All Time Record vs. Fairfield: 4-12Classic Matches:
2007; Bethany Christian 3, Fairfield 2
One of my favorite matches ever, as we turned a 5-0 loss into a 3-2 win only ten days later. We were able to play to our potential at #2 doubles, and took a two set win there. Buoyed by that win, Luke Hostetter and Jonny Shenk completed stunning three set comebacks to seal an unbelievable win.
2008; Bethany Christian 3, Fairfield 2
And in 2008, the Falcons almost did it to us. We won the regular season match 5-0, and then marched into the Sectionals (overconfident?) They were able to take #1 doubles and #3 singles, and held a 5-2 third set lead in #2 doubles before Mikey and Daniel had the most important comeback in my coaching career, roaring back to take the last set in a tiebreaker.
Top Players over the Years: Marc Stutzman, Justin Klase, Kyle Carrick, Brian Miller, Eric Miller, Anthony Miller, Kyle Miller, David Stutzman, Weston Bontrager, Wyatt Stutzman, Derek Troeger, Josh Beck
Last Season Result: Fairfield 4, Bethany Christian 1; Fairfield 4, Bethany Christian 1 - Sectional
Returning Varsity Players:
#1S - Wyatt Stutzman (beat Seth Krabill; 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 & 6-4, 6-2)
#2S - Malachi Randolph (lost to Ben Mast; 2-6, 0-6 & 3-6, 1-6)
#3S - Brad Shipley (beat Blake Shetler; 6-1, 6-2 & 6-2, 6-1)
Top Returning JV Players:
Josh Mullett (beat Matt Ebersole; 8-4)
Nate Kropf (beat Ike Lehman; 8-2)
Jordan Hochstetler (beat Ryan Minter; 8-2)
Josh Ketcham/Logan Munn (beat Claude Stickler/Misha Rebec; 8-5)
Austin Beer/Jake Walter (beat Jake Gerig/Evan Grimes)
Outlook:
Our intense Sectional matches over the last three years have come to make this a real rivalry. Like all true rivalries, I envy the success that Coach Filbrun has brought to their program year after year. It is what we are striving for. In our striving, we have to take them down in order to win the Sectional. The Falcons may be one of the best teams we will play next year. Their doubles will be a bit in flux, and much of our success against them will depend on the lower part of our lineup. Can we challenge them at #3 singles? Can we pull out both of the doubles victories? These are the tense questions going into next season, the ones that should be making us work. This is the match that we practice for, this is the match that we have to have. And it won't be easy.