The Reeths-Puffer boys tennis team has had its share of ups and downs this season, but over the past few weeks the Rockets have been trending in a very positive direction.
R-P has had a whirlwind schedule, with six dual matches in 10 days, and the results couldn’t have been more encouraging.
The Rockets are 3-1-2 in that span against some tough competition. They are battling for second place in the extremely competitive O-K Green conference, with two league dual matches and the conference tournament still coming up.
R-P will have a big test when it hosts rival Mona Shores on Monday in a key conference match.
The Rockets' successful No. 1 doubles team of Jake VandenBosch and Zade Rogers.
The whirlwind schedule started with a 7-1 victory over Wyoming last week, then continued with a 4-4 tie with a very tough Lowell team, a 6-2 win over Kenowa Hills, a 7-1 victory over Fruitport and a 4-4 tie with a strong Zeeland East squad.
On Wednesday the Rockets went up against Zeeland West, the top team in the O-K Green, and fell 7-1.
Despite that loss, R-P Coach Ryan Hankinson has been impressed with the way his entire team has been improving as the season heads into its final weeks.
“The players have really started to embrace their ability to grow and improve, even if the fast-paced fall season,” Hankinson said. “Maybe it is youthful optimism, but tennis really is a mental sport regarding players in a similar talent range.”
Reeths-Puffer's Cade Paugh
Reeths-Puffer has been unbeatable lately at No. 1 doubles, where Zade Rogers and Jake VandenBosch have posted a perfect 6-0 record over the 10-day span.
Rogers and VandenBosch, who have only been playing together a few weeks, defeated Wyoming’s Mattixx Bentley and Alan Ramos 6-0, 6-0; Lowell’s Josiah Kissinger and Jacob Kissinger 6-3, 7-5; Fruitport’s Jayden Richards and Christian Whipple 6-0, 6-0; Kenowa Hills’ Tyler Herpolsheimer and Sam Chapman 6-2, 6-0; and Zeeland East’s Gavin Guzicki and Alex Macy 6-1, 6-2.
Their biggest win came against powerful Zeeland West, when they rallied and beat Landen Mosbauer and Simon Moore in three tough sets, 1-6, 7-6, 6-3.
“Our one doubles team compliments each other perfectly, like two seniors and co-captains should,” Hankinson said. “Even though they have only played eight matches together in their careers, they are undefeated and appear to have the chemistry of a tandem that have been partners for years.”
R-P's Ethan Frang
The Rockets' other doubles teams are also doing very well. The No. 2 duo of Jaxson Whitaker and Travis Ambrose are 4-1 in their last five matches. The No. 3 team of Adam Miller and Holden Earnest are also 4-1, while the No. 4 team of Cory Judd and Trent Van Dam are 4-2 in their last six matches.
The results have been more mixed in singles.
Kaden Malotke (No. 3 singles) is 2-1 in the first three singles matches of his varsity career. Ethan Frang has also played well at No. 4, posting a 2-2 record in his last four matches.