KCRG News Coverage

Local news coverage from this past weekend and the women's AQ event:

http://www.kcrg.com/sports/local/Coe-Womens-Tennis-Advance-to-NCAA-Tournament-205173421.html?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

Weekend Recap

The women captured a bid to the NCAA Tournament this past Saturday by winning the AQ Tournament.
Coe 5, Central 0 (Semi-Final)
Coe 5, Luther 3 (Final)
Michelle Schupbach, our lone Senior, did not lose a game on the day.  Chris Paasch ('07) and Betty Damisch served as photographers.  Pictures posted on the Coe College Tennis Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.457508721002013.1073741832.105913412828214&type=3

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.458434987576053.1073741833.105913412828214&type=3

IIAC Conference story/recap here:  http://www.iowaconference.com/news/2013/4/28/WTEN_0428135930.aspx

The NCAA Team Tournament schedule/location for the women will be released on Monday, May 6th.

The men captured their 28th and 29th victories on the season against Wheaton on Friday, and Elmhurst on Saturday.  Regular season play was wrapped up with a lone season loss (7-2) to Whitewater on Sunday.  Being swept in doubles proved problematic, and too difficult a feat to overcome, against the Nationally Ranked (28th) Warhawks.  Highlights on the day were Noah's win at the top spot against Ben Shkylar, ranked 5th in the Region and Curtis' three set win in his final regular season match as a Kohawk.

The men will play host to their own NCAA AQ Tournament this Friday/Saturday.

Stay tuned!

Video - Curtis Newman

Enjoy:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3J4uAZVmmbM

A crew of men on the road to play Wheaton this afternoon, Elmhurst on Saturday and Whitewater on Sunday.

The women are at home for their NCAA AQ Tournament on Saturday....9 AM semi-final against Central....finals to start an hour after the completion of both semis.

Rule 32

The end of the semester is in sight and we are all looking forward as that mythical last day of classes draw nearer and nearer. Now before we go any farther I want to warn you, I may have accidentally put a positive message into this post. I don’t know how that happened. Now we all know, the long semester and tennis season can wear anyone down, and It’s been a long time since classes and practice began back in January. Even I get worn out at times and my studying and playing days are behind me. It’s during these times that I try and remember a positive piece of advice I heard a few years back, one which I will now pass on to you. This advice comes from that movie with many philosophical implications: Zombieland.

Woody Harrelson is my Socrates

Amongst all the zombie killing and twinkie hunting we are presented with rules to live by and rule #32 actually has some gravitas to it. Rule #32 is “enjoy the little things.” It’s something so simple but can be incredibly helpful when faced with the end of a long semester that can wear everyone down to some degree. Let’s face it, when we’re feeling a little burned out or worn down, we tend to look for other things to confirm our thinking. I know I do this, “Man, I’m on court from 10 to noon, have practice from 3-6, then have 2 lessons, and on top of all that I have offseason workouts this morning at 6am!”

It’s not just with tennis, we do it with just about everything. Anyone who has ever gone to school knows the feeling of waking up Tuesday morning and realizing you have an upcoming test on Thursday, a paper due over Angola on Wednesday, and a lab practical on Friday;  and between practice and chapter meeting there is no way you’re getting all that done unless you go sleepless for 4 days! Once it’s over you realize that chugging those 4 Red Bulls after dropping $30 at Starbucks wasn’t the best idea ever. Turns out, that paper was pretty easy to write once you really started it, the test and practical were tough but not impossible, and your coaches were more than willing to help with any scheduling problems. We look for other things to pile on ourselves to justify that feeling of encroaching doom. This doesn’t always happen consciously but it’s as if our minds are saying, “I have a test and a paper to write, let’s see if we can find any other crap to throw on this pile and make myself miserable.”

I'm sad

I was having what you may call a bit of a low point the other day during my workout. My arms felt like someone had injected lead into them and then proceeded to beat me with my own dense, leaded arms. Being a positive person I started looking for the good in everything and instantly became thankful for all I have……………………Sorry, my finger got stuck on the period button because I was laughing so much. Of course I didn’t do that! I immediately started looking for everything in my day that may construed as just a little bit tough, “My life is so difficult!” In order to really delve into my self wallowing I took a minute break from lifting weights and walked over to the TV. While standing there I saw one of those State Farm commercials where the actors sing a little jingle and an agent shows up like magic a genie who will fulfill all your needs (for a nominal fee and an increase in your deductible I’m sure).  This commercial involved 3 guys sitting in their room and serendipitously being granted a sandwich, the girl from 4E...

And can I get a hot tub!!!

I can’t tell you how much I love this commercial! That part at the end where they ask for a hot tub never gets old to me. This commercial reminded to enjoy the little things – like a random commercial I find funny – and I went back and finished my workout, the same workout that 5 minutes earlier I had thought about quitting.

Before writing this I went to lunch in the school cafeteria. It was the standard fare of food, nothing to really get excited about. That is until I saw the chicken tortilla soup! Chicken tortilla soup! Yep, it’s gonna be a good day, especially if you remember:

Volunteering

Diannah, Hoff and Jordan volunteering at the Special Olympics this past Saturday.  Believe Shade and Tai put time in to the effort also.  Thanks to all!

The Twitter-verse

Folks, there are certain foundations in my life that I consider immutable; certain understandings about the way things will always be. The sun’s gonna rise in the east, Texas is hot in the summer, I like food, the weatherman hates me and everyone else in Iowa. These are things I know every time I wake up in the morning. With all of life’s uncertainties, these are things I thought I could always count on. I say “thought” because earlier this week my entire worldview, what I base everything on, was utterly shattered.

At the beginning of this week I got to Clark Racquet Center and received this bombshell: Freshmen Ryan Hickman now has a Twitter account. That’s right Ryan Hickman is now on the Twitter. Many of you are probably wondering “what’s the big deal with Ryan having a Twitter account?” – or if you’re my parents, “what’s a Twitter?” Well don’t you worry, I’ll break through your confusion like that dog that broke into my backyard when I was a kid. 

When I first heard about this happening I obviously didn't believe it, but I was shown physical proof that could not be denied. Just go on Twitter and search for @rh_doughboy and you’ll find this.

He Tweeted Twice! Get a hold of yourself!

I know having a Twitter account may seem normal to most people, but I’m not most people. Ryan is a younger version of me, basically my emotional and psychological doppelganger. What this means is that we approach most social situations with the same set of rules governing how we act and respond to things. You could ask us any number of questions and you would get the same answer. You want to meet new people? No. Do you love to eat. Yes. You want to go to a dance? Are you kidding? Ryan and I are what you would call introverts which means we don’t care to encounter new social situations and don’t really want to go out and meet new people. This doesn’t mean that we hate everyone (as much as I may profess that from hour to hour) but that we draw strength from being around our close circle of friends as opposed to being in a large gathering such as a party. Some people may say, “let’s go talk to those people,” to which we’ll respond, “why?”

Some people see things as they are and ask why... And so do I

From these similarities you can see why I was shocked when I learned of Ryan’s Twitter account. We just wouldn’t do that! For my Facebook, it takes 50 people wishing me happy birthday before I will even post a status update which usually amounts to, “thanks for birthday wishes, I guess.” I don’t “like” things and I rarely comment on anything. That’s just how I am. I may appreciate it when someone writes on my wall or comments on a picture, but it’s an appreciation for just me. I don’t feel the need to respond to all these things and I know Ryan acts by the same set of rules because he explicitly told me this.

From all these factors it became apparent that other nefarious forces were at play here. Someone else must have set this up for Ryan. I reached this conclusion because that’s the same way I got my own Facebook account. My doubles partner set it up for me which for some reason was acceptable with the rules I have governing social interaction. We don’t mind the idea of having these things but by god we are not going to take the time to set them up. After exhaustive minutes of detective work I discovered that Freshmen Mark Kroll was the catalyst for setting up this Twitter account which oddly, or sadly, enough proves that Ryan and I are the same person. In the not too distant future Ryan can look forward to being a sadly paid 25 year-old who lives in Iowa and is obviously still single. Congrats.

It's not as bad as it sounds.

Will I get a Twitter now? Not unless someone else sets it up for me (please don’t). For now I will live vicariously through Ryan who can put himself out there in the great, wide social media world for both of us.

Curtis' Senior Symposium

Today marks Coe's Student Research Senior Symposium.  In other words, no classes.

Curtis' senior academic schedule looks about like this:
Lab Science (mandatory)
Tennis Fitness 412
Studies of the Game Show Network
Independent Study - TENNIS (30 Hours Per Week)
Senior Doubles Seminar (taught by Professor Fenter & Professor Jennings)

Despite the demanding schedule, Curtis also manages to make strides in his part-time job.....that being the chauffeuring of Coach Brad to various local eateries.

In sum, Curtis' Senior Seminar panned out in the following manner:
11 AM - 12:30 PM:  Kohawk Doubles Tournament
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM:  Lunch / Game Show Network
1:30 PM - 4 PM:  Kohawk Singles Tournament

Picture / video (Mark dancing) from the lunch hour:

News Coverage

Kohawk Tennis makes local news coverage.....again!

Two first year tennis players, Julia Beckley and Justin Sauter, shaved their head yesterday in support of the St. Baldrick's Foundation:
http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Students-Shave-Hair-for-St-Baldricks-Foundation-203303161.html

Live Scoring - Men v Carleton

Coe  7

Carleton  2

Doubles:  2-1

1.  Sprinkel/Newman v Cooper/Hwang 8-4
2.  Galbraith/Inoue v Chin/Jiang 8-6
3.  Stokstad/Janssen v Johnson/Nagy 5-8

Singles:  5-1

1.  Sprinkel v Chin 6-1, 6-0
2.  Galbraith v Jiang 6-7(7), 3-6
3.  Inoue v Cooper 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
4.  Newman v Hwang 4-6, 7-6(6), 5-1 ret
5.  Stokstad v Johnson 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
6.  Hickman v Wolf 6-2, 5-7, 1-0(8)

Live Scoring - Women v Whitewater

Coe 2

Whitewater 7

Doubles:  1-2
1.  Schupbach/Lucero v WW  8-6
2.  Sebastian/Birky v WW  4-8
3.  Washington/Ferree v WW  5-8
4.  Watson/Hannum v WW  8-5

Singles:  1-5
1.  Lucero v WW      75 36 10-4 Coe
2.  Schupbach v WW  62 61 WW
3.  Sebastian v WW  46 63 61 WW
4.  Birky v WW  63 61 WW
5.  Ferree v WW 76 64 WW
6.  Hoffmann v WW  60 63 WW

exo Washington vs WW   86 Coe
exo  Watson vs WW 83 Coe
exo Hannum vs WW 83 WW

News Coverage

KFXA-TV Fox 28 Iowa made an appearance at Thursday's practice.  News story here:

http://www.fox28iowa.com/shared/newsroom/sports/local/videos/kfxa_vid_4458.shtml

The Big Two Five

Last week I dropped the ball and neglected the sacred duty entrusted to me: delivering a sarcasm and vengeance filled manifesto based on my life. One subject lately on my mind concerns this upcoming Friday. April 12^th is obviously known to most people as the beginning of the Civil War with the first shots fired on Fort Sumter in South Carolina. Those with historical and slightly less racist bent the know April 12^th as Russian holiday of Cosmonautics Day which celebrates the first manned space flight in 1961.

We love exploration...and vodka!

These are obviously important events but the 12^th has much greater significance than you may have realized: it’s also my birthday. Now, before you get all upset about me trumpeting myself around and looking for special privileges, wait just a second. This is not what we’re here to talk about. In fact, that’s pretty much the opposite of what this whole thing is about. You see, I’m turning 25 tomorrow and upon realizing this I did the responsible thing and ignored it by binging on Curtis Newman’s Netflix account. Curtis found me in my own wasteland of shattered dreams and TV signals. “Brad, did you watch Snatch, three documentaries, and two Louis C.K. stand up specials on my account?” 

Yes, yes I did.

I’m not getting fatalistic here; I’m just reflecting on my first quarter century. When I was a kid, 25 year-olds were adults and pretty much had all that “adult” stuff figured out. What’s a 401k? What’s the Dow Jones mean? What really are chicken nuggets? I still don’t have any of these things figured out and I’ve had more than my fair share of chicken nuggets. I don't really feel like an adult, ya know, like my parents. I still can’t go 30 minutes without thinking about food. What happened to this whole adult thing? When is that going to kick in? I am thinking that sometime in the next few weeks the “adults” will take me to their meeting and all will become known to me. For now I don't feel and more adult like than I did at 24 or 23. I’m basically just a bigger, slightly less awkward version of my 9 year-old self.

There’s a realization that’s become fairly obvious to me. You basically start dying after 21. Not trying to be negative but as far a birthdays are concerned what do I have to look forward to now? And don’t say renting a car because something you may take advantage of once every 2 years doesn’t really count as a perk. I think I remember from some bygone conversation that your insurance starts going down when you turn 25. Once again, don’t care. Isn’t that why people get married? “Hey we don’t really like each other, but if we make this official with the government then we can get a discount on our car insurance. Whadaya say?”

I have heard it said that life starts at 40. I’m not buying it. Do you die at 30 and get reborn at age 40 in some weird reincarnation-like ceremony? That’s about the only way I can see life starting at 40, and I’m not Hindu so I don’t think I qualify. But before we get wrist-slitting depressed let’s talk about something positive. Even though I don’t like the saying that “life begins at 40” I don’t necessarily think your younger years are the best ones either. Who’s to say when the best time of your life is? It could be at 20 or 45 or 100. I sincerely doubt people who say that high school or your college years are the best times of your life. In high school you don’t even have all the rights of a full human being! (adult). If I make it to 75 years old then statistically there’s a good chance my best times are still ahead of me. I’m not even halfway through yet and neither are you unless you actually are in which case I’m sorry and I hope you have some good times ahead. Two minutes before I die I may discover the secret to happiness and have the greatest two minutes of euphoria ever.

I did it!!!

So while there are things I don’t have anymore that I used to enjoy like my parents paying for all my food, there are also things I can do now that I couldn’t when I was a kid (like gamble, wooooo).I guess what I’m trying to say is that despite my earlier, negative, thoughts on getting older I’m looking forward to what lies ahead while still being appreciative of what I have already experienced in my first 25 years.

I’m glad we could all take some time out of our busy days and pore over my life. Thanks guys

Pictures!

Admitted Student Weekend Friday BBQ!  Seniors, Michelle and Curtis, in the foreground.  Riley to Michelle's left.  Riley's brother, Reid (also a senior, and soccer player) with AD John Chandler in the back row).

Pictures taken by Chris Paasch ('06) this past Sunday against Grinnell:

Coach Rob made his way back to CR for Sunday play.  Pictured here with Mr. Hoffmann and mascot, Stella:

Live Scoring - Women v Grinnell

Coe 7

Grinnell 2

#1 Singles	Tai Lucero	Laura Krull	Coe College	6-3, 6-3
#2 Singles	Michelle Schupbach	Shirlelene Luk	Coe College	6-0, 6-4
#3 Singles	Amy Sebastian	Clothilde Thirouin	Coe College	6-3, 4-6, 6-3
#4 Singles	Laura Birky	Catherine Fitch	Coe College	4-6, 6-4, 6-2
#5 Singles	Jordan Ferree	Emma McDonald	Coe College	5-7, 6-4, 6-4
#6 Singles	Elizabeth Hoffmann	Emily Growth	Coe College	6-1, 6-2
#1 Doubles	Michelle Schupbach  Tai Lucero	Shirlelene Luk  Clothilde Thirouin	Coe College	8-2
#2 Doubles	Shade Hannum  Laura Birky	Catherine Fitch  Laura Krull	Grinnell College	8-3
#3 Doubles	Jordan Ferree  Tamara Washington	Emma McDonald  Julia Rumley	Grinnell College	8-3

Doubles:
4.  Watson/Sebastian v Scott/Richman  8-2

Singles:
7.  Watson v Rumley  6-0, 4-6, 10-4
8.  Washington v Richman  6-1, 6-1
9.  Hannum v Scott  6-3, 6-1

Live Scoring - Men v Grinnell

Coe  9

Grinnell  0

Doubles:  3-0

1.  Sprinkel/Newman v Czarnecki/Gomez  8-4
2.  Galbraith/Inoue v C Johnson/T Johnson  9-8(0)
3.  Stokstad/Janssen v Charney/Lapkin  8-2

Singles:  6-0

1.  Sprinkel v Czarnecki  6-0, 6-2
2.  Galbraith v Gomez  6-2, 6-3
3.  Inoue v Nellis  6-3, 7-5
4.  Newman v Ray  6-0, 6-4
5.  Stokstad v T Johnson  6-4, 6-3
6.  Hickman v Wilhelm  6-3, 2-6, 10-5

Coe  6

Grinnell  3
(Exhibition)

Doubles:  1-2

1.  Damisch/Woolf v Storrick/Grinnell  9-7

2.  Starkenburg/Klaas v Cale/Catanzaro  5-8

3.  Decker/Kroll v Bressler/Wilhelm  8-9(5)

Singles:  5-1

1.  Damisch v Lapkin  5-7, 7-6(8), (13-11)

2.  Brochet v Charney  7-6(2), 6-0

3.  Decker v C Johnson  6-2, 3-6, (10-3)

4.  Woolf v Storrick  6-3, 6-3

5.  Kroll v Cale  6-4, 6-2

6.  Starkenburg v Catanzaro  ?-?, ?-?, (8-10)

Live Scoring - Men v Luther

Coe  8

Luther  1 

Doubles:  3-0

1.  Sprinkel/Newman v Karki/Foley 8-5
2.  Galbraith/Inoue v Mozena/Ayer 8-3
3.  Stokstad/Janssen v Bellio/Brown 9-7
4.  Kroll/Decker v Luther/Luther  8-6

Singles:  5-1

1.  Sprinkel v Karki 6-1, 4-6, (11-13)
2.  Galbraith v Mozena 6-4, 6-0
3.  Inoue v Bellio 6-0, 6-2
4.  Newman v Ayer 7-5, 6-0
5.  Stokstad v Jystad 1-6, 7-5, (10-8)
6.  Hickman v Foley 6-1, 6-1
7.  Decker v Luther 3-8
8.  Kroll v Brown 7-7 (7-5)

Slacking Off

I don't know if anyone informed you of this, but it's Thursday again which usually means it's time for your weekly jolt of life. I had a few ideas in mind for this post: the teams finally getting to hit outside, our big matches coming up, my ever growing love of food. All of these were fine ideas, but unfortunately while I let them marinate in my mind for full flavor, they all went sour. And no one wants to read an article that leaves the taste of sour-marinated ideas in their mind. By the quickly approaching end of this article you can already tell where this is going.

I know what you're thinking, "But Brad, this is the only thing I have to look forward to all week. What am I going to do now? Talk to my wife? Are you insane?" (or husband for those of you saddled with two X chromosomes). I know talking to you're significant other poses real challenges and you need these blog posts like a meth addict needs... well meth I suppose - and dental work. But don't fear, I have some exciting ideas for next week that are guaranteed to give you such a dopamine high that you may never come down. Until then let's all try - however painful it might be - to spend our time with those we love (or are supposed to love), and who knows? Maybe you'll find that they aren't so bad after all. At the very least, you'll probably confuse them for at least an hour, and by the time they discern what you're doing you will have claimed the high ground on the TV remote.

Until next week!  

I Love Coe College

Rebecca Sarkauskas, a Coe College student, and worker here at the Racquet Center put together this video for a class:

I LOVE COE COLLEGE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eduj1lvCxeg