There has been a lot transpire since the last time I wrote. The team went from being in the regional tournament to then being out of the tournament. Our last match of the season was a true instant classic where we came up just short. It was a 5-4 loss with the last three matches being decided in the third set with all of them being 7-5 set scores. Heartbreaking for sure but all the guys involved battled hard and left it all on the court. Their season seems to be over but memories of what they have accomplished will last longer than the sting of that one match. Tonight is not about that though. It is about another former player who chased his dream and is currently living it to the fullest.
I am not of Italian lineage nor do I really have a strong ancestry towards any region. My mom is from Illinois and my dad from North Carolina. That’s all I know. So, when Tony D’Angelo, from New Jersey, came to visit before his freshman season it was apparent that he had strong Italian background. His tennis during his tryout wasn’t spectacular but there was this intriguing part of his game that I liked. It wasn’t pretty but it was loopy, grinding, and gritty. In the back of my mind I was thinking that he might turn into a great number six player. His ball looped deep into the court and it appeared that he could do it over and over and was content to just stay ten feet behind the baseline and send the ball back. Once he arrived on campus as a freshman he worked hard to make the dream of playing in the top six a top priority. The team was good but he gave it all he had, and just came up short in each attempt. His tennis game was as unique as his style.
Tony had no problem not looking professional and was comfortable in his own skin. His lack of style, in my opinion, led to new travel attire rules. He was very comfortable in ratty gym shorts and an equally ratty tie-dyed t-shirt. Sometimes the hair was combed and other times it was why bother. He appeared to be aloof in his approach to almost everything but there was a certain intensity that went along with his outward appearing carefree style. Tony and I would hit on occasion and there was a time that I was giving him everything I had. I don’t remember all the details except for this one outburst after a great point for me. At the conclusion of the point he yelled out, “He’s 39 years old.” I was not 39 at the time but it was comical to say the least. What was even funnier was that after the outburst he started doing pushups as punishment for his perceived poor play. Although he was not making an impact in the starting roster he was always around learning about the game, asking questions about why I did certain things, and putting his opinion out there for me to ponder. At the beginning of his junior year all of these questions came to a head when he approached me regarding the possibility of him removing himself from the roster and just being my assistant coach for the next two years. He thought he wanted to get into coaching and this would be a fantastic opportunity to learn.
Over the next two years Tony became a daily fixture on the courts and a great resource for discussing ideas about the team. He also began to travel more frequently with the team which brings me back to the strong Italian heritage. We were playing in Orlando and there was an Olive Garden near the courts. It sounded great because I really enjoy their soup, salad, and bread sticks. This was met with strong disdain from Tony. No Italian would eat at a fake Italian restaurant. As the argument intensified I tried to tell him that the Outback is not really Australian and the Taco Bell isn’t really Mexican food but both are enjoyed by many. This fell on deaf ears and for the next two years we did not eat at Olive Garden. I have since eaten there and it still is good. I think about Tony every time I walk in the front doors.
As graduation neared it became clear that post graduate work would be in the cards and that coaching wouldn’t be far behind. Tony went to UCF to obtain his MBA with a concentration in Psychology and while he was there served one year as the volunteer assistant on the women’s team. It was not a wonderful experience and could have put a bad taste in his mouth but he made the best of the situation and did other things to expand his knowledge base. Once he graduated he took a job with IMG Academy and that lasted for a while until an employment freeze once again put a kink in his plans. It was during this time that he redoubled his efforts to get into coaching and started looking for opportunities around the country. It is funny, when we are putting in the effort it seems like it may never happen, but when we have made enough contacts we seem to get lucky at just the right time. A job came open, not a perfect opportunity but an opportunity nonetheless, so Tony applied. As luck may have it I happened to know the coach personally so when the reference call came I had some exceptional knowledge on both the applicant and the coach. Tony got the job and took the chance. It is awesome to see that he is gaining some substantial experience and I will not be shocked when he is running his own team. I am sure the team will have a tie-dyed shirt for practice but that would be normal for the guy that did it his way every day.
Saturday, April 22, 2017
Monday, April 10, 2017
Austin Comings--A Former Player at FSC--Shredding the Gnar!
Being hungry is a trait that athletes need to help them get what they want. The funny thing is some players eat better than others and when they get a taste of a good meal they become satisfied. Satisfaction is a slippery slope. We want our athletes to be satisfied but as soon as they realize what they have achieved they see what they can achieve if they become hungry again. Sometimes the lack of progress comes from comfort, an idea that more work will not produce a greater product, or maybe just maybe the want is no longer there.
Tonight’s profile is about Austin Comings. If you have a picture of a college dude in your head, it is probably his portrait. Style, means, and a lifestyle that did not really warrant callouses was how most people saw Austin. He was more than that but was a dude. When I first met Austin, he had come to watch a match we were playing against Rollins. I believe we were getting destroyed and I was sure that Austin would end up going to our rival. It appeared that it fit his personality and life a little better. Much to my surprise he was at our courts when school began in the fall. He came in as a walk on and really didn’t have too much success as a freshman. Fighting for a starting role really wasn’t what Austin was about. He had reached a decent level in juniors, was talented, and didn’t have to put out too much effort to just get by. This made succeeding past where he was difficult, but hey he was on the team and could spin the lack of play however he wanted.
Traveling to Orlando for matches or tournaments was a lot more fun when Austin was on the team. This was where he resided with his mom and sister so when we went that direction all the players gained a mom. We had a few meals at his house and let me tell you she could cook. While we were at the house it was a time that I could see the team in an environment that led them to put down their guards and just be guys and not athletes looking for the next victory. Though Austin wasn’t in the starting line up the guys liked him because of his chill attitude. If there was a music festival nearby, Miami was nearby in his mind, he would get some of the guys to go. He had his own phrases and just breezed through.
As Austin made his way through his college career it became apparent that it was going to be tough for him to crack the top six. Saying this may seem that it was from a lack of talent but that was far from the truth. He had a great game for college. He had a big serve, a huge forehand, and court smarts. He just didn’t have the heart to hurt himself physically or mentally to make the next step in his playing career. I cannot be mad at him but to say I was not disappointed would be an understatement. It is always sad to see a player with talent not want to share it with the rest of us. I cannot be mad because I never had the opportunity to dig deeply into his psyche or to hear his innermost thoughts. Our relationship was a shallow one and he only allowed me to see what he thought I wanted to see. His game was big, his desire to achieve that game was small, but his heart towards his teammates was always sincere.
Not only did his family treat the team as their own kids when it was possible but the team also had the opportunity to have a few weekends at the beach condo his family owned. The condo was steps away from the ocean and the guys, telling me the G-rated version, always seemed refreshed and excited when they returned. During the end of his junior year Austin came to let me know that he would not be on the team next year. He was doing an internship in LA and he wanted to leave his options open and tennis was just going to be too much. As I have stated already, his talent was good but his desire was more about fun. When he finally quit the team he and I would occasionally run into one another when he would come down to the courts to hit tennis balls. This was when I became most frustrated with him. He was playing so good, so free, and so carefree but it was on his terms. He was good at his own world but did not like restrictions that others put on him.
I haven’t spoken to Austin since he left FSC and don’t know if I ever will. We do not travel in the same circles nor do I even know what he is doing now. He was a great kid who I hope has found the freedom he craved.
Tonight’s profile is about Austin Comings. If you have a picture of a college dude in your head, it is probably his portrait. Style, means, and a lifestyle that did not really warrant callouses was how most people saw Austin. He was more than that but was a dude. When I first met Austin, he had come to watch a match we were playing against Rollins. I believe we were getting destroyed and I was sure that Austin would end up going to our rival. It appeared that it fit his personality and life a little better. Much to my surprise he was at our courts when school began in the fall. He came in as a walk on and really didn’t have too much success as a freshman. Fighting for a starting role really wasn’t what Austin was about. He had reached a decent level in juniors, was talented, and didn’t have to put out too much effort to just get by. This made succeeding past where he was difficult, but hey he was on the team and could spin the lack of play however he wanted.
Traveling to Orlando for matches or tournaments was a lot more fun when Austin was on the team. This was where he resided with his mom and sister so when we went that direction all the players gained a mom. We had a few meals at his house and let me tell you she could cook. While we were at the house it was a time that I could see the team in an environment that led them to put down their guards and just be guys and not athletes looking for the next victory. Though Austin wasn’t in the starting line up the guys liked him because of his chill attitude. If there was a music festival nearby, Miami was nearby in his mind, he would get some of the guys to go. He had his own phrases and just breezed through.
As Austin made his way through his college career it became apparent that it was going to be tough for him to crack the top six. Saying this may seem that it was from a lack of talent but that was far from the truth. He had a great game for college. He had a big serve, a huge forehand, and court smarts. He just didn’t have the heart to hurt himself physically or mentally to make the next step in his playing career. I cannot be mad at him but to say I was not disappointed would be an understatement. It is always sad to see a player with talent not want to share it with the rest of us. I cannot be mad because I never had the opportunity to dig deeply into his psyche or to hear his innermost thoughts. Our relationship was a shallow one and he only allowed me to see what he thought I wanted to see. His game was big, his desire to achieve that game was small, but his heart towards his teammates was always sincere.
Not only did his family treat the team as their own kids when it was possible but the team also had the opportunity to have a few weekends at the beach condo his family owned. The condo was steps away from the ocean and the guys, telling me the G-rated version, always seemed refreshed and excited when they returned. During the end of his junior year Austin came to let me know that he would not be on the team next year. He was doing an internship in LA and he wanted to leave his options open and tennis was just going to be too much. As I have stated already, his talent was good but his desire was more about fun. When he finally quit the team he and I would occasionally run into one another when he would come down to the courts to hit tennis balls. This was when I became most frustrated with him. He was playing so good, so free, and so carefree but it was on his terms. He was good at his own world but did not like restrictions that others put on him.
I haven’t spoken to Austin since he left FSC and don’t know if I ever will. We do not travel in the same circles nor do I even know what he is doing now. He was a great kid who I hope has found the freedom he craved.
Saturday, April 8, 2017
Trace Collins--A Current Player at FSC--Hitting the Wall and Loving Every Minute
Days like today are what make coaching so enjoyable and heart wrenching all at the same time. Today was senior day as four of the guys played their last match at our home facility. They will all be written about later. We battled hard against another top ten team but came out on the losing end. Joy and grief within a four-hour time span. To ease the sadness of moving on without four great guys and losing another heartbreaking match I will write about a current player making his way through college and figuring out who he is.
Trace Collins is the true meaning of a walk on. He came to FSC after visiting and being told he would have an opportunity to be on the team. He came with an intensity and desire that was worthy of the top players. He trains at an academy in Colorado where he has honed his game under the tutelage of the coaches he has surrounded himself with while training there. His first year was fraught with learning curves. He spent time suspended for grades, as the standards to remain and active member are higher on the team than NCAA standards. He also got beat down anytime he stepped on the court. For the average person, this would-be reason enough to just quit, transfer, or many other alternatives that he didn’t choose. He got his grades back in order and starting in the spring of his freshman year became an active member of the men’s team. The difference between Trace and the rest of the team is that he needed no one to practice with in order to have a great day holding his racket. He would go out and work on his serve, spend hours hitting on the old courts wall, or put himself through countless footwork drills. He did this because he loves the game of tennis and what it means to his life. Playing time on the varsity team did not happen during his freshman year but he continued to train like the next day would be his opportunity to shine.
During the summer, Trace decided to change his major, another big step in his growth, and came back in the fall with the same desire he had the previous season. He continued his private practice and began battling for his spot on the team. Although the varsity team was not yet in reach, Trace became an integral part of the JV team which we are fortunate to have at FSC. Because of the JV team Trace has some opportunities to compete which is what all competitive athletes need. His desire to play tennis is a weird thing to me. I haven’t figured out if he wants to play to get better or just because he loves the sport. I sometimes think he loves the idea of being an athlete with a plan. This spring Trace has gotten to play a few competitive events and continues to grind towards his goals. These goals are personal and I have no knowledge of what they may be as he keeps them close to his vest. All his trainings go into his notebook that he journals in-depth after each session.
One of Trace’s biggest opponents has recently been destroyed. If you ever wondered where he might be you could always walk out back of the gym and potentially see him hitting on the big green wall which used to house four of the old varsity courts. Progress has come and the old courts have been demolished. This wall gave Trace many hours of relentless practice and probably some mind clearing therapy. I’ve pondered for a couple of weeks now where Trace will go for his one on one therapy now that his most consistent partner has been taken away. This will be another growth lesson that he must go through while making his way through FSC. I am not sure where Trace will end up on the team or where he will go as he gets closer to graduation but I do know that in his mind he has a plan for his tennis and his life.
My job is awesome because each of the players that passes through the gates is an enigma wrapped in a riddle that I get to try and figure out. Sometimes with Trace I feel like I am missing some of the pieces and that is why I like the kid.
Trace Collins is the true meaning of a walk on. He came to FSC after visiting and being told he would have an opportunity to be on the team. He came with an intensity and desire that was worthy of the top players. He trains at an academy in Colorado where he has honed his game under the tutelage of the coaches he has surrounded himself with while training there. His first year was fraught with learning curves. He spent time suspended for grades, as the standards to remain and active member are higher on the team than NCAA standards. He also got beat down anytime he stepped on the court. For the average person, this would-be reason enough to just quit, transfer, or many other alternatives that he didn’t choose. He got his grades back in order and starting in the spring of his freshman year became an active member of the men’s team. The difference between Trace and the rest of the team is that he needed no one to practice with in order to have a great day holding his racket. He would go out and work on his serve, spend hours hitting on the old courts wall, or put himself through countless footwork drills. He did this because he loves the game of tennis and what it means to his life. Playing time on the varsity team did not happen during his freshman year but he continued to train like the next day would be his opportunity to shine.
During the summer, Trace decided to change his major, another big step in his growth, and came back in the fall with the same desire he had the previous season. He continued his private practice and began battling for his spot on the team. Although the varsity team was not yet in reach, Trace became an integral part of the JV team which we are fortunate to have at FSC. Because of the JV team Trace has some opportunities to compete which is what all competitive athletes need. His desire to play tennis is a weird thing to me. I haven’t figured out if he wants to play to get better or just because he loves the sport. I sometimes think he loves the idea of being an athlete with a plan. This spring Trace has gotten to play a few competitive events and continues to grind towards his goals. These goals are personal and I have no knowledge of what they may be as he keeps them close to his vest. All his trainings go into his notebook that he journals in-depth after each session.
One of Trace’s biggest opponents has recently been destroyed. If you ever wondered where he might be you could always walk out back of the gym and potentially see him hitting on the big green wall which used to house four of the old varsity courts. Progress has come and the old courts have been demolished. This wall gave Trace many hours of relentless practice and probably some mind clearing therapy. I’ve pondered for a couple of weeks now where Trace will go for his one on one therapy now that his most consistent partner has been taken away. This will be another growth lesson that he must go through while making his way through FSC. I am not sure where Trace will end up on the team or where he will go as he gets closer to graduation but I do know that in his mind he has a plan for his tennis and his life.
My job is awesome because each of the players that passes through the gates is an enigma wrapped in a riddle that I get to try and figure out. Sometimes with Trace I feel like I am missing some of the pieces and that is why I like the kid.
Thursday, April 6, 2017
Javier Castro--Former Player at FSC--In a Roundabout Way I Got My Monies Worth
Oops, it has been a minute (I think that’s what the kids say these day) since I last wrote in my blog. I wish I had a good excuse, but I don’t. I took some time to do other things. We’ve played some great matches, had some great times as a team, and just been being a dad and a coach. Well, I’m back so here we go.
Tonight, I will write about one of my biggest on court failures. Be careful how you take that at first blush. He was a massive failure as a player but became one of the best student assistants I could have asked for during his three years at FSC. Javier Castro contacted me while he was a player for Grambling. He was recruited to play there and went blindly. Culturally it was a tough environment for Javier as he was from Ecuador and wasn’t prepared for his first year of college. He was playing one for Grambling and I was pumped to have him coming to our program. For all you compliance people, I got the release and did everything properly. Javier showed up and man was I surprised. He was slightly larger than I had anticipated but he assured me he would be ready to go for the season. Javier was such a personable kid that I couldn’t help like him. He was helpful, wanted to be a part of the program, and just wanted to hang out with me.
As we got going it was apparent that Javier didn’t have the energy to play for hours on end. He had skills but was only good for about four games. This wasn’t going to work for me or for the team. The other players began to grumble about his lack of performance but there was something that I liked about the kid. Time continued and he fell completely out of the lineup but was with me every day. During his first year, he played a few matches in singles and doubles with decent results but not at the level or position he was intended to be playing. During his junior year, he only played one singles match and a handful of doubles. He only lost once but still really wasn’t what I anticipated. His senior year only saw two doubles matches with a 50/50 record. If this was about his prowess on the tennis court I would have rated him a complete failure. I mean, I failed in my recruiting because I was recruiting a player - but I gained much more in the long run.
It was clear early on that Javier wasn’t going to make an impact on the court as a player because he showed no inclination to improve his condition or to work towards what I knew he could achieve. You see, he was damn good but just didn’t give a damn about getting back in shape. This was unacceptable but I recruited him and therefore I owned him. I don’t have an assistant and Javier seemed to have a penchant for knowing what needed to be done. He made sure rackets were strung, balls were ready for practice, and that I had everything I needed for matches. He aided with recruiting and being a buffer between me and the players who were actually on the court working. The players didn’t like that he was taking money and not producing but they liked the way things ran while he was around. Javier was an expensive player but a very reasonably priced assistant coach.
By the time Javier was a senior he was well into his groove as my pseudo assistant. He was my second set of eyes and helped with about everything he could during practice and matches. There are two funny stories to finish up this little piece on what made Javier so great. The first goes a little something like this. When a player comes to visit at the DII level we put them through a tryout. Well, I had this German kid coming in but really wasn’t that excited about him so instead of having one of the top guys work him out I told Javier to hit with him and let me know. Well, Javier played like the Javier at a different school and absolutely destroyed this kid. If my overweight assistant can beat you then I probably don’t have anything for you. The kid thanked me and told me he just wasn’t playing well. Javier and I decided that he wasn’t for us and passed. Guess what, that German kid went to Rollins and proceeded to kick our ass for two of the three years he played there. Yes, that was twice that Javier got me. This one wasn’t his fault. Years later the German player at Rollins and I would talk about that day and he was jet lagged, had just come off a slow red clay court, and was nervous. The next day at Rollins he played great and beat one of their top players. Oh well, you win some and lose some with recruits. The second story is funny. When we travel, we eat well and this trip was no different. We had qualified for regionals and were heading to Boca Raton. We were cruising down the turnpike and needed a nature break for the guys. We stopped at one of the service plazas along the way and I decided I needed a Cinnabon. My naivety allowed me to think that I could eat it while cruising down the highway. As I was attempting to fatten my midsection Javier decided that this was not a safe endeavor. He proceeded to take the bun away from me, take my knife and fork, cut it up and start feeding it to me. Yes, I was being fed my snack by my number one recruit who was my assistant coach. Why not right?
Javier graduated on time, went to Spain to continue studying, got married to his love and now resides back in Ecuador working in his father’s business. As tough as I was on him, as his teammates were on him, and in the situation he allowed himself to be in he made the best of it. He became an invaluable member of the team and made an indelible mark on me. We still talk occasionally and he asks every time whether or not I can hire him as my assistant. He would move in a second and I would hire him just as quickly. I’m sorry he failed as a player but grateful at how successful he was in his secondary role.
Tonight, I will write about one of my biggest on court failures. Be careful how you take that at first blush. He was a massive failure as a player but became one of the best student assistants I could have asked for during his three years at FSC. Javier Castro contacted me while he was a player for Grambling. He was recruited to play there and went blindly. Culturally it was a tough environment for Javier as he was from Ecuador and wasn’t prepared for his first year of college. He was playing one for Grambling and I was pumped to have him coming to our program. For all you compliance people, I got the release and did everything properly. Javier showed up and man was I surprised. He was slightly larger than I had anticipated but he assured me he would be ready to go for the season. Javier was such a personable kid that I couldn’t help like him. He was helpful, wanted to be a part of the program, and just wanted to hang out with me.
As we got going it was apparent that Javier didn’t have the energy to play for hours on end. He had skills but was only good for about four games. This wasn’t going to work for me or for the team. The other players began to grumble about his lack of performance but there was something that I liked about the kid. Time continued and he fell completely out of the lineup but was with me every day. During his first year, he played a few matches in singles and doubles with decent results but not at the level or position he was intended to be playing. During his junior year, he only played one singles match and a handful of doubles. He only lost once but still really wasn’t what I anticipated. His senior year only saw two doubles matches with a 50/50 record. If this was about his prowess on the tennis court I would have rated him a complete failure. I mean, I failed in my recruiting because I was recruiting a player - but I gained much more in the long run.
It was clear early on that Javier wasn’t going to make an impact on the court as a player because he showed no inclination to improve his condition or to work towards what I knew he could achieve. You see, he was damn good but just didn’t give a damn about getting back in shape. This was unacceptable but I recruited him and therefore I owned him. I don’t have an assistant and Javier seemed to have a penchant for knowing what needed to be done. He made sure rackets were strung, balls were ready for practice, and that I had everything I needed for matches. He aided with recruiting and being a buffer between me and the players who were actually on the court working. The players didn’t like that he was taking money and not producing but they liked the way things ran while he was around. Javier was an expensive player but a very reasonably priced assistant coach.
By the time Javier was a senior he was well into his groove as my pseudo assistant. He was my second set of eyes and helped with about everything he could during practice and matches. There are two funny stories to finish up this little piece on what made Javier so great. The first goes a little something like this. When a player comes to visit at the DII level we put them through a tryout. Well, I had this German kid coming in but really wasn’t that excited about him so instead of having one of the top guys work him out I told Javier to hit with him and let me know. Well, Javier played like the Javier at a different school and absolutely destroyed this kid. If my overweight assistant can beat you then I probably don’t have anything for you. The kid thanked me and told me he just wasn’t playing well. Javier and I decided that he wasn’t for us and passed. Guess what, that German kid went to Rollins and proceeded to kick our ass for two of the three years he played there. Yes, that was twice that Javier got me. This one wasn’t his fault. Years later the German player at Rollins and I would talk about that day and he was jet lagged, had just come off a slow red clay court, and was nervous. The next day at Rollins he played great and beat one of their top players. Oh well, you win some and lose some with recruits. The second story is funny. When we travel, we eat well and this trip was no different. We had qualified for regionals and were heading to Boca Raton. We were cruising down the turnpike and needed a nature break for the guys. We stopped at one of the service plazas along the way and I decided I needed a Cinnabon. My naivety allowed me to think that I could eat it while cruising down the highway. As I was attempting to fatten my midsection Javier decided that this was not a safe endeavor. He proceeded to take the bun away from me, take my knife and fork, cut it up and start feeding it to me. Yes, I was being fed my snack by my number one recruit who was my assistant coach. Why not right?
Javier graduated on time, went to Spain to continue studying, got married to his love and now resides back in Ecuador working in his father’s business. As tough as I was on him, as his teammates were on him, and in the situation he allowed himself to be in he made the best of it. He became an invaluable member of the team and made an indelible mark on me. We still talk occasionally and he asks every time whether or not I can hire him as my assistant. He would move in a second and I would hire him just as quickly. I’m sorry he failed as a player but grateful at how successful he was in his secondary role.
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Mark Bucknam--A Current Player at FSC--What Do You Want to Stretch For When Life is Good?
As I meander through this process of writing about the players that I have coached or am currently coaching I am reminded frequently that whether I initiated contact or they reached out first, at some point there was a feeling that each of us could gain something by being on the same team. Each player brings something to the team and takes away something they did not have before they joined. Experiences, friends, a little different perspective than they might have started with, and hopefully a better understanding of who they are from the time they started.
Tonight, I will spend some time letting you know about Mark Bucknam, the big guy from the little state. Projects, potential, enthusiasm, and straight up talent are things that I look for in players that may come to FSC and play. We are a good team, we have good depth, and I like building from within the group if possible. Mark came for a visit during his junior year through a relative of a former player. He was lanky, under developed, but dang he had a decent serve for a tall kid. There was the little guy inside of me thinking how cool it would be to work with this raw ability, create an attacking machine and see what he could do with his enthusiasm and desire he spoke about. Flash forward and two years later he was a freshman on the team. The fall season started and all systems were a go. He was finding his limits, working on his lack of flexibility, and starting to work on the game he wanted. What do they say about the best laid plans? Well, he had a little hiccup in the fall and got a little behind the eight ball for the rest of the semester. He became a bench warmer before we even played the first match. Frustration set in and he knew that he was now going to have to spend the fall healing. None of it was his fault but his body decided that it was best to rest and observe the others on the team play. Once he was cleared to play it was time to start back.
Being smart is a great thing but being industrious is even better at times. Mark had the realization that he probably wouldn’t see much playing time his freshmen year since he spent most of the first semester recovering from being sick and we also had some great depth and talent in front of him. Not to be deterred he approached me about red shirting since he lost so much time due to the illness and being my student assistant for the season. Well, free help, someone to talk to during the matches, and another set of eyes is never a bad thing so without hesitation I said yes. My thought was, this kid talks about really wanting to make an impact as a player so this will definitely open his eyes to how tough it is out here day in and day out. During practice, he would work on his game and then during matches he would help players work on their matches. During trips, he would snap pictures, make little videos of our journeys, and annoy the occasional international player with his tidbits. All in all, it was perfect for me.
Let’s take a break from the tennis side of Mark and talk about the other side. My first impression of this kid was this: How badly can a kid with a great life really want to put in the dirty work to improve his game. You see, Mark is a talented photographer/videographer, originally was a double major wanting freshman, went to a great high school we have all heard about, has a great group of core friends, and a solid relationship with his parents and girlfriend. When you coach kids, you look for some pain that you can use to prod the athlete with to make them want to get away from the pain and show they are worthy of where you want them to go. Honestly, I cannot find that pain for Mark. He is industrious. He has taken his passion for cameras and is shooting successful videos with his friends, he has reached out to local digital companies and works with them, and has a network that is ever expanding. For God sake, he even hit a half-court shot during a basketball game and received the reward for that. What pain could he really have? Of course, he wants to be a good player but if it doesn’t happen he is still going to have all these other successes. He is only a sophomore and already has a pretty good grasp of where he is going. He has narrowed his focus of study and is pursuing those options in earnest.
Okay, back to the tennis Mark. This season was going to be one of growth for his game. You see, Mark is about 6’4” with a big serve but also has the big guy problems that plague many his size. Movement isn’t natural and big guys have this bad habit of reaching because they can instead of using their legs (Reference Nicolas Bigler). Mark is really just a raw player who knows what it will take to make his game what he wants but hasn’t quite mastered how to do it. He has had fits and starts but hasn’t had a full semester yet to really put in the work and gain some momentum. I really enjoy having him help me during matches but can see that he would like to be on the other side of the bench. Of course, all the players who aren’t playing would like to be starters but the work required is daunting and many cannot seem to put in that full effort when there are other things that act as distractions are that are actually more important for their futures. This is not a negative statement towards Mark or any of them but just a fact that to a lot of players there are things that mean more. I am okay with all of it if each player justifies their role in the team with themselves. When a player wants more that is awesome. When a player works for more it is visible. Mark has natural skills that he is utilizing to better himself and set up his future. If he truly wants more from his tennis it is more than likely going to cost him something else that he treasures. He has a lot going for him so I do not know if I will ever see his best as a player but am truly enjoying watching the other aspects of his growth become better. I suppose by his senior year he will be making videos for his own company, hiring and firing employees, and just counting down the days to graduation so that he can show the world what he can achieve. It is who he is and I do not doubt that he will accomplish it. He will continue to play tennis because he is a good player who offers a lot every time he is out there. Hell, it’s good exercise and he really does have a good serve.
Tonight, I will spend some time letting you know about Mark Bucknam, the big guy from the little state. Projects, potential, enthusiasm, and straight up talent are things that I look for in players that may come to FSC and play. We are a good team, we have good depth, and I like building from within the group if possible. Mark came for a visit during his junior year through a relative of a former player. He was lanky, under developed, but dang he had a decent serve for a tall kid. There was the little guy inside of me thinking how cool it would be to work with this raw ability, create an attacking machine and see what he could do with his enthusiasm and desire he spoke about. Flash forward and two years later he was a freshman on the team. The fall season started and all systems were a go. He was finding his limits, working on his lack of flexibility, and starting to work on the game he wanted. What do they say about the best laid plans? Well, he had a little hiccup in the fall and got a little behind the eight ball for the rest of the semester. He became a bench warmer before we even played the first match. Frustration set in and he knew that he was now going to have to spend the fall healing. None of it was his fault but his body decided that it was best to rest and observe the others on the team play. Once he was cleared to play it was time to start back.
Being smart is a great thing but being industrious is even better at times. Mark had the realization that he probably wouldn’t see much playing time his freshmen year since he spent most of the first semester recovering from being sick and we also had some great depth and talent in front of him. Not to be deterred he approached me about red shirting since he lost so much time due to the illness and being my student assistant for the season. Well, free help, someone to talk to during the matches, and another set of eyes is never a bad thing so without hesitation I said yes. My thought was, this kid talks about really wanting to make an impact as a player so this will definitely open his eyes to how tough it is out here day in and day out. During practice, he would work on his game and then during matches he would help players work on their matches. During trips, he would snap pictures, make little videos of our journeys, and annoy the occasional international player with his tidbits. All in all, it was perfect for me.
Let’s take a break from the tennis side of Mark and talk about the other side. My first impression of this kid was this: How badly can a kid with a great life really want to put in the dirty work to improve his game. You see, Mark is a talented photographer/videographer, originally was a double major wanting freshman, went to a great high school we have all heard about, has a great group of core friends, and a solid relationship with his parents and girlfriend. When you coach kids, you look for some pain that you can use to prod the athlete with to make them want to get away from the pain and show they are worthy of where you want them to go. Honestly, I cannot find that pain for Mark. He is industrious. He has taken his passion for cameras and is shooting successful videos with his friends, he has reached out to local digital companies and works with them, and has a network that is ever expanding. For God sake, he even hit a half-court shot during a basketball game and received the reward for that. What pain could he really have? Of course, he wants to be a good player but if it doesn’t happen he is still going to have all these other successes. He is only a sophomore and already has a pretty good grasp of where he is going. He has narrowed his focus of study and is pursuing those options in earnest.
Okay, back to the tennis Mark. This season was going to be one of growth for his game. You see, Mark is about 6’4” with a big serve but also has the big guy problems that plague many his size. Movement isn’t natural and big guys have this bad habit of reaching because they can instead of using their legs (Reference Nicolas Bigler). Mark is really just a raw player who knows what it will take to make his game what he wants but hasn’t quite mastered how to do it. He has had fits and starts but hasn’t had a full semester yet to really put in the work and gain some momentum. I really enjoy having him help me during matches but can see that he would like to be on the other side of the bench. Of course, all the players who aren’t playing would like to be starters but the work required is daunting and many cannot seem to put in that full effort when there are other things that act as distractions are that are actually more important for their futures. This is not a negative statement towards Mark or any of them but just a fact that to a lot of players there are things that mean more. I am okay with all of it if each player justifies their role in the team with themselves. When a player wants more that is awesome. When a player works for more it is visible. Mark has natural skills that he is utilizing to better himself and set up his future. If he truly wants more from his tennis it is more than likely going to cost him something else that he treasures. He has a lot going for him so I do not know if I will ever see his best as a player but am truly enjoying watching the other aspects of his growth become better. I suppose by his senior year he will be making videos for his own company, hiring and firing employees, and just counting down the days to graduation so that he can show the world what he can achieve. It is who he is and I do not doubt that he will accomplish it. He will continue to play tennis because he is a good player who offers a lot every time he is out there. Hell, it’s good exercise and he really does have a good serve.
Sunday, March 26, 2017
Matt Buck--A Former Player at FSC--Learning Who You Are
Freedom to be who you are and do what you love are two things that a lot of people don’t get the chance to pursue during their lives. Most of us will lie and say that we achieve these or strive to be what we want but to actually become what we want and do what we say we are going to do is hard. Tonight, I will discuss a former player who I feel is doing just that. He only played two years for me but he graduated with amazing honors, a great job, and a truth about who he was and was going to be.
Recruiting visits, whether on campus or off are not my favorite thing. By nature, I am an introvert and would rather speak with no one daily. The funny thing is that most people think I am outgoing. I guess this is based on my career choice and when they see me I always have something to say to them. Comfort of surroundings can be a curse but it also relaxes those that crave it. When Matt Buck came to FSC for his tour of campus he and his sister happened to find my office and asked if they could stop in for a quick visit. Matt was not on my radar for players but hey, it’s my job and if a potential student-athlete has a chance to be on the team why not give them a chance and increase the chances that they choose FSC over someplace else. The visit was unspectacular, as most are, but Matt had a nice personality and knew what he wanted out of FSC and I liked that about him. His sister was there for support but this was Matt’s visit and let him do the talking. Matt’s dad was a college basketball coach so he understood athletics but didn’t really look like much of a tennis player. I know, you want to know what a tennis player looks like. This is not explainable but Matt was, let’s just say soft, compared to many of the athletes that come through my door. I never saw him play but he was sure he would fit in to my overall scheme, so I thought, “what the hell, let the kid have his shot.” He was also a tad bit different with his personality than most of my players but different makes my job fun.
Fast forward to the first couple of times Matt and the rest of the team trained together. He was athletic, so much for my soft thought, and he could play. Not at the top level but he could play. Imagine Venus Williams as a blonde boy, this was Matt Buck. He hit hard and harder. Serves, groundstrokes, volleys, and overheads were as hard as he could and if they fell within the boundaries he him them harder until he missed. Oh, and he missed, got frustrated, and just kept pounding balls. We started doing off court training and this is where Matt shined. The boy could jump. I cannot believe that just because his dad was a basketball coach that he had a jumping gene but he could fly. He did really well in all of our athletic events and gained a lot of respect from his teammates for his never wavering effort. His tennis, however, didn’t change. That’s not truly correct, he did get a little more consistent, and with that came the desire to hit harder. He was a great team player but there was more to Matt than his tennis.
Matt, like all the players that I have written about and will write about, was going through so much growth as he began to weave through FSC. See, Matt was what I would call an accounting genius. Not just good at accounting but astonishingly good at accounting. He went through the classes without dropping letter grades. He attempted to take as many hard classes as he could just to push his limits and to gain knowledge that would lead to his future. During this time, he also began becoming who he was instead of what he thought everyone wanted him to be. Having conversations with him were entertaining and helped me understand things that I would never have to deal with on a personal level. His growth as a human continually outpaced his growth as an athlete but it was an incredible process that I got to witness first hand. As he moved into his sophomore season he realized that playing time would not be greater so he even went harder in the classroom and in his personal journey. Oh yeah, he was also a stalwart on the team’s intramural basketball team. His post playing skills were legendary and were talked about a lot more than his tennis accomplishments. If you needed help with accounting, you went to Matt. Not only teammates but anybody who attended FSC reached out for his assistance when it came to his major. The kid who showed up in my office with his sister was transforming right in front of all of us.
At the start of his junior year Matt came to talk to me. He decided that tennis was no longer going to be part of his life at FSC as accounting was offering too many opportunities. I hated losing him as part of the team but having a player with that much maturity and assuredness about what he wanted to do was amazing. Another thing he talked about was getting out in his community more. This was fun to watch but also a little scary. He went hard and at times over did it. We would talk at lunch or at impromptu meetings about what he was doing, how it was going, and what was next. He let his hair down for awhile and I think it hit the floor a few times but he was strong enough to rein it in and get back to what he was there for in the first place. As his skills in accounting were recognized some amazing internships and job opportunities started popping up. We discussed options, the pros and cons, and then he made his decision. At this point I was merely looking through the windows that he allowed me to and the picture he was creating was turning into a masterpiece. By the time Matt was a senior his opportunities were what any graduate would wish for upon receiving their degree. Options, choices, good, bad, and where to begin were all thoughts that had to be thought through. His life was his now and he had done what you are supposed to do when you go to college, learn.
Matt is now a full-fledged accountant in Texas and from everything I can tell is doing as well as I thought he would do. He knows who he is, what he wants, and he goes after all of it with the same tenacity as he did hitting a tennis ball. He only played for me for two years but gave me four years of memories that I still hold close and think about often.
Recruiting visits, whether on campus or off are not my favorite thing. By nature, I am an introvert and would rather speak with no one daily. The funny thing is that most people think I am outgoing. I guess this is based on my career choice and when they see me I always have something to say to them. Comfort of surroundings can be a curse but it also relaxes those that crave it. When Matt Buck came to FSC for his tour of campus he and his sister happened to find my office and asked if they could stop in for a quick visit. Matt was not on my radar for players but hey, it’s my job and if a potential student-athlete has a chance to be on the team why not give them a chance and increase the chances that they choose FSC over someplace else. The visit was unspectacular, as most are, but Matt had a nice personality and knew what he wanted out of FSC and I liked that about him. His sister was there for support but this was Matt’s visit and let him do the talking. Matt’s dad was a college basketball coach so he understood athletics but didn’t really look like much of a tennis player. I know, you want to know what a tennis player looks like. This is not explainable but Matt was, let’s just say soft, compared to many of the athletes that come through my door. I never saw him play but he was sure he would fit in to my overall scheme, so I thought, “what the hell, let the kid have his shot.” He was also a tad bit different with his personality than most of my players but different makes my job fun.
Fast forward to the first couple of times Matt and the rest of the team trained together. He was athletic, so much for my soft thought, and he could play. Not at the top level but he could play. Imagine Venus Williams as a blonde boy, this was Matt Buck. He hit hard and harder. Serves, groundstrokes, volleys, and overheads were as hard as he could and if they fell within the boundaries he him them harder until he missed. Oh, and he missed, got frustrated, and just kept pounding balls. We started doing off court training and this is where Matt shined. The boy could jump. I cannot believe that just because his dad was a basketball coach that he had a jumping gene but he could fly. He did really well in all of our athletic events and gained a lot of respect from his teammates for his never wavering effort. His tennis, however, didn’t change. That’s not truly correct, he did get a little more consistent, and with that came the desire to hit harder. He was a great team player but there was more to Matt than his tennis.
Matt, like all the players that I have written about and will write about, was going through so much growth as he began to weave through FSC. See, Matt was what I would call an accounting genius. Not just good at accounting but astonishingly good at accounting. He went through the classes without dropping letter grades. He attempted to take as many hard classes as he could just to push his limits and to gain knowledge that would lead to his future. During this time, he also began becoming who he was instead of what he thought everyone wanted him to be. Having conversations with him were entertaining and helped me understand things that I would never have to deal with on a personal level. His growth as a human continually outpaced his growth as an athlete but it was an incredible process that I got to witness first hand. As he moved into his sophomore season he realized that playing time would not be greater so he even went harder in the classroom and in his personal journey. Oh yeah, he was also a stalwart on the team’s intramural basketball team. His post playing skills were legendary and were talked about a lot more than his tennis accomplishments. If you needed help with accounting, you went to Matt. Not only teammates but anybody who attended FSC reached out for his assistance when it came to his major. The kid who showed up in my office with his sister was transforming right in front of all of us.
At the start of his junior year Matt came to talk to me. He decided that tennis was no longer going to be part of his life at FSC as accounting was offering too many opportunities. I hated losing him as part of the team but having a player with that much maturity and assuredness about what he wanted to do was amazing. Another thing he talked about was getting out in his community more. This was fun to watch but also a little scary. He went hard and at times over did it. We would talk at lunch or at impromptu meetings about what he was doing, how it was going, and what was next. He let his hair down for awhile and I think it hit the floor a few times but he was strong enough to rein it in and get back to what he was there for in the first place. As his skills in accounting were recognized some amazing internships and job opportunities started popping up. We discussed options, the pros and cons, and then he made his decision. At this point I was merely looking through the windows that he allowed me to and the picture he was creating was turning into a masterpiece. By the time Matt was a senior his opportunities were what any graduate would wish for upon receiving their degree. Options, choices, good, bad, and where to begin were all thoughts that had to be thought through. His life was his now and he had done what you are supposed to do when you go to college, learn.
Matt is now a full-fledged accountant in Texas and from everything I can tell is doing as well as I thought he would do. He knows who he is, what he wants, and he goes after all of it with the same tenacity as he did hitting a tennis ball. He only played for me for two years but gave me four years of memories that I still hold close and think about often.
Saturday, March 25, 2017
Victory is Earned and How it Looks Through My Eyes
Today I think I began to lose my mind. Not really, but to about 14 guys it probably appeared so. To explain this let me say that we won and it was a big win. The guys on this team have amazing heart and in the big moments they have been able to call it up. Winning big matches is always fun and they have special feeling when they are conference, regional, and revenge matches all wrapped up in one. Last year, the team we defeated today snuck past us with a 5-4 victory after a great comeback by us that just came up a little short. Fast forward to this year and the guys were ready to exact revenge for the hard loss. Doubles was intense as always with us gaining a 2-1 advantage after it was over. All anyone ever sees is the line score but there is so much that happens within the matches that helps shape the overall win or loss. Number 3 doubles was the first to get a win. They broke serve early and maintained that lead until they were serving at 6-5 in the race to 8. The best player on the court was serving so as a coach you have a sense of calm. It was disturbed abruptly when he was broken to tie the score at 6-6. After both teams held the score was 7-7. Our team played a great game and took advantage of some opportunities to gain the break back to go up 8-7 and serving for the match. Derek and Jose closed it out to get the first point for FSC. Number 2 doubles was next. They had been down a break of serve the entire match and were down 5-6. Playing patiently and making the other team create opportunities versus giving away points played a brilliant game to break and tie the match 6-6. They held serve and had their first lead when they changed sides at 7-6. After another great game, they broke serve to take the win and give FSC a 2-0 lead with only number 1 doubles still playing. Number 1 doubles was not having a great day. They were down two breaks of serve for most of the match but Miguel and Laurent are gritty if not always pretty while playing. They got one break back midway through the match and just kind of hung around until 5-6. The other team was serving and the guy serving had been tough as nails through the match so far. Pressure is a funny thing, it can cause the easy to become hard and the normal to feel extraordinary. It also goes both ways. Opportunities don’t come often and that is exactly what the number one team had. An opportunity to break serve and tie it up. As I said, pressure goes both ways and this time the other team prevailed. We held serve so changing sides we had one more shot being down 6-7 and the other team with the pressure to serve it out. Again, we fought and had two more opportunities to break serve but in the end, could not answer the bell, shook hands and defeat, and took a 2-1 lead heading into singles
When your team has a lead heading into singles that is usually a good thing. You either must win two singles matches of the six or three of the six. Today, with a 2-1 lead we needed to split the singles and get three of them in our favor to come out victorious. I felt confident that we had the talent to make that happen. In short order, I became very nervous that I had overestimated the ability on this particular day. We were dominating at number 1 and number 3 but the other matches were not going in our favor. They were not going in our favor quite decisively. Number 1 and 3 won in straight sets to give us four of the five overall match points we needed. Soon after the two victories our number 6 was decidedly beaten so it was 4-2 in overall score. Looks good on paper, but this is where being inside tells much more. Number 2 had easily lost the first set and was in a battle in the second set. At the same time number 4 and five were also losing easily but still battling. Here is where heart and the will to win comes into play. All three of these guys got real gritty and fought like hell to make sure we didn’t lose. I had perched myself on the number 5 court with a view of the number 2 match. I did not have a view of number 4 at all and kept trying to keep tabs on what was happening across the bleachers. My number 5 was down a break in the second and was playing poorly. Not only was it not going his way he was letting me know how badly it was going and that he just couldn’t figure it out. My words to him were simple, “Grind out each point and just keep putting the ball back in play and let’s see what happens.” Remember, I spoke about pressure not too long ago. Well, you never know when it is going to rear its ugly head. Miguel just kept staying alive and fought his way back to even at 5-5 in the second set. He then immediately got broken and was back under the gun. Pressure is a damn cruel thing and once again it played into Miguel’s favor and he again tied the set at 6-6 and he and his opponent would now duel in a tiebreak for the set. Miguel jumped out to a 4-2 lead in the breaker and things were looking good then suddenly it was 5-5. Two points from defeat or a defining third set. The point began and the grind ensued. Miguel hit a poor shot and found himself multiple feet off the court on the dead run scrambling to get to a backhand. He laced a backhand up the line passing his charging opponent. Winner, and a 6-5 lead in the breaker. He won the next point and life reentered his body.
While all of this was transpiring, Jose was struggling through his second set. The ebb and flow was positive to negative and everything in-between. Again, we entered a tie break but Jose made sure that it was a test of wills. After multiple back and forths Jose finally got the upper hand and finished off the set with a flurry of aggressive shots and a 9-7 victory in his second set tiebreak. Again, life has been blown back into our lungs. Across the bleachers, Laurent was serving for his second set at 5-4. I relaxed a bit thinking that we were surely on our way to a third set there as well. Pressure, that damned word and its damned effects, popped up once again. Laurent dropped his serve and then went down 5-6. He squared up his match and once again we had another tiebreak. Laurent dominated his breaker so we entered our third three setter of the day. The match was far from decided but we just needed one of the three to clinch the overall victory.
Here we go, I thought silently while I paced around the Wynee Warden facility. Miguel jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Jose jumped out to a 4-1 lead and Laurent was fighting and was up 3-2 when I glanced over. Miguel’s opponent had a flurry of good play and closed the gap to 3-2 but leveled off and Miguel again got two quick games to be within one game of clinching. Jose also had inched away and was playing dominating tennis against an opponent that had given his all and was wilting under the constant pressure. Miguel became a man possessed and closed out his third set 6-2 and therefore clinching the overall victory for FSC. We were ahead 5-2 but as a coach I want to win them all. Jose also was up 5-1 and looked ready to close out his as well. At 5-1 he had a match point, lined up a backhand down the line, let it rip and……missed it. Oops, door open and closed. This had a relaxing effect on the opponent and he played brilliantly for the next two games and closed the gap to 5-3. Jose, undeterred finished out the match with a 6-3 victory in the third to give us a 6-2 lead. Now we just needed to cheer Laurent on to finish off this match and get our 7-2 victory. It is funny and amazing to me that a team sport can at times be so individual. Athletes with personal pride are fun to watch and I appreciate the effort more than most will know. Laurent’s opponent was playing strictly for personal pride. The team had lost, he had battled with the hope of being needed, and now he was fighting for an empty victory. Let me tell you, he fought and fought and gave Laurent everything he had. Laurent, also playing for personal pride and only to help the cause gave his everything as well. The two players played high level and didn’t allow the few mistakes they made lower the quality of the match. Each had opportunities and the opponent was able to put his together to pull out the victory. I hate losing even when we win and so do most of the guys on the team. When you are keeping score, you want to win. Laurent was not happy getting beat and I like that.
We won the match 6-3 and I was so proud of the heart the team showed in such a tough match. I mean, we won three tiebreaks just to save the opportunity to win the match and then won two out of the three three set matches that were contested. I was upset that we needed to go that deep to pull out the match and even had a few players ask if I was happy or angry. I told them that I was both. This is where I feel I am losing my mind. How can you be angry when you win? All I can say to that is that I feel I have a superior team and expect them to play the way I feel about them. To tell you the truth, I think they do. They played with heart and passion and did what I always ask. They fought for every point and played until the end. It is confusing at times but I will never discredit a win. They are hard to come by and are hard earned in the world we compete. Thanks guys, keep being what you are.
When your team has a lead heading into singles that is usually a good thing. You either must win two singles matches of the six or three of the six. Today, with a 2-1 lead we needed to split the singles and get three of them in our favor to come out victorious. I felt confident that we had the talent to make that happen. In short order, I became very nervous that I had overestimated the ability on this particular day. We were dominating at number 1 and number 3 but the other matches were not going in our favor. They were not going in our favor quite decisively. Number 1 and 3 won in straight sets to give us four of the five overall match points we needed. Soon after the two victories our number 6 was decidedly beaten so it was 4-2 in overall score. Looks good on paper, but this is where being inside tells much more. Number 2 had easily lost the first set and was in a battle in the second set. At the same time number 4 and five were also losing easily but still battling. Here is where heart and the will to win comes into play. All three of these guys got real gritty and fought like hell to make sure we didn’t lose. I had perched myself on the number 5 court with a view of the number 2 match. I did not have a view of number 4 at all and kept trying to keep tabs on what was happening across the bleachers. My number 5 was down a break in the second and was playing poorly. Not only was it not going his way he was letting me know how badly it was going and that he just couldn’t figure it out. My words to him were simple, “Grind out each point and just keep putting the ball back in play and let’s see what happens.” Remember, I spoke about pressure not too long ago. Well, you never know when it is going to rear its ugly head. Miguel just kept staying alive and fought his way back to even at 5-5 in the second set. He then immediately got broken and was back under the gun. Pressure is a damn cruel thing and once again it played into Miguel’s favor and he again tied the set at 6-6 and he and his opponent would now duel in a tiebreak for the set. Miguel jumped out to a 4-2 lead in the breaker and things were looking good then suddenly it was 5-5. Two points from defeat or a defining third set. The point began and the grind ensued. Miguel hit a poor shot and found himself multiple feet off the court on the dead run scrambling to get to a backhand. He laced a backhand up the line passing his charging opponent. Winner, and a 6-5 lead in the breaker. He won the next point and life reentered his body.
While all of this was transpiring, Jose was struggling through his second set. The ebb and flow was positive to negative and everything in-between. Again, we entered a tie break but Jose made sure that it was a test of wills. After multiple back and forths Jose finally got the upper hand and finished off the set with a flurry of aggressive shots and a 9-7 victory in his second set tiebreak. Again, life has been blown back into our lungs. Across the bleachers, Laurent was serving for his second set at 5-4. I relaxed a bit thinking that we were surely on our way to a third set there as well. Pressure, that damned word and its damned effects, popped up once again. Laurent dropped his serve and then went down 5-6. He squared up his match and once again we had another tiebreak. Laurent dominated his breaker so we entered our third three setter of the day. The match was far from decided but we just needed one of the three to clinch the overall victory.
Here we go, I thought silently while I paced around the Wynee Warden facility. Miguel jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Jose jumped out to a 4-1 lead and Laurent was fighting and was up 3-2 when I glanced over. Miguel’s opponent had a flurry of good play and closed the gap to 3-2 but leveled off and Miguel again got two quick games to be within one game of clinching. Jose also had inched away and was playing dominating tennis against an opponent that had given his all and was wilting under the constant pressure. Miguel became a man possessed and closed out his third set 6-2 and therefore clinching the overall victory for FSC. We were ahead 5-2 but as a coach I want to win them all. Jose also was up 5-1 and looked ready to close out his as well. At 5-1 he had a match point, lined up a backhand down the line, let it rip and……missed it. Oops, door open and closed. This had a relaxing effect on the opponent and he played brilliantly for the next two games and closed the gap to 5-3. Jose, undeterred finished out the match with a 6-3 victory in the third to give us a 6-2 lead. Now we just needed to cheer Laurent on to finish off this match and get our 7-2 victory. It is funny and amazing to me that a team sport can at times be so individual. Athletes with personal pride are fun to watch and I appreciate the effort more than most will know. Laurent’s opponent was playing strictly for personal pride. The team had lost, he had battled with the hope of being needed, and now he was fighting for an empty victory. Let me tell you, he fought and fought and gave Laurent everything he had. Laurent, also playing for personal pride and only to help the cause gave his everything as well. The two players played high level and didn’t allow the few mistakes they made lower the quality of the match. Each had opportunities and the opponent was able to put his together to pull out the victory. I hate losing even when we win and so do most of the guys on the team. When you are keeping score, you want to win. Laurent was not happy getting beat and I like that.
We won the match 6-3 and I was so proud of the heart the team showed in such a tough match. I mean, we won three tiebreaks just to save the opportunity to win the match and then won two out of the three three set matches that were contested. I was upset that we needed to go that deep to pull out the match and even had a few players ask if I was happy or angry. I told them that I was both. This is where I feel I am losing my mind. How can you be angry when you win? All I can say to that is that I feel I have a superior team and expect them to play the way I feel about them. To tell you the truth, I think they do. They played with heart and passion and did what I always ask. They fought for every point and played until the end. It is confusing at times but I will never discredit a win. They are hard to come by and are hard earned in the world we compete. Thanks guys, keep being what you are.
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