Contest

Hey everyone! I've entered this contest at Artbeads.com:

This is my entry, a jewelry design inspired by a grapes and leaves, tendrils... the whole grape cluster and autumn harvest kind of idea.

I'd absolutely love it if you voted for my piece. You can vote every day between now and December 8th. While you are there, check out some of the other entries. I may post my other favorites if I get the chance.

Grape Cluster Entry

Simply click the sage green "VOTE" button in the top right of the listing to place your vote.

Check out the whole list of entries, there are lots of those and there is no easy way to click through them all.

You could vote every day, five votes per day, up until December 8th.

It feels good to see this kind of response to the first piece I made after I moved, got my new studio set up and got my jewelry making mojo back. I'm very grateful indeed, it's been a loooooonnnng time coming!

Thank You,

-Carmen Rose

Potato Soup

Oh it's been AGES since I made potato soup!

And these potatoes from my CSA turned out to be purple inside plus the white, yellow and sweet ones. 

They're so PRETTY!

With some smoked bacon...  and chicken stock, cream, smoked paprika and fresh rosemary.

Rich and hearty with toasted rosemary bread.

YUM!

Delicious Creating,

-Carmen Rose

Rock On #2

The work on the rocking chair for Charity continues.  When I came back to the project, I wasn't thrilled with it, so I painted over some parts and tried a different approach.  Then I put the next layer of finish on the light areas. 

 It's an interesting process of putting paint on, the taking it back off again.

 It really made the details stand out.

 Time to work on the cushion.

Happy Creating,

-Carmen Rose

Grape Cluster Necklace Press #2

This necklace can now be found on the Artbeads.com Facebook fan page as well as their blog.  They've done a beautiful job presenting it.  I'm really amazed at the response this necklace is getting.  Thank you all so much! 

Here is the text that goes with the photo that I wrote for their blog:
"In recent travels I came across a beautiful leaf that really captured my attention, it was from a merlot grapevine. I immediately wanted to make a jewelry design with a flowing grape cluster with a grape leaf or leaves. When I saw the copper maple leaf on the Artbeads.com website, I hoped I could make it look more merlot than maple. When I added copper curls and chain, and round amethyst and jade beads plus hand made lampwork beads from Artbeads.com for grapes. I made some other round beads from polymer clay to bring out the copper along with the greens and hues of purple. It took a while to structure the piece and I worked into the night, but I am very pleased with how it turned out."

 I have entered this necklace in the "What Inspires You" contest and later on in November they will open up the entries to everyone.  Then you can vote for the design you like the best. 

Happy Creating,
-Carmen Rose

The Buschert-Kelly Award

In 2008, Daniel Buschert and Mikey Kelly went on one of the most impressive runs of dominance that I've ever witnessed as a coach. After losing to Concord in the third match of the season, they ran off a stretch of 17 matches without a loss, including avenging a loss to Concord. They dominated their position, even if it was #2 doubles. So this award is for someone who dominated their position.

This award is rather obvious, as Seth Krabill played #2 singles all season and didn't lose a match. Well, technically didn't win a match. He did have luck on his side. Trailing 1-6, 0-3 at the Merrillville tournament to Valparaiso's #2 singles player, the skies opened up and poured. The tournament was canceled and thus this match never made it into Seth's official record. In the the rest of the season however, he cruised. He defeated other players with great records, including Nathan Brady of Wawasee, Seth Koble of Goshen, and Nate Gotshall of Taylor. Rarely was he challenged, going to three sets only once during the season (and that after having a 5-2 lead in the second set!)

So while I have to give it to Seth for being luckily undefeated, I also have to give this award to Russell Klassen and Blake Shetler. They only lost once all season at #2 doubles, and that was unlucky. My silly brother took his four best players and played them at doubles in our match with Eastern, meaning that Russell and Blake weren't really playing a #2 doubles team when they faced the Comets. Despite that, they took the match to a third set tiebreak before falling in that matchup.

Other than that, they ran roughshod over the competition, in much the same way as Seth. The only match they played together that went to a third set was against State qualifier Valparaiso, and Russell and Blake won it. They also split up some throughout the season and picked up some wins at higher positions, both winning 1 match at #1 doubles.

So, we had some position dominance this year. In basically every match, we won #2 singles and #2 doubles. That was a great advantage that these guys gave us! Congrats on the Buschert-Kelly Award!

Russell Klassen Week

Everybody! Everybody! It's time to celebrate the most successful #2 doubles season ever! That's right, your very own Russell Klassen only dropped one match, while playing against tough competition, including defeating a team that went to the State finals (Valparaiso).

You got it, it's Russell Klassen Week!

My favorite thing...

My favorite thing about Kyle Miller? His dedication and commitment.

Two years ago, in the winter following his sophomore season, Kyle started showing up after school for footwork drills. Footwork drills! He knew his speed was something he needed to work on. He and Austin Loucks were about the only two constant attenders at this after school program, and a season later they teamed at #1 doubles to go 13-7, a record very close to the 15-7 our Sectional champions #1 doubles team had posted the year before.

In the summer before his junior year, Kyle and Seth would come to the courts every single morning to hit before joining me for some awesome P90X in the middle school gym. That's right, every single morning they would show up and work out.

This year, Kyle took his commitment to another level. He not only came to everything, open courts to individual workouts, he began to get others involved. He made sure that Evan was getting his serving in, made sure that Seth was staying dedicated, tried to give rides to those who needed it. He was committed to the program.

These type of leaders cannot be overlooked or overappreciated. Hopefully, some of the leadership and commitment that Kyle showed this year will trickle down to the others that are younger on this team. Kyle's commitment and dedication are the very things that help build a program.

Thanks Kyle!

Rock On

The good folks at Bargain Shop at 1910 West Beverley Street in Staunton sold me two antique rockers, gave me a great deal.  I'm working on this for the Roberta Web Child Care Center fund raiser Rock-a-thon scheduled for mid December.
 

This is the "before" photo:

I got it to the gallery and spent some time with the steel wool roughing up the surface so that the paint would stick.

I started the first coat, and let me tell ya... the guests in the gallery were not rooting for me at this stage.  There were some comments about ruining that old rocker and a little hostility from the purist crowd.  I understand, and on some level agree.  But the finish on this rocker was so bad and the bones so good... I really hoped that my work was not going to be entirely destructive.  But at that stage you just have to trust the process.  (And really, that is the part to do without an audience!)

I had chosen some commercial batiks for the fabric for the cushion and the inspiration for my color scheme came from the fabric.  Plus, I wanted to end up with something that would be the kind of thing I'd enjoy having in my home.  So I started into getting a variety of colors on the rocker. 

There is so much detail work on this rocker that it takes a really really long time to get one coat on it, much less two. 

Finally the second coat was finished:

Ready for a little detail work to bring out the features of the piece.  I blended lots of colors looking to achieve that batik fabric look. 

The gallery closed and I was ready to call it a night, so I had to stop there.  I'll be back soon to finish up the details on this one.  I made a template for the seat, so I don't know when I'll make the cushion but I believe it will bring together the whole project.  Or at least I trust that it will, we shall see.

Rock On,

Carmen Rose 

Rock-a-thon

I have agreed to design a complete makeover for this rocking chair as part of a fund raising effort for local NFP Child Care center.

Each artist will augment a rocker. There will be a rock-a-thon and the rockers will then be sold at auction with all proceeds going to the Roberta Webb Child Care Center.  I already have visions of paint and of course a new textile cushion for the seat.  It will be interesting to see how it all turns out!

Rock on,
Carmen Rose

Grape Cluster Necklace Press

Artbeads.com has posted photos of my Grape Cluster Necklace on their Facebook Fan page and I've just been amazed by the kinds of comments people are posting.

What a blessing, I'm really grateful.

Happy Creating,

-Carmen Rose

The Shenk Award

Okay, so we come to the end of Kyle Miller week today. With that, I'll present him one more award. The Shenk Award. This goes to the player who has come the farthest since their freshman year. The story goes that on his first day of practice, Jonny Shenk showed up with a wooden racket and didn't even know that was going to hold him back. He proceeded to become the most successful #3 singles player we've had in my time, over the course of his junior and senior year.

Kyle started his freshman year as probably the least talented and least committed of all of the seniors. That's not the terrible thing that it sounds, because this senior class was one of the most talented and most committed from the very start. I mean, Ben, Seth, Russell and Kyle all stepped right to the top of the JV their freshman year, and had good records at that.

But still, what I remember was after Kyle's freshman season, I was trying to convince him to work throughout the offseason at tennis, because I had a feeling that this class could do something special. His response to me was blunt and honest, he didn't think he'd be working on tennis because his real sport was baseball.

And I don't really know how hard he worked that offseason. All I know is that after his sophomore year, Kyle had changed his mind, and joined the workouts in the weight room, footwork in the hallways, morning tennis in the gym. He still remained committed to baseball, but he had found that he could be committed to both.

And his game grew. As a sophomore, he had played doubles with Russell, and I had felt that Russell was the stronger partner. As a junior, Kyle played varsity doubles with Austin Loucks (#1 doubles no less!) and Kyle was the stronger partner. They racked up some impressive wins including match clinchers and had a 13-7 record.

But Austin graduated and Kyle was left to find a new partner. He committed again to working on his game, and improved his serve and forehand from his junior season significantly, as well as his ability to put away volleys. He improved dramatically and was in place to be a dominant senior.

For whatever reason, the record didn't work out the way that Kyle had hoped. But this showed his growth all the more. Freshman or sophomore year Kyle would have gone crazy with the losses he suffered during his senior year, he would have blamed it on anybody but himself. He would have complained, wanted his partner switched immediately, sulked until he got his way.

But not senior Kyle. He had grown up into a leader, doing what the team needed most. His game got better, his commitment got better, and he became a leader. A far cry from where he was as a tiny freshman, four long years ago.

Oh, this is FUN!

I've been in the jewelry studio again, this time playing with buttons from my grandmother.

There are a variety of earthy colored buttons in this piece, some chinese jasper and some apple green turquoise accents.

I made polymer clay beads in apple green, pale pink and rich purple. 

Hanging from the vintage buttons are these cool old keys, a washer and a nut with some vintage buttons and the polymer clay beads I made.

I finished up this set with earrings with key and washer, accented with Chinese Jasper and Apple Green Turquoise and a swirled polymer clay bead.

I wore this one to work.  I walked in and one of the guys noticed it right off.  "That's pretty cool" was his response.  This one will get attention anywhere it is worn.

Happy Creating!
-Carmen Rose

The Kauffman Award

The Kauffman Award goes out to our most vocal leader. I've developed a belief over the past several years that every team needs two different types of leaders. They need one leader who takes charge by example. They push hard in all the drills, do what the coach asks, and they inspire others to be like them.

And then every team needs a prophet.

What I mean by that is that they need someone who speaks. Someone who speaks to the team on behalf of the coach. They shout at players who aren't dedicated enough, text people to get their butts to open courts, encourage newcomers that they are getting better. And then on the other end, they speak to the coach on behalf of the team. When practice is going too long, when the drill doesn't seem to have a point, when the team is just dead-dog tired. They speak.

We had a leader like this. It was Kyle Miller. Now, because he spoke up, I'm sure he said his share of stupid things. But he said a lot of leader-like honest things as well. Probably the best example of this was at a Saturday practice in early August, when Seth was leaving early. In the early part of the season, there were some of us on the team questioning Seth's dedication. But Kyle spoke that, loud and clear. Sprinting across the courts he caught up to Seth and let him know that we needed him to be more dedicated.

But there are softer examples of this leadership too. Kyle tried to gently encourage the younger members of the varsity when they struggled. It was Kyle who thought up jokes to tell Nate when Nate would get down on himself. It was Kyle who lead the boisterous conversations on the bus on the way back from matches. It was Kyle who made sure that every body knew when they were supposed to bring the food to the matches. In all of these things, Kyle spoke to the team.

And he spoke to me too. Several times I got late phone calls or texts from Kyle, wondering what we were going to do about people's attitudes at practice, or about our lineup, etc. Kyle cared about the team, and that's why he spoke.

Thanks, Kyle.

Andrew Snyder

2010



#1SJV – Columbia City - Devin Moore (11) – 5-8

#1DJV – Fremont – Seth Wirick (9)/Brandon Miller (10) – 8-6

#1SJV – Concord – Unknown - 4-8

#1SJV – Concord – Unknown - 8-1

#2SJV – Prairie Heights - Justin Clark (9) – 6-0

#1SJV – Triton – Dean Howdeshell (9) – 6-8

#1DJV – Westview – Jonathon Hostetler (11)/Jamar Weaver (9) – 8-9

#1S – Churubusco – Jesse Lich – 7-6 (2), 6-0

#1SJV – Northridge – 9-7

#1SJV – Warsaw (Orange) – Loss

#1SJV – Plymouth - Win

#1DJV – Fairfield – Logan Munn (12)/Austin Beer (12) – 2-8

#1SJV – Bremen – Wes Burkholder (10) – 6-8



JV RECORD: 5-6

VARSITY RECORD: 1-0

Justin Zehr

2011

#4SJV – Northridge – Ben Sheeley (12) – 4-8

#4SJV – Goshen – Andrew Vetter (9) – 6-4

#2DJV – Fremont – Kraig Foley (9)/Tony LaRose (10) – 8-6

#2DJV – Rochester – Wes Gohn (9)/Connor Ulerick (9) – 6-0, 6-1

#2DJV – Concord – Justin Ramsey (10)/Spenser Janichen (9) – 6-1, 6-4

#3DJV – Elkhart Central - Scott Hanberg (9)/Will Riblet (9) – 1-6

#3SJV – Fairfield – Samuel Clayton (10) – 6-4

#3S – Howe – Kyle Harrison (11) – 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (1)

VARSITY RECORD: 1-0

JV RECORD: 5-2

2010
#3DJV – Northridge – Ryan Taylor (9)/James Kristofzski (9) – 3-8
#3DJV – Goshen - Austin Stutzman (9)/Derick Hostetler (9) – 4-8
#3DJV – Columbia City – Austin Funk (11)/Ryan Flauding (11) – 0-6
#3DJV – Fremont – Keith Bookwalter (9)/Derek Fischer (9) – 8-2
#3DJV – Concord – Unknown - 7-8 (5)
#3SJV – Triton – Lucas Shafer (9) – 1-6
#4SJV – Westview - Jake Churney (10) – 4-6
#1DJV – Churubusco – Andrew Biddle/?? – 8-0
#1DJV – NorthWood - Matthew Newman (9)/Greg Perrin (12) – 8-2
#3DJV – LaLumiere – Tommy Yemc (9)/Trevor Wennekes (11) – 3-6
#3DJV – Fairfield - Josh Davis (11)/Drew Cosby (10) – 2-8

JV RECORD: 3-8

Joel Gerig

2011

#1DJV – Northridge – Erik Beck (11)/Michael Eash (11) – 6-8

#1DJV – Goshen – Zach Ganger (9)/David Smucker (9) – 6-2

#2D – Jimtown – Augie Farwig (11)/Jacob Gongwer (10) – 6-4, 6-3

#1D – Concord – Sean Purcell (12)/Michael Eisman (12) – 2-6, 0-6

#2D – Columbia City – Matt Rethlake (12)/Brandon Gay (12) – 2-6, 2-6

#2D – Fremont – Glen McClain (11)/Andrew Smith (12) – 2-6, 2-6

#1SJV – Prairie Heights – Jacob Heller (10) – 3-8

#2DJV – Triton – Austin Sellers (9)/Spencer Glingle (9) – 8-6

#1DJV – Westview - Hunter Christner (??)/Jacob Churney (11) – 9-7

#1DJV – Elkhart Central - Alex Buitendorp (11)/Brian Harter (11) – 5-7

#2DJV – Fremont – 8-0

#2DJV – Angola – Won

#2DJV – Championship Round at Fremont Tourney – Won

#2DJV – Fairfield – Nathan Azzarito (9)/Joseph Line (9) – 5-7

#2DJV – Bremen – Matt Hall (11)/Kevin Woodyard (10) – 6-2

#2D – Howe – Tom Baker (11)/Leo Samara (11) – 7-5, 6-2

VARSITY RECORD: 2-3

JV RECORD: 7-4

2010
#2DJV – Northridge – Michael Eash (10)/Erik Beck (10) – 8-4
#2DJV – Goshen - Philip Bontrager (12)/Matt Buncich (11) – 7-9
#4DJV – Goshen - Jorge Hernandez-Walton (11)/Noah Shreiner (9) – 6-0
#2DJV – Columbia City – Blake Fearnow (9)/Dalton Van Houten (9) – 8-7 (13)
#4SJV – Fremont – Jake Bryant (10) – 0-8
#2DJV – Concord – Unknown - 2-8
#3DJV – Concord – Unknown - 6-2
#3DJV – Triton - Chase Eyrich (9)/Aaron Stevens (10) – 6-1
#3DJV – Westview – Hunter Christner (9)/Josh Richardson (10) – 2-6
#1DJV – Churubusco – Andrew Biddle/?? – 8-0
#1DJV – NorthWood - Matthew Newman (9)/Greg Perrin (12) – 8-2
#3DJV – LaLumiere – Tommy Yemc (9)/Trevor Wennekes (11) – 3-6
#2DJV – Fairfield - Matt Yoder (10)/Marcus Rodes (9) – 1-8
#4SJV – Goshen – 6-1
#4DJV – Fairfield - Connor Hochstetler (10)/Samuel Clayton (9) – 8-5
#2DJV – Bremen - Nate Strehler (10)/Joe Zeltwanger (10) – 2-8

JV RECORD: 9-7

Parth Patel

2011

#2D – Northridge – Connor Cameron (12)/Byron Slabach (11) – 0-6, 4-6

#2D – Goshen – Matt Buncich (12)/Austin Stutzman (10) – 3-6, 2-6

#2D – Rochester – Justin Schroder (9)/Andy Feldman (9) – 6-4, 6-0

#2D – Jimtown – Augie Farwig (11)/Jacob Gongwer (10) – 6-4, 6-3

#2D – Concord – T Cunningham (11)/Tony Fenech (10) – 0-6, 1-6

#2D – Columbia City – Matt Rethlake (12)/Brandon Gay (12) – 2-6, 2-6

#2D – Fremont – Glen McClain (11)/Andrew Smith (12) – 2-6, 2-6

#2D – Laville – Chris Nicodemus (10)/Adam Baker (9) – 6-0, 6-0

#2D – Prairie Heights – Braxton Elliot (10)/John Sloan (10) – 6-2, 6-4

#2D – Triton – Wil Rettinger (12)/Jackson Downing (12) – 6-7 (2), 3-6

#2D – Westview – Jamar Weaver (?)/Jonathan Hostetler (12) – 2-6, 2-6

#2D – Elkhart Central – Riley Futterknecht (11)/Alex Moon (11) – 6-3, 6-7 (2), 1-6

#1D – Centerville – Brady Wagenknecht (9)/Kaler Nicholson (10) – 1-6, 0-6

#1D – Lowell – Ryan Wieser (12)/Ben Roesel (9) – 1-6, 1-6

#1D – Fairfield – Jordan Hochstetler (11)/Dillon Lockwood (11) – 0-6, 0-6

#2D - Bremen – Joe Zeltwanger (11)/Nate Strehler (11) – 3-6, 2-6

#2D – NorthWood – Shawn Stahley (12)/Austin Sanders (10) – 3-6, 6-3, 2-2

#2D - Fairfield - Loss

VARSITY RECORD: 4-11-1

2010
#1SJV – Northridge – Byron Slabach (10) – 0-8
#4SJV – Northridge – Clay Schell (9) – 1-8
#1DJV – Goshen - Sylas Buller (10)/Sam Stegelmann (10) – 2-8
#2SJV – Columbia City – Ryan Flauding (11) – 2-8
#2DJV – Fremont – Cole Trombley (9)/Collin Sherburne (9) – 8-3
#2SJV – Concord – Unknown - 8-5
#2SJV – Concord – Unknown - 2-8
#3S – Laville – Grant Frick (11) – 6-3, 6-2
#2SJV – Triton – Lucas Shafer (9) – 4-8
#1SJV – Westview - Brett Yoder (9) – 2-8
#2S – Churubusco – Brandon Wormcastle – 6-3, 6-3
#2SJV – NorthWood – Riley Smith (9) – 8-5
#2SJV – LaLumiere – Dereck Luo (12) – 6-1
#2SJV – Plymouth – Loss
#2SJV – Northridge – Loss
#2SJV – Goshen - Win
#1SJV – Fairfield -Dillon Lockwood (10) – 0-8
#4DJV – Fairfield - Connor Hochstetler (10)/Samuel Clayton (9) – 8-5
#2SJV – Bremen – Tyler LaFlash (9) – 8-5
#1DJV – Tippecanoe Valley – Austin Murphy (12)/Seth Fincher (12) – 8-3

JV RECORD: 8-10
VARSITY RECORD: 2-0

Abe Thorne

2011

#1D – Northridge - Alex Radelich (12)/Andrew Gingerich (11) – 1-6, 0-6

#1D – Goshen – Sam Stegelmann (10)/Sylas Buller (10) – 0-6, 3-6

#1D – Rochester – Brant Eytcheson (10)/Alec Gehrich (10) – 6-1, 6-3

#1D – Jimtown – Cole Peterson  (11)/Austin Ward (11) – 6-7 (2), 7-6 (4), (16-14)

#2D – Concord – T Cunningham (11)/Tony Fenech (10) – 0-6, 1-6

#1D – Columbia City – Ryan Flauding (12)/Dalton VanHouten (10) – 7-6 (5), 7-6 (2)

#1D – Fremont – Tyler Jenkins (11)/Jake Bryant (11) – 2-6, 0-6

#3S – Laville – Won by default

#3S – Prairie Heights – Justin Clark (10) – 6-1, 6-1

#1D – Triton – Austin Kanarr (12)/Josh Shafer (12) – 3-6, 1-6

#1D – Westview – Nic Hostetler (12)/Devin Bontrager (12) – 2-6, 0-6

#1D – Elkhart Central – Mitch Hanberg (12)/Austin Sellers (12) – 1-6, 0-6

#2D – Lowell – Johnny Goodrich (12)/Delner Fleming (10) – 6-2, 6-7 (9), (10-2)

#2D – Triton – Wil Rettinger (12)/Jackson Downing (12) – 5-7, 1-6

#2D – Highland – Nick Lindsey (12)/Tyler Porter (11) – 2-6, 5-7

#3S – Fairfield – Landon Knepp (11) – 1-6, 0-6

#1D – Bremen – Austin Huff (12)/TJ Bayer (12) – 2-6, 6-1, 3-6

#1D – Taylor – Cameron Clark (12)/Drew Hansen (11) – 3-6, 0-6

#1D – NorthWood – Jayson Linhart (12)/Ben Zercher (12) – 3-6, 5-7

#1D - Fairfield - Loss

VARSITY RECORD: 6-14

2010
#1DJV – Northridge – Connor Cameron (11)/Andrew Gingerich (10) – 4-8
#1DJV – Goshen - Sylas Buller (10)/Sam Stegelmann (10) – 2-8
#3SJV – Columbia City – Clayton Verberkmoes (12) – 8-1
#1SJV – Fremont – Jake Bryant (10) – 5-8
#1DJV – Jimtown – 8-4
#1DJV – Concord – Unknown – 1-8
#1SJV – Laville – Hunter Horvath (11) – 8-0
#2SJV – Laville – Andrew Hullinger (9) – 8-0
#1DJV – Triton - Darrin Harrell (9)/Jack Oldham (9) – 6-8
#2SJV – Westview - Jake Churney (10) – 8-4
#1D – Churubusco - Grant Stephan/Caleb Bonar – 6-1, 7-6
#3SJV – NorthWood – Abe Robinson (10) – 8-9 (4)
#1DJV – LaLumiere – Gavin O’Brien (10)/Alex Friedman (10) – 2-6
#1DJV – Warsaw (Black) – 6-8
#1DJV – Warsaw (Orange) – Loss
#1DJV – 7th Place Match - Win
#2SJV – Fairfield - Landon Knepp (10) – 2-8
#3SJV – Bremen – Wes Burkholder (10) – 0-3 (WIN)
#1DJV – Tippecanoe Valley – Kyle Alexander (11)/Trey Peterson (9) – 8-5

JV RECORD: 8-10
VARSITY RECORD: 1-0

Nate Brendle

Career Records
Most Wins in a Season: 16 (2010)
Farthest Advanced in State Tourney: Team Sectionals
Longest Winning Streak: 7 matches
Most Sets Won in a Row: 14 sets
Biggest Win: 6-0, 6-1; v. Austin Schlabach (Westview), Brandt Eytcheson (Rochester)
Closest Win: 6-7 (5), 6-4, (10-7); v. Austin Chase (Eastern)
Career Tiebreakers Won: 5
Career Tiebreakers Won Percentage: 45.5%
Career 3rd Sets Won: 4
Season 3rd Sets Won: 3
Career Games Won Percentage:
Season Games Won Percentage: 
Career 3rd Sets Won Percentage: 57.1%
Matches Won in a Row w/ a 6-0 Set: 2
Matches Won 1st Varsity Season: 16 (2010)

2011: 14-6

#1S – Northridge – Chris Robbins (11) – 7-5, 6-4

#1S – Goshen – Eli Metzler-Prieb (12) – 6-3, 6-3

#1S – Rochester - Aaron Stuart (12) – 6-3, 6-0

#1S – Jimtown – Brett Aller (11) – 7-6 (2), 6-1

#1S – Concord – Jason Denton (12) – 2-6, 6-7 (6)

#1S – Columbia City – Derek Hinen (11) – 2-6, 6-1, 4-6

#1S – Fremont – Matt Hoff (12) – 6-7 (2), 7-6 (7), 5-7

#1D – Laville – Blade Masterson (12)/Keanon Clemons (9) – 6-0, 6-2

#1D – Prairie Heights - Nico Accomando (11)/Drew Vice (11) – 6-0, 6-1

#1S – Triton – Jeff Ross (11) – 6-1, 6-3

#1S – Westview – Austin Schlabach (12) – 6-1, 6-0

#1S – Elkhart Central – Nic Burton (11) – 6-2, 6-3

#1S – Wawasee – Kyler Love (10) – 6-1, 6-0

#1S – Centerville – Eric Josephson (11) – 6-3, 6-4

#1S – Merrillville – Leonard Mathews (12) – 0-6, 1-6

#1S – Fairfield – Josh Mullet (12) – 7-6 (4), 0-6, 1-6

#1S – Bremen – Briley Bollenbacher (12) – 6-3, 6-2

#1S – NorthWood – Brennan Angle (11) – 6-3, 6-2

#1S – Jimtown – Dan Gongwer (11) – 6-2, 6-4

#1S – Fairfield – Josh Mullet (12) – 3-6, 0-6

2010: 16 -6
#3S – Northridge – Josh Garfein (9) – 6-3, 7-5
#3S – Goshen – Adam Bratten (10) – 6-4, 6-4
#3S – Mishawaka – Jon Dickerson (10) – 6-2, 6-1
#3S – Columbia City – Derek Hinen (10) – 3-6, 3-6
#3S – Fremont – Matt Wilcox (11) – 4-6, 6-1, 6-3
#3S – Rochester – Brandt Eytcheson (9) – 6-0, 6-1
#3S – Jimtown – Chris Raderstorf (10) – 6-1, 6-1
#3S – Concord – Matt Kotva (10) – 4-6, 6-3, (14-12)
#2S – Prairie Heights – Brad Hughes (12) – 6-3, 6-2
#2S – Triton – Pete Kauffman (10) – 2-6, 1-6
#3S – Westview - Kohle Christner (9) – 6-2, 6-1
#3S – NorthWood – Shawn Stahley – 6-0, 6-2
#3S – LaLumiere – Benz Culbertson (10) – 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
#3S – Lowell – Johnny Goodrich (11) – 6-3, 6-1
#3S – Fairfield – Malachi Randolph (12) – 3-6, 2-6
#3S – Bremen – Ty Holmes (12) – 6-3, 6-2
#3S – Taylor – Logan Barnes (10) – 6-2, 6-7 (2), (4-10)
#3S – Wabash – Logan Hettmansperger (12) – 6-7 (5), 3-6
#3S – Eastern – Austin Chase (9) – 6-7 (5), 6-4, (10-7)
#3S – Tippecanoe Valley – Alex Newman (11) – 6-1, 6-3
#3S – Goshen – Eli Metzler-Prieb (11) – 6-4, 6-4
#3S – Fairfield – Malachi Randolph (12) – 2-6, 4-6

RECORD: 16-6

2009
JV for Northridge, went 16-2.

The Clincher Award

A rule of blogging: Don't be late with posts, keep the material flowing.
A second rule of blogging: If you are late, don't apologize, just get back to it.
So, sorry (:-) for the delay, we'll even extend Kyle Miller Week because he hasn't gotten his fair shake yet...

Today's award is "The Clincher Award" which goes to the person who clinches the most matches for us. To clinch a match means to win the third point for the team, meaning that no matter what happens in matches that are not finished, we've won the match.

Whenever someone gets the all important third win, I finally start to relax at a match. I don't stop coaching, but the coaching can then feel like it is really focused on helping people get better rather than just trying to find a way to win their match. In a team sport, which tennis is in a really weird way, the team win is important. So this award recognizes the person who put me at ease the most during the season.

Sometimes, the third win can come in dramatic fashion. For example, the team score is tied 2-2 and the clincher is the last one left on the court. Winner takes all for themself and for their team. But sometimes, the clinches come much easy, like the team is up 2-0 and winning all three remaining matches and it is just a matter of time before one of the remaining spots seals the deal.

Regardless of how it happened, no one clinched more matches this year than Nate Brendle. Playing #3 singles for most of the season, Nate clinched 6 matches for us. Probably the most important was the first match of the season, where Nate won his match against the Northridge Raiders, this year's Regional runner's up, to give us a 3-1 lead over them and a guaranteed win no matter how #1 doubles finished up. It was a good thing too, as #1 doubles lost in a third set.

But Nate had other dramatic clinches as well. At the Wabash tournament, playing my brother's team (Eastern), Nate was the last match on the court with the team score tied at 2-2. And he was down 1-4 in the second set after losing the first. In convincing fashion, Nate dominated the next 5 games to win the second set before cruising through a 10-point tiebreak to seal the match, and the tournament for the Bruins.

The other clinches were less dramatic, but those were 2 of our closest 3 matches of the season, and Nate was the finisher in all of them. That seems like a good nickname for Nate actually: "The Finisher." I wonder if it will stick?
In honor of Kyle Miller week, I would be remiss if I didn't mention his finishing skills. In 2009, when I didn't award this award, Kyle Miller and Austin Loucks would have certainly won it. They had their fair share of dramatics, beating Jimtown in 3 sets and Triton in a 3rd set tiebreak (!) both to seal team wins. In tight situations, Kyle has been known to get himself energized and pull through. It's a characteristic that I hope gets passed on to his teammates.