We Ended On A High Note! We Finished Our '13 Tennis Season at 13-9. *update 6/3/13 - State Singles Tourney Results & Link @ End*

 

We did get one piece of press,  moreover, I felt strongly that this was a very good story which you guys just wrote yourselves.  Three wins over the two previous seasons, then your a  South Group 1 semi-finalist this season.  If that isn't a feel good story then I don't know what one is.  We tried to get more, by contacting the Inquirer and Courier Post.   Our story next season could be one they can't ignore, and I assure you it will be in both papers, if we make the Sectional Title match. 

  You have the very realistic opportunity to make history for your tennis program.  Like I said a few weeks ago, after hearing that your girls tennis team could and should play for that same sectional title next season.  Imagine if you could bookend the 2013-2014 school year with a boys title in the Spring to go with a girls NJSIAA South Group 1 sectional title in the Fall.  If this happens, both teams would have made that special trip on an equally special day to Mercer County Park, to play for a state championship. 

 I want you all to be able to experience that moment, but now you have to individually put the effort in, starting now, to assure that happening.  Ryan will be up there this weekend competing in the state singles tourney, so he'll get the first taste of the experience and I hope report back to us what he observed and felt.   I know you, this Audubon boys tennis team can make that history happen, and then be able to tell one heck of a story, that will no doubt find its way into those two same newspapers.    You can see the blurb below at this link.  http://blog.nj.com/southjerseyhssports/2013/05/boys_tennis_notebook_south_jer.html

RIDING THE WAVE: Audubon has 10 wins on the season and reached the South Jersey Group I semifinal using a lineup that includes many players who were part of a winless season two years ago.
Contact Bill Evans at 856-686-3636 or bevans@southjerseymedia.com

This post with pictures included, which I cut and pasted below, is from my Paul VI tennis blog.  The story has many similarities as our 2013 story.  I put it here as a reminder of the power of writing down and or vocalizing a goal.  My goal for our tennis team, at the start of the season, was to win two playoff matches, wherein winning both would have you arrive at a NJSIAA Group 1 Semi-Final match.  You heard me voice this goal during  a meeting in coach's classroom, well before the start of the season. We did just that, and in the story below the same thing happened.  In both instances a team goal was identified and then accomplished.

I also set similar playoff goals for my PVI boys team and they were successfully reached 2 out of my 3 seasons as head boys tennis coach.   I had learned about the importance of writing down pre-season team goals from many books and articles on coaching, but I now firmly believe that there was great power in identifying a reasonable team goal and then continue to remind the team and its members of such.   I hope each one of you who will be on the team next season will now identify individual goals, with  your improvement over the summer in mind.  (ex-grip change)  The summer is the most important time for you to improve.

The goal next season is for our team to play in the finals, for a South Jersey Sectional title.  We made it to the semi-finals this season, so this is a more than reasonable goal.  You could be the first boys tennis team, since the 1940s from what I have been told, to win a sectional crown.   Finishing strong is what we did this season, wherein how much time you sacrifice to improve your tennis game over the summer and then in the fall and winter, when I know it will be tougher to find the time,  will ultimately determine if you win that sectional title match. 

My first experience coaching an actual team was in '07 when I filled in for Mrs Smith who was taking the fall off due to the birth of her second child. I was skeptical at first, as I was only going to be there a season, and wondered how much I could really get accomplished in 4 months. So knowing that, and then taking the job and responsibility of a team, I jumped in with gusto. I knew I had to work hard and fast, with purpose, if my time there was to mean anything for the future.

This was my first note(see below), before emails or blogs, that I ever wrote to some of the members on the team at the end of the '07 season. I used to photo copy articles back then, and give them to the team once a week. The Heights AD Joe Cramp, always looked at me funny as I sat in his office burning through his printer ink. Mr Eppright, the boys soccer coach, was equally annoyed, as all he wanted to do was make a few copies.

Anyway the girls and I had our ups and downs, as some of you may imagine. I was only doing what I thought and know to be right, even if they didn't see it at the time. I'm doing it the same way right here and right now. I wanted to make tennis a bit more relevant to them. I wanted them come to practice everyday and work hard, even if some had taken different paths to get to tennis. I knew tennis may not have been their first choice, or first sport.

I established a goal of making the playoffs in '07, which we did and won a round. I hoped that would help them start to see the sport of tennis as desirable thus could be a fulfilling conduit toward team and individual goals. I wanted their hearts in the sport, with me knowing that they could have a skill and experience that was worth more than I could clearly show them at that moment.

The honest truth is that these girls had more heart and determination than I initially gave them credit for. I thought they had some, but like you guys at times, I would leave practice thinking that they may not had thought the experience that useful or meaningful. I kept at it and tried to motivate them by various means. By the end of that season I began to see that heart and determination come out on the court. I could start to see some confidence being projected and a little brashness, which I hope would rub off from me to them. It was the last match against Audubon, a match we lost earlier that season. They were starting to believe, so I decided I needed to set a goal for them to work towards next year, as the baton was going to be passed back to Mrs. Smith.

I penned the short letter and gave it to Jackie, Gina, Alex and Kara, at the season's end Colonial Conference tournament. The letter references a Courier Post article that details all the high school tennis teams vying for South Jersey Sectional Championships, that fall of '07. The article isn't included here.


This was the last time I had the privilege of calling myself their coach. I gave the letter to them along with a three ring binder, that they would put the accumulation of the season's 'tennis articles' in, which I had them bring that day. The binder could protect them for the future. I was really curious to see who had actually saved them and who had not or used them as scrap paper. Each one had saved all their articles, which was impressive.

They are a very special group of young ladies, that I will never forget. They truly taught me more than I ever taught them. I just lit a little spark. I fanned that spark in various ways till my last moment there. The next year, as you'll read in the Philadelphia Inquirer article here, they carried the torch the hard final leg, in the clutch as the underdog. They upset the #2 seed Haddon Township at their place, as such was a big obstacle for them the previous year.

I remember quickly exiting after they won the match, leaving them and their coach to celebrate. I was so excited, running away from the courts and down the street, that I forgot where I parked my car. They then won their semi-final match 4 days latter at Middle Township. They finished their run against Haddonfield, in the '08 SJ Group 2 Final. This wasn't a tennis match per say, but a deserved moment in the sun and a celebration of a team and their journey.

They had made history for their school's tennis program, and got a great article in the Philadelphia Inquirer. This helped substantiate that someone did notice their accomplishments. It also laid proof that what they were doing as a tennis team, and what I was trying to encourage them towards did really matter. This article was in the paper the same day the Phillies won the National League Pennant in '08. I thought this was doubly cool, as many people would have read the 'Inky' that day.

Oh Yeah! Here is proof that 'Doppelgangers' do exist.  With this discovery, which many of us on the team quickly noticed during introductions against Sterling, we got one step closer to helping Ryan find his.  It is a timeless, some would say mindless quest, but who knows what we might learn about ourselves and the world around us on such a journey.   I know Ryan has been enlightened with our discovery.   Ask him his reflections now on this chance meeting.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doppelganger

*Update 6/3/13*

The 2013 state singles tournament continues with the round of 32 and 16 on Sunday. The quarterfinal round is scheduled for June 4, the semifinals on June 5 and the final on Thursday, June 6, all of which will be held just at Mercer County Park. The seeds for the 2013 bracket are below.
NJSIAA Singles Tournament
1-Maverick Lin, Highland Park
2-Nick Bradley, Waldwick
3-Kenny Zheng, Hopewell Valley
4-Ryan Dickerson, Moorestown
5-8 Alphabetically
Michael Chen, Holmdel
Michael Liu, Ridge
Tyler Schick, Millburn
Daniel Wright, Saddle River Day
9-16 Alphabetically
Justin Burris, St. Rose
Anthony Caputo, Livingston
Justin Kang, Shawnee
Dylan Karchere-Sun, South Brunswick
Dean Koman, Millburn
Derek Liu, Holmdel
Aiden McNulty, Don Bosco
Richard Rangga, Clifton


First Round - NJSIAA State Singles Tournament - June 1, 2013 - Mercer County Park - Bottom Half Of Boys Bracket
Oberholtzer d. Jeremy Van Herwarde, Pope John, 6-1, 6-1;  Novick d. Ivan Romano, Monmouth, 6-0, 6-3; Persson d. Karthik Paka, Robbinsville, 6-0, 6-0; Murugesan d. Zachary Castagna, Pitman, 6-1, 6-4; Lefkandinos d. Jai Mali, St. Peter’s Prep, 6-3, 6-0; Weiss d. Trevor Johnson, Hopewell Valley, 6-2, 6-0; Eatroff d. Tyler Blessing, Moorestown, 6-0, 6-0; DelRey Rodriguez d. Matt Resnikoff, Shore, 6-4, 6-3; Song d. Dean Sponholz, Glen Rock, 6-3, 6-0; Wright d. Ryan Schaffer, Audobon, 6-0, 6-5; Rose d. Brett Gilman, Mahwah, 6-0, 6-4; Lugtu d. Teddy Apt, Bernards, 6-3, 6-2; Boyle d. Chris Sciancalepore, Hasbrouck Heights, 6-1, 6-0; Paredes d. Ethan Fischer, Mainland, 6-4, 4-6, (10-0); Wozniczka d. Brian Dylla, Msgr. Donovan, 6-0, 6-1; Hu d. Peter Wylie, Cedar Grove, 6-0, 6-0; Montanelli d. Cody Cassise, Seneca, 6-2, 6-4; Paradis d. Sam Choi, Bergen Tech, 6-0, 6-1; Tai won by defaul over Gerard Giordano, Point Pleasant Beach; Uchida d. Spencer Kelly, Moorestown Friends, 6-4, 6-3; Hove d. Peter Brennan, Kingsway, 6-0, 6-1; McDonald d. Marish Shah, Toms River North, 6-1, 6-3; Hingorani d. Chris Popso, Florence, 6-3, 6-1; Mohanty d. Paul Caruso, Holy Cross, 6-3, 6-1; Bokhari d. Eric Tecce, Shawnee, 7-5, 7-6, (10-5); Oringer d. Louis Abenante, St. Augustine, 6-7 (5), 6-0, (10-6); d. Emir Hamzie, Long Branch, 6-0, 6-1.

seeding & first round results were cut & pasted above, from these article links
http://www.nj.com/hssports/blog/boystennis/index.ssf/2013/05/boys_tennis_state_singles_tournament_preview.html - seeding of his opponent Daniel Wright

http://www.nj.com/hssports/blog/boystennis/index.ssf/2013/06/njsiaa_singles_tournament_opening_day.html - Ryan's result at bottom of the page.

Ryan had a very impressive showing, playing tough in the heat, while giving a serious 2nd set scare to one of the best singles players in the state.  It appears that this set was so closely contested, that NJ.com(read Ryan's result at link) still wasn't prepared to declare a winner of this best 2nd set of the first round of the 2013 tournament. That award was a no-brainer, but sincerely give the boy a hi-five when you see him next.  The numbers never lie, right?  BUT not really, wherein what has been highlighted here, in whatever equation you wanna make-up, it shouldn't be understated, how impressive that result really was. 

We knew we were 4. A kinda haiku, in words and pictures, about the 2013 Green Wave boys tennis season and their final 4 appearance, as the number five seed, in the South Jersey Group One Playoffs.

4 something different 4 our third 2013 dance with our closely competitive foes.  4 going forward.    4 accomplishing something special.  4 going a little beyond what seemed possible.  4 the pride it brings.  4 crashing the final four party & having a blast doing it.   I still have a chocolate chip cookie platter, left over from this party, that's up 4 grabs, if anyone wants it.    

 4 coming through in the clutch.   4 being down two matches to 1.  4 the last 2 matches, third singles and first doubles, on the Lindenwold tennis courts.  4 the third set in each of those two matches.  4 finding our "met·tle (m t l) n. 1. Courage and 4titude." 4 ryan assisting with the court 1 powder keg, 4 adding the first spark.  

 
4 a team who had members who knew what it felt like to endure a no win 2011 season.  4 easily savoring and sensing what this playoff victory meant for the past, present and 4 the future.  4 leaving a lasting mark.  4 taking on a challenge.   4 finishing strong.   4 changing the direction of a program.  4 truly earning that fine moment in the sun.  4 being a team.   

4 your viewing pleasure, the playoff bracket here and 4 seeing all those schools falling  by the wayside.  4 still being there after 0-2 to Lindenwold this season.  4 doing this all, when it mattered most.  4 a 2-0 playoff record.  4 finding what we didn't know we had, when we started the season, but by the time we arrived here 4 our 2nd round playoff match, we knew we had lost 4 along the way.  4 coming prepared, to this playoff meeting.  To take 4 back.  Cause 5 never did fit right in green.  Lastly, not 4getting to thank Coach Bay 4 the great pictures you see here.  4 a coach who on this day 4got his camera, but will always beam with pride when I remember this match, on a day i'll never forget.  Thanks & Congrats, that was pretty darn cool!

@ Lindenwold tomorrow for 2pm match start time .. NJSIAA Playoff Match #2

A short explanation by USTA sports psychologist David Porter, on how the score in a set will affect a player's strategy. Porter discusses the importance of recognizing and changing a losing strategy or closing out on a winning strategy.  The first two games! Directing and also relaxing your focus during and or over the course of a tennis match, is a skill to be recognized & practiced by the match participants. 

I am excited to see us put our best foot forward on Monday at Lindenwold, and I know the polish we've been working on, moreover grooving our different strokes, over the last few days in practice, will shine through tomorrow against our well known opponent. Let the chips fall where they may, and just try and be the best player you are capable of being for a good majority of this match, and irrelevant of the person or persons you are playing or the score of a game you are playing with this person.  I'd recommend this easy mental exercise to all, since we know our opponents well, to take sometime and visualize all the points you played really well in those two prior matches, run them over like a tape in your mind.   This type of visualization stuff, its funny how it really does work.  I am visualizing, right now, looking down the court row and seeing everyone of our varsity starters doing very on  many facets of their tennis games, that I got so excited I started forgetting the game and even set score of the match right in front of me.   

Red Raiders. Round 1. Well Done.

This is a 1 minute USPTA tennis tip about a very important point for your positioning for the return of serve.  This is a fantastic clip that does a great job of showing more than explaining, the where and why of your service return positioning in relation to where your opponent is serving from, on his side of the court..  

tourney bracket BG1S '13 Playoff bracket, with a few completed matches. A One minute USPTR split step instructional video clip, and a another USPTR clip with return of serve tips, both in practice today.

 We'll keep working on the split step, an important tennis footwork dance step, you'll soon be floating like a butterfly with an approach shot from the baseline as the start of your journey to the brave new world of the net with your practiced and the continued sharpening of your volleys, as your weapon of choice.  Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee, it should have first come from a tennis player rushing the net.

Return of Serve.

The NJSIAA Group 1 Boys Tennis Playoff Bracket ... We have the #5 seed and I feel a great opportunity to end our very good season on an even higher note! .

 http://highschoolsports.nj.com/tournament/17807/

 click or cut and past the link above for our South Group 1 playoff bracket.  I'll print, scan and then post it here tomorrow. 

Senior Day + the weather + a match-up with the Red Raiders = an exquisite day. 1min Slow Motion Forehand Volley USPTR & Federer slo-mo FH Volley Video Clips + Green Wave Tennis '13 Schedule ...

                                                                             

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Watch this clip on the forehand volley and see if you can observe all the finer points we've worked on in this slow motion volley video.  This is very informative and cool!

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See how,  Roger Federer's forehand volley, looks almost exactly like the teaching pros same volley in the first video above.  Of course they just look the same, and for good reason of course.  Now watch Roger Federer's forehand volley in slow-mo just below,  each one of the videos is shot at a different angle.  You learn a little something different about his mechanics by seeing the same simple stroke shot on film at some different angles.  Check out his FH volley's start point, shoulders move together,  the 'follow through,' where is the volley sweet-spot, see the angle he holds his racquet at as his swing shape starts and end,  observe how he holds his elbow of his racquet hand, to lead the shot with the elbow held firm there, and in essence allowing the slight loosening of (the first three fingers and or down to heel pad of hand from those fingers) of the racquet hand, and in doing that while hitting with the proper grip and volley swing shape, the racquet face will slightly open as you hit thru your volley, laying back in your hand against your base knuckle. 

You can also clearly see n any of the slow motion video clips below and above,  specifically the follow through and after contact, when you see in these clips how the racquet face every so subtly opens up during the follow-through, right then remember the word backspin.  This spin is vital in keeping your volleys low and or any reply you receive back low too, remember your at the net.  The heel pad is where I have set most of you up, when I am instructing individually, with either of the two necessary grips. I want you all to feel that volley specific 'pop sound, and feeling, which upon hitting it correctly you can actually feel that pop sound up your forearm like hitting a baseball or tennis ball on the sweet spot of a bat or racquet.  This feeling gives you valuable tip and or indication that the shot you might have just hit, was hit correctly, or close enough to correctly.  

How this base knuckle of yours works here, is a very important point.   Now and for most of your swing shape thru contact,  your grip pressure is on the base knuckle, seen circled here in the picture below, you could slightly expand that circled area too.  Your base knuckle is also important because it is from this place on your hand where you correctly switch/rotate back and forth between the Eastern Forehand grip(your neutral waiting grip for ground strokes) and the Continental grip to Serve, Volley, Overhead, etc with this is where you

Where does this same elbow take his racquet to prepare for his forehand volley stroke?  Now see where his contact point is.   I think Roger hits most of his forehand volleys at the same contact point, meeting the ball slightly in front and to the side of his left shoulder, much of the time.   However in one of these 1 min clips, which I thought was fascinating, you'll clearly see how he uses the elbow of his hitting arm, when the ball happened to come very close to his body, moreover he never allowed the contact point to be anything but in-front of his body.  Keep the ball in-front of your torso.