, sooner than later. Nothing gets people on the website more frequently than awesome shots of our boys in action. PARENT REMINDERS: 1. THE HOLLAND CHRISTIAN INVITATIONAL IS MOVED TO THIS SATURDAY...NOT TUESDAY!!!! I have no idea why the schedule was wrong, and was shocked to hear from Coach Knoester that it's in two days. If this conflicts with any planned events this weekend that you are unable to get out of, contact me and we'll figure out a plan. 2. We will be staying at the Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest for the Ann Arbor trip. Thanks for all coming to the meeting tonight. This is the first year I've ever had every single player attend, or let me know with a valid reason if they couldn't attend. When I see how committed the kids have been since the banquet last year, it doesn't really surprise me though. I'd just like to remind everyone to do the following:
1. Please check the site each day. Things happen and plans change. This is a way to keep us all on the same page. 2. Check your schedule for snacks/boosters, etc. 3. Enjoy the season. It goes fast. We'll be at the banquet before we realize it. I hope to see you all out at the West Ottawa Invitational tomorrow if the weather is nice. JV players are encouraged to get out there and see what the next level looks like. If you are in K-8th Grade, go to WOcademy for summer tennis information.
If you are in 7th-12th grade CLICK HERE for summer tennis information. (That's right, Middle-Schoolers have lots of choices, so take advantage of that.) Players/Parents,
Well, it took a lot of hard work from the girls, and then it took contesting the score with the MHSAA, but we have officially reached our goal of a top-10 finish!! CLICK HERE for complete results. (The MHSAA has acknowledged that the tournament was mis-scored, but the changes have not yet been made on the MHSAA site. So, yes we really did take 10th!) To say that I'm proud of how the girls performed would be a huge understatement. Thanks parents for all the great food you brought, but mostly for all the support you gave the girls. EVERY girl on the team had at least one parent come and cheer them on. To me that's just as impressive as a top-ten finish...great job parents! Here's a few things you can do for me: 1. YEAR-END BANQUET - It's Tuesday, don't forget. ALL JV AND VARSITY PARENTS AND PLAYERS ARE EXPECTED: CLICK FOR DETAILS 2. Keep sending me pictures you took at the State finals! my email is [email protected]. I want to get pictures of everyone playing so we can look back on them in the future! 3. Players, talk with your parents about what summer tennis will look like for you. The way I see it, Conference and Regional titles are won in the off-season. The season is just when you collect the trophies. After years of coming close, we have finally overtaken all of the teams in the OK-Red...let's not give up our lead!!! Players/Parents,
CLICK HERE FOR STATE FINALS DRAWS Many of you are new to the whole State Finals experience, so here's a summary of what the Trip is going to look like: Thursday, May 31 10am - Players are dismissed from school to the Athletic Office. The Athletic Staff will give the girls a brief send-off. It's common for a couple parents to come to the send-off, but it's no big deal either way. We will get subway on the way to Midland. 1:30ish PM - Arrive at Midland Community Tennis Center for a brief hit. 3:00ish PM - Arrive at the Midland Holiday Inn. (School will cover the girls room cost for the trip) Dinner - Around dinner time we will go to the mall, hang out, and eat dinner at Ruby Tuesdays. (School will cover this dinner as well). Evening - We'll have a brief meeting in one of the hotel rooms to get pumped up for the morning, then head to bed. Friday, June 1 7:00am Warmup at Midland Community Tennis Center 8:00am Player meeting 8:30am Play begins At this point we will play for as long as there are girls still in the event! The State Finals is a 4 or 5 round tournament, depending on whether or not your first round is a bye. If any flight makes it to the Semi-Finals, then we all stay another night and finish on Saturday. This is my 10th trip to the State Finals with West Ottawa. There have been 2 times where our teams have made it to Saturday. If any of our girls make it to the finals, the match will have a chair umpire like you see on TV! - If we are out on Friday, we will get home very late on Friday...maybe midnightish, but it's impossible to say? - If we make it to Saturday, then we will get home in the afternoon or early evening. Regarding our chances, I've found teams at the State Finals can generally be put into three groups: Group 1 - Teams can viably win the State Title each year (4-5 schools). These teams get seeds at nearly every flight. Group 2 - Teams that everyone expects to be at the State Finals each year (7-8 schools). These teams try to get a top ten finish. Occasionally they will earn a seed or two, but they are capable of beating seeded teams either way. Group 3 - Teams that qualified out of a weak region, or teams that don't typically make it to States, but had an unusually good year (3-4 varying schools each year). West Ottawa is a part of Group 2. The strong programs on the East side of the State respect us and expect to see us at the tournament each year. They would prefer not draw us in the first round, because they've seen us beat them in the past. The Draw for the tournament will be published on the MHSAA website. When it's out, I'll try to attach it to the blog. Just don't get too obsessed with the draw. WHO we play isn't nearly as important as HOW we play. Hopefully this clarifies a few things. Write a comment if you have a question, because I bet others have the same question. -Coach Schwallier Monday, 21st - No Practice
Tuesday, 22nd - Practice Wednesday, 23rd - Most likely Scrimmage with Holland Christian (location not yet set) Thursday, 24th - Practice Friday, 25th - No Practice |
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