Article Contributed on: 8/30/2007 7:46:20 PM
EHS Tennis Fans-
Tonight my venture as Coach of the Boys'Evergreen HS team has begun with a successful team scrimmage against Mt. Vista. We had the opportunity to host this team from Highlands Ranch whose Head Coach is a former student of mine who has gone on to have a great run as a player and now coach! What a treat to see him after so many years!
But even better was watching our rock solid singles players take it to Mt. Vista. We came out strong with three wins out of three singles matches.
Number 1 singles player
Greer Chaldekas has not been cleared as of yet to compete at singles therefore, we put him in at #3 doubles to fill in for Alex Yearsley after the first set. So at #1 singles we had
Henry "Henré" Broeren who took out their #1 in straight sets 6-2, 6-3. When Henré simplifies his game he is a lot to contend with for anyone! My job is to let his game do the talking and not his head! He did a GREAT job!
At #2
Kurt Dieter weathered the storm of his opponent's monster returns. Kurt just had too many weapons for his opponent to deal with. Today was the beginning of the Kurt transformation to 'Elite' player. We'll take it one step at a time and keep pushing his skill sets, as he has such a high ceiling and he's just started achieving technical growth.
At #3 we've got our rock -
Andrew "the ROCK" Karras. I felt for his opponent the minute they walked out to the court. Andrew could easily have ended up at #2 singles. What a battle those three (Henry, Kurt & Andrew) had during challenges! They just kept cannibalizing each other until Kurt was able to fight his way back into singles (the kid has got heart). I told Andrew the difference was match play experience. After that challenge session between our singles players, the last person I'd want to be is the kid Andrew played tonight! Andrew was completely dominant in an EHS 6-2, 6-2 victory. Now it's on to doubles for our ROCK.
We have spent so much time these past two weeks in getting our challenge matches in and for me to see what we've got in our talent pool. Unfortunately, I didn't get to start working on doubles until last Wednesday. Doubles is an art and they'll soon become Picasso's. Let's hope their art will result in some W's!
#1 Doubles had
Rock Wagner who fought through our team to finish impressively at the V1 five spot. The kid has got game! Rock will grow into an athlete who is going to bring that game to the doubles table. Confidence and experience is just around thecorner. I love seeing the underclassmen fight to the top. Rock, a sophomore, did that during the singles challenges. Once we get that in his doubles game he'll be ready for anybody.
Partnering with Rock today was
Chris Lemasters who is one of our V1 alternates. Lemasters and
Jake Burke are pure athletes and their game will transform right before your eyes! Tonight they where up against it and couldn't quite put it together against a very tough doubles tandem. In fact, Mt. Vista is a Doubles juggernaut! Their number 20 player is probably as good as their number 4!
#2 Doubs of a talented freshman! Peter Hassinger and our teams intensity -
Sam Dekoven began their run as a doubles team. These guys have all the tools to create something special. It will only take a little bit of positioning and shot selection improvement to get these guys rollin'. Tonight they simply came up a couple games short in a 6-4, 7-5 loss, but I don't think the guys they played tonight knew how to miss a shot! They were right there and two weeks from now our guys would beat these two 6-1, 6-1!
Isaac Manobla and
Alex Yearsley started our #3 doubles match. Alex had to leave after almost one set of play because of his impressive acumen of the knowledge of math. That knowledge has put him in a CU - Denver Calculus 3 course.
Remember everyone that tennis players hold the highest median GPA of all athletes of all sports! We were unfortunately unable to finish this match due to weather. Although we were well on the way to a win as our #1 singles player Greer jumped in to start getting some exposure to point play before we play Golden and Aspen at home on Aug. 30 and 31 respectively. I simply will chalk this one up to a win! Considering all the work these guys have given me, that sounds good to me. Good job guys, but you'll have to earn the rest of your wins!
Adam Wilhelm and
Forrest Cox lost at the 4 spot 6-3, 6-3, but these two just might have the most upside potential if they can figure it out and then each other. There is definitely talent in those racquets! Forrest's footwork was a coach's dream. I was completely impressed and I wish every one of my guys could step up that way! Even in a loss - he came out as a complete winner! Adam "Hands" Wilhelm can volley. He's just got to "let the dogs out" and he'll be just fine. I think these two can beat anybody on any given day if they can learn to believe it.
Anyway, thanks to all those who came to watch and who support our program. We promise that as a team we will always leave it out there. We don't like losing, but we certainly will not be afraid of it! We are going to compete and we will compete hard. I believe that's all anyone can truly ask.
Coach
Adrian Games, USPTA Professional One
Evergreen Fitness & Tennis Center
Director of Tennis
USPTA Intermountain President
USPTA Executive Committee
EHS High School Tennis Coach