ROCKFORD ATHLETICS I HOME OF THE RAMS

Sometimes getting on the tennis court is an accomplishment in itself. That was certainly the case for the second Rock Tennis Quad of the season. With the original forecast calling for a Saturday that looked like it would be a complete washout, there was a real possibility that this fantastic event would never take place. Instead of simply accepting the forecast, coaches and administrators from all four programs came together, communicated, worked through the logistics and found a way to make it happen. The tournament was moved to Friday. And what a decision that turned out to be. The Rockford Rams welcomed three outstanding tennis programs: Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, St. John and St. Joseph to Rockford for a beautiful day of high-level high school tennis. From the first ball struck in the morning until the final point of the late evening, the courts were filled with competitive matches, great energy and outstanding sportsmanship. Most importantly, the fans showed up. Throughout the day, parents, family members, friends and supporters lined the courts to cheer on the boys. The atmosphere around the Rock Tennis Quad was exactly what high school tennis should be. And the tennis did not disappoint. Competitive From Top to Bottom One of the best things about a tournament like this is the opportunity to compete against programs that challenge you in every flight. There were very few easy points throughout the day. The Rams were pushed. They were tested. They had to compete for every game and every point. Whether it was singles or doubles, the level of tennis remained high from the top of the lineup all the way through the final flights. That is exactly what we wanted from this tournament. You don't get better by only playing comfortable matches. You get better by putting yourself in situations where you have to fight, problem-solve and find a way to win. The Rams did that throughout the day. And they did it while representing Rockford the right way. The sportsmanship across all four programs was outstanding. Players competed hard, but they competed with respect. Coaches supported their teams while respecting the other programs. Fans encouraged their players and appreciated good tennis on both sides of the net. That is what made this such a great day. Rams Collect Numerous Flight Titles When the final points were finished, the Rams had put together an impressive collection of flight championships and runner-up finishes. Flight Champions: 4 Singles – Noah Clark Noah battled his way through a competitive flight and finished the day as the 4 Singles champion. His ability to stay composed, compete through long points and continue to fight was a great representation of the type of tennis we are building at Rockford. 2 Doubles – Brady Gauthier & Bridger Wildern Brady and Bridger continued their strong play together, winning the 2 Doubles flight. The two have developed a great chemistry on the court and did a tremendous job competing point-by-point throughout the tournament. 3 Doubles – Stephen Chien & Seth Bearly Stephen and Seth claimed the 3 Doubles championship. Their ability to stay connected as a team and continue competing through the tough moments allowed them to finish the day on top. 4 Doubles – Wenji Lastfogel & Julian Scott Wenji and Julian put together an outstanding performance to win the 4 Doubles flight. They competed with confidence and showed the growth that comes from putting in the work every day. 5 Doubles – Ethan Lund & Sawyer Clark Ethan and Sawyer continued the Rams' success in doubles, capturing the 5 Doubles championship. Their energy, communication and willingness to compete for every point were key to their run. 6 Doubles – Jasper Patrick & David Mendham Jasper and David finished the day as 6 Doubles champions. They played consistent, smart doubles tennis and represented the Rams extremely well. Six Rockford flight championships in one day is a tremendous accomplishment. But the success did not stop there. Two More Rams Finish as Finalists The Rams also had two additional teams reach the championship match of their respective flights. 2 Singles – Broderik Gee – Finalist Broderik continued to show why he is one of the leaders of this year's team. He battled through a strong 2 Singles field and earned a spot in the championship match. 1 Doubles – Jayden Fudge & Ryan Stark – Finalists Jayden and Ryan once again found themselves competing at the top of a tournament. The senior-junior combination battled through a competitive 1 Doubles flight and finished as finalists. Those two runner-up finishes, combined with six flight championships, made for an outstanding day for the Rams.