Fenter to join the Kohawks!

Kohawk Tennis welcomes a new face to the coaching staff!  Coach Rodgers and I are excited to add Brad's talent to the mix; he possesses a wealth of playing and practical experience in the liberal arts setting.  Brad's academic profile, and on court success (doubles All American), stands for itself.  I personally am excited to have a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist in the Racquet Center also.  Complete bio for Brad Fenter below.  

Brad Fenter joined the Coe College coaching staff in the Fall of 2012.  Fenter began his tennis career in his hometown of Vernon, Texas, where he won a State Championship in Mixed Doubles.  Fenter then attended college, and played for the Patriots, at the University of Texas at Tyler.  While at UT Tyler, Fenter was a four year letterman during some of the most successful years in program history.

Starting in 2008, Fenter would be a part of three consecutive Southwest Conference Championships, which each culminated in NCAA tournament appearances.  During this time, the Patriots would twice advance to the Sweet 16.  In the fall of 2009, Fenter was the ITA Southwest Region doubles champion along with partner, Nick Kreines.  At the end of the 2009-10 school year, Fenter was named an All-American in doubles. 

Fenter was also a standout in the classroom.  He was a three-time student athlete of the year finalist from 2008 to 2010 and was inducted into the prestigious Chi Alpha Sigma athlete honor society in the Spring of 2010.  Fenter graduated magna cum laude in May 2010 with a degree in Kinesiology and began work on his Master’s degree in the Fall of 2010.  Fenter expects to complete, and be awarded his Master’s in the Fall of 2012.

For the past two years, Fenter has been an Assistant Coach for both the men’s and women’s tennis teams at Tyler.  During his time as an assistant, the men and women each captured consecutive Conference Championships.

Fenter is also certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA).

Baird Iowa Open

The Baird Iowa Open was contested in Cedar Rapids this past weekend.  Kohawk Tennis was a factor.

Both the Men's and Women's Open Doubles finals were ALL COE!  Curtis Newman ('13) paired with Scott Stegemann ('11) to defeat Jeff Damisch ('14) and Mike Woolf ('14) in the final.  Newman and Stegemann defeated Tom Jennings ('08) and Rusty Graff ('93) in the semi-final, while Woolf/Damisch knocked off top seeded and fellow IIAC coaches, Matt Tyler (Wartburg) and Patrick Cote (Cornell; now part of the Midwest Conference).

I paired with Molly Garber (Fiala '09) to top Jackie Pedersen (standout freshman for us this past year) and Laura Birky ('16) in the final.

As always, the Fiala family was in full swing over the weekend.  Dad, Mark, once again did a great job serving as the tournament director!  Mom, Mary, paired with Lin Driscoll (mother to Lindsay Driscoll, '07), in Women's Open Doubles.  Experience prevailed as they defeated Jordan Ferree ('15) and Elizabeth Hoffmann ('14) in a battle; whilst Megan Fiala ('10) and Lindsay sat courtside calculating the fact that their mothers more than tripled the age of their foes.  Mary and Lin then played Molly and I in the semi-final.  Lin asked Megan for advice during the match...."Don't hit it to them." Megan also paired with older sister, Mindy, to compete in Open Doubles.

Megan watched my daugther, Emmie, during the Open Doubles final.  Emmie later asked me if it was okay that Megan had given her Rice Christmas Treats.

The Mixed Open Doubles Final also had Coe grads on each side of the net.  Molly Fiala and Tom Jennings defeated Phil Williams ('04) and Tiffany Earl.

I played both Birky and Pedersen en route to the Open Singles Final, where I was defeated by Heather Fleming.  Heather and her husband, BJ, recently took 3rd at Husband-Wife Mixed Doubles Nationals (they have won the title in years past).

Jennings also represented Coe in the Men's Open final; losing to Tyler.  Damisch, Alex Klaas ('14), and Newman each advanced to the quarters, and Riley Galbraith ('16) the semi.  Jennings knocked off both Klaas and Galbraith in third set tiebreakers.

Thanks to Betty Damisch, we of course have more pictures for you also!  The third picture above is so typical of Klaas, is it not?  Many other members of the Coe family were part of the event.  Thanks to all for making it an enjoyable weekend of tennis and fun!

2012 Baird Iowa Open

Several past, current and future Kohawks will be competing in the 2012 Baird Iowa Open this weekend.  The event/tournament has always served as a "reunion" for the Coe crew.....current players returning to Cedar Rapids for a weekend of havoc (strictly on court of course), former players doing much of the same and future players becoming acquainted with the family!  Looking forward to an enjoyable weekend of tennis!  Follow along here.

Welcome Back!

Megan Fiala
Public Relations Coordinator
Assistant Director of Parent Programs
Email: mfiala@coe.edu


Megan has re-joined us here at Coe! She of course has never really left since graduating in 2010. A daily sight here in the Racquet Center, Megan has been easy to spot on an elliptical machine. Occasionally even on a tennis court! Nowadays only a short walk up the street to the Nassif House after her workouts.

Congratulations Megan! 

And(although I always am the last to know) Megan just got engaged to Tyler Goodall.

Congratulations Megan! .....Again! :)

Quotes...

5 quotes/stories that I came across this past week and wanted to pass along.....


Read in Outliers:
"No one who can rise before dawn three hundred sixty days a year fails to make his family rich."


Two of the TapOut XT (my most recent endeavor) mottos:
"You don't walk away from a challenge; you RUN to it."
"Results are not made in the comfort zone."  (closely related to a Coach Rodgers' principle)


Sent to me from Kristy Staker as part of her Faithfully Fit Newsletter:

“The world would be better off if people tried to become better. And people would become better if they stopped trying to be better off.” -Peter Maurin

Received via email from givemore.com:

Work Ethic

I was running a scrimmage during a soccer practice with 11-year-old boys. On the field next to us was a group of about 20 men playing a game. At one point, a ball flew from their field through our field and down a hill about 50 yards. One of my players immediately (almost instinctively) ran down the field to get the ball and return it. I asked, "Why did you do that, Adam?" "I was closest," he said.

Catch of the Day!

Picture sent to me from Hoff with the caption, "In case you need blog material.....or fresh salmon." She knows me all too well! 

Did you know salmon is a SuperFood? ;)

A Player's Tribute to Coach Rob Rye - By Jonathan Roger ("JR")

Recent graduate, JR, put together a slideshow/video as a tribute to Coach Rob, and his time here at Coe.  Rob will be greatly missed by players, coaches and the Kohawk community!
http://prezi.com/9djdfcx7bsbe/rob-bobo-rye-and-his-career-at-coe/

Rob Rye Named Prairie Fire Tennis Coach

7/16/2012 7:33:00 PM

Rob Rye

Galesburg, IL – A former college tennis standout with coaching experience at the NCAA Division III level has been named the head men’s and women’s tennis coach at Knox.

Knox athletic director Chad Eisele announced on Monday, July 16, that Rob Rye has accepted the position.  He’ll begin his new duties on August 1. 

Rye most recently was an assistant men’s and women’s tennis coach at Division III Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a post he held since the fall of 2010. Prior to that, Rye was a volunteer assistant tennis coach for two seasons at Chapman University in Orange, California.

Rye helped coach the Coe men’s and women’s tennis teams to Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) championships and first round victories in the NCAA Tournament during the 2011-2012 season.  The Kohawks finished second in the IIAC in both men’s and women’s tennis during Rye’s first season as an assistant.

Rye said he’s very excited to be taking on the head coaching duties at Knox.

“Practically growing up on the court with tennis players and coaches in my family, playing high-level tennis in high school and college, and serving as an assistant coach for the past four years has prepared me well for this wonderful opportunity that I have been working toward my entire life,” he said. 

“It’s a dream come true to be able to take this step in my coaching career at a school that has such a strong tradition of excellence.”

The women’s tennis team at Chapman University was ranked as high as #10 nationally in NCAA Division III while players on both the women’s and men’s teams qualified for the national championships when Rye was on the coaching staff.

Rye played four years at Whitman University (Walla Walla, Washington) and was a captain of the tennis team, which he said was consistently ranked in the top 25 in Division III – including #12 in the country in 2007.  Along with his success on the court, Rye was named to the ITA All-Academic Team twice.

In addition, Rye has seven years of tennis teaching experience and received his USPTA certification in 2009.

“There is a great potential for the Knox tennis teams to become one of the strongest programs in the Midwest Conference.  I anxiously look forward to working with an enthusiastic group of players as well as the rest of the staff at Knox in starting on a challenging journey of improvement.”

Rye earned a bachelor’s degree in rhetoric and film studies from Whitman in 2008.

Top Ten of 2011-12 - IIAC Women's Tennis

The Kohawk women's tennis team won the Iowa Conference Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

 

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Throughout the summer, CoeAthletics.com will look back at the top 10 individual and team performances of the year. Today we take a look at the women's tennis team's performance in the IIAC Automatic Qualifier.

During the fall regular season, the Kohawks finished 8-0 in league play, earning the number one seed in the team championships.  At the team tournament, Coe went undefeated, earning a 5-4 win over Luther in the championship match. The tournament victory gave the Kohawks home court advantage to the spring IIAC Automatic Qualifier tournament.
In the semifinal match, the Kohawks made quick work of Cornell, winning 5-0.  The stage was then set for a third dual meet with the Norse, with the rights to play in the NCAA Tournament on the line.
Coe opened doubles play against Luther with an 8-2 win at number one from junior Michelle Schupbach (Cedar Falls, Iowa/Columbus) and sophomore Tai Lucero (Odessa, Texas/Permian), as they beat Cami Czech and Katherine Howe.  Luther evened the match with an 8-4 win at number three doubles before Coe took a 2-1 lead into singles play.  Freshman Jackie Pedersen (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Kennedy) and junior Sara Ohlman (Washington, Ill./Washington) earned the Kohawks second win, as they beat Cassandra Chalhoub and Lola White-Baer 8-4.
The Kohawks needed three wins in singles play to capture the title.  Ohlman gave the Kohawks their first win, as she beat White-Baer 6-2, 6-2 at number four singles.  Schupbach followed with a 6-3, 6-1 win at number one singles against Czech before Pedersen wrapped up the dual with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Chalhoub.
Improving to 28-2 overall in singles play, Schupbach broke Coe's single-season wins record.  Teaming with Lucero, she improved to 28-2 in doubles, as the pair broke Coe's single-season wins record.  All three Kohawk doubles teams finished with 22 or more wins on the year, as they finished the year a combined 75-18.
With the win, Coe made its third appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and its first appearance since 2008.  In the first round of the NCAA tournament the Kohawks beat Hope College 5-4 to advance to the second round. In the second round the Kohawks lost to sixth-ranked Carnegie Mellon.
With no graduating seniors on the team, all six Kohawks are slated to return next year to defend Coe's IIAC Championship.

random musings...

.....sure was nice to be able to sit outside this morning with coffee and the Dogs. Glad for the temporary respite from the heat

.....on this day in 1877 the first Wimbledon championships were held

.....yesterday, Roger Federer cemented his legacy as the Greatest of All Time(GOAT)

.....SEVEN weeks until the Women's Fall Season gets underway!

.....last week's tennis was played on clay. Yesterday on hard courts. Today the knees throb!

.....Coach Kris plays her first Pro Circuit event of the year this weekend in Evansville, Indiana. Good luck!

.....Saturday, a fit(for a change) Serena Williams staked out her own claim for GOAT

.....In this slow week for TV Sports Viewing, check out the Tour de France on NBC Sports

.....ELEVEN days to the Eastern Iowa Futures Tennis Tournament

.....SIXTEEN days to the Iowa Open Tennis Tournament

Wimbledon Breakfast!

A tradition in my family (started by my Uncle Don). Shared with Coach, Rob and Rob's sister, Cam, who is visiting from CA. Whole Wheat Waffles, Strawberries and Cream! Kid friendly, and appropriate, green waffles for Emmie!!

Blue Zones Food List

The Blue Zones Food List (a thanks to Kristy for passing this along).

What is the Blue Zones Project?
http://www.bluezonesproject.com/
Today's daily challenge - complete a standing abdominal stretch.

Reading Outliers while down in Ft. Myers for my cousin's baseball tournament.  The opening of the book speaks of the city of Roseto, PA in which heart disease before the age of 55 (65?) is extremely rare.  After much research (genetics, nutrition/diet, etc), the conclusion as to why/how comes down to the sense of community within Roseto itself.  Immediately sparked two things in my mind: 3 of the Power 9 principles are centered around Community (Belong, Loved Ones First and Right Tribe) and of course, the family that exists within Kohawk Tennis!

An elated Emmie below with Charlie (red shirt on the right) and his teammates.

Happy 4th of July!!