Iowa Wild Card Team Ends Dream Season in Oklahoma

Iowa City Men's USTA 4.0 18+ Tennis Team.

We added one more exciting chapter to our Iowa Men's tennis adventures this last weekend in Oklahoma.  Our first round in the USTA 4.0 18+ Midwest sectionals against St. Louis, MO started out strong with a 4-1 win.   We faced Oklahoma next in the second match of pool play in a round robin format.  Every match was close but we came up short, losing 4-1.  In round 3 we faced an undefeated Kansas team in a must-win situation which was moved indoors due to incessant rain.  We prevailed 4-1 and finished in second place in our pool.  One more match win in any of the first three rounds would have given us an automatic bid into the semifinals and a chance to play the other Iowa team who edged us out in the state championship match 3-2 in June.

Our quarterfinal match against Nebraska was a rematch from one year ago.  My partner and I were still battling late into the evening long after all the other matches were completed.  We had a couple of match points with my partner serving and both times the ball narrowly missed landing in.  Our team gave them everything we had.  The other team came back and beat us 9-7.  Final score:  Nebraska 4, Iowa 1.  We were really hoping for a chance to redeem ourselves in the semis against the other Iowa team but the ball didn't bounce our way.  The Des Moines team held off Nebraska 3-2 in the semis and advanced to play Heart of America in the finals.  Des Moines won 3-2.  They will go to Surprise, Arizona in October.  Congratulations to Des Moines.  I would like to thank my teammates for an amazing season.  Tennis is alive and well in the great Midwest and our dreams will never die.  We'll be back next year for a third attempt against the best players in the region.  I'm grateful for the wild card entry and the opportunity to represent the great state of Iowa.  I wish the Des Moines team well in the National Championships.  Have a great day.

Today is the Finals

This story was written just before I kissed my wife good-bye and headed off for our next great adventure.  If all goes well, we're still playing today.  Come back tomorrow for the rest of the story.  Have a great day.

Day 2 of Our Regional Championships

Today is day 2 of our regional championships and this is the final day of our round robin.  Loser goes home.  Winner gets an entry into the semis and 2nd and 3rd play one more round in the quarterfinals this afternoon.  Last year we made it to the quarters and got beat in a close one.  There is rain in the forecast.  We're ready for whatever comes our way.  Have a great day.

On the Courts Today

This is day one of our regional tournament and we're on the courts twice today.  I'll be giving updates on Monday about our tournament.  Have a great day.

Reaching for the Stars

I'm on the road again.  Our team is reaching for the stars and soon we'll be meeting in Oklahoma to finish what we started one year ago.  It won't be easy.  That's okay.  We're giving it everything we have.  The practices have been intense.  I can't remember the last time I ate something that wasn't good for me.  I'll be out of touch until next Monday morning but these stories will keep coming every morning while I'm away.  Have a great day.

I'm a Lab Rat for a Bone and Joint Study

When researchers sent out a notice seeking volunteers for a two year bone and joint study, I decided to become a lab rat.  They want to learn how physical activities and other factors affect the health of your bones and joints, specifically related to the knee.  I'm especially curious because I'm on concrete eight hours per day, I play competitive tennis and I don't consume dairy.  Most people give me a funny look when I share my daily routine with them.  Some think I'm going to have health issues related to my food choices.  The one thing I know for sure is that becoming a lab rat for my cousin's food experiment saved my life.  I'm willing to go through another round of experiments in order to help researchers learn more about our bones and joints.  Stay tuned for progress reports.  The final results will be available in published reports.  Have a great day and don't forget to bend your knees.

What a Difference a Year Makes

One year ago today on 8/08 at 8:08 AM I was headed into surgery to repair a sports related inguinal hernia.  I had a date with Davinci, a robot my surgeon used to restore my health.  I promised my teammates I would be back for another shot at the regional championships after we came up short in the regional tournament that ended the day before my surgery..  I feel stronger than ever now, thanks to Dr. Nicholas Kuiper.  I would also like to give credit to my teammates.  They pushed me hard this last year.  We are departing tomorrow for Oklahoma for another shot at the Midwest championships.  Keep us in your prayers.  The conditions will be challenging and the competition will be the best we've ever faced.  In order to win it all, we will need to find a way to get past the Iowa team that edged us out in the state championships.  There are 8 teams vying for a spot in the national competition to be held in Surprise, Arizona in October.  Stay tuned for the rest of the story.  Have a great day.