BIG RAPIDS – Big Rapids’ boys tennis team begins practice Monday and will have two new coaches.
Jon Coles is the boys head coach, while TJ Klein will work with him as the associate head coach.
“Jon was an accomplished tennis player at Greenville High School, posting a 76-16 record in three years as the No. 1 singles player,” Big Rapids athletic director Dawn Thompson said in a statement. “He went to Valparaiso University (Division I) and was a four-year letterwinner and named MVP and team legend in 1999. Jon went on to be the head coach at Lake Superior State University (Division II) for four years. He was named GLIAC Coach of the Year in 2001. NCAA Regional Coach of the Year in 2004 and led the team to the best overall record in school history in 2004.
“Jon’s passion for the game of tennis and his ability to teach the game and build relationships with players are among his greatest strengths.”
Coles was also a former assistant athletic director at Ferris State and is currently an assistant professor/sports management program coordinator at Grand Valley State University.
Austin Brinker coached last year’s team.
“The boys had one of their best teams and finishes in school history,” Coles said. “They finished seventh in Division 4 and were second in the public school standings behind Allegan. All four singles players return, as well as many of the doubles players.”
Three seniors return to the singles lineup:
Senior Owen Westerkamp, last year’s No. 1 singles, returns after going 22-15. Senior Nate Sanders no. 2 singles last year, returns after going 30-7.
Senior Logan Fuller, No. 4 last year, returns after going 22-14.
Junior Preston Younge, No. 3 last year, could also return.
This year’s lineup won’t be decided until the first game, Coles noted.
“Austin Hinkley, a junior, will anchor our doubles line,” Coles said. “He has experience with a high game IQ and brings a calming presence to any doubles teammate. Freshman Noah Sweppenheiser just started playing tennis two years ago, but he’s been off the hook and will make an immediate impact. His ceiling is extremely high. I expect it to improve tremendously with match experience and daily replays.
“Carson Coles, a freshman, comes with a lot of different hitting skills, good pace on court shots, three different serves and tournament experience. I’m not sure if he’s going to play singles or doubles yet.”
Coles said other “pure athletes” who will help are junior Dyllon Walsh, sophomore Mason Sleeper and Isaac Zocco.
“All three of these athletes just started playing last year, but picked up extremely quickly due to their athleticism and transferable skills from other sports. Mason has incredible instincts and an explosive first step. Isaac Zocco has amazing coordination and quick hands. Dyllon Walsh has the potential to be a great serve and already has good strength, long arms and long legs which should translate into a lot of poached volleys and aggressive play at the net.”
The Big Rapids tennis season will begin Aug. 15 in Ludington.
“The expectation is for us to work hard and be the best versions of ourselves,” Coles said. “If we can do this consistently, the results will speak for themselves.”
Internal leadership will be a strength of the team, Coles said.
“When your best players are the most willing workers and kids with good character, you have a recipe for success,” Coles said. “This is going to be a player-led team. Each player and each doubles team will have specific skills and strategies that will need work and refinement throughout the year. So far this group has been coachable and receptive to me as their new coach.
“The work ethic, commitment and therefore the improvement of 5 to 7 of our kids this summer has been amazing. They wanted to start as soon as the girls’ season ended and were on the courts four days a week all summer. Regardless of what happens this season, they’ve embraced the journey and enjoyed the work, which is a life lesson they’ll take with them forever.”
The former coach, noted Coles, “instilled a passion for the game in these kids. That alone will win some matches. It’s not easy to build a boys tennis program in rural Michigan, and he did it. He has built an amazing program with kids of great character, good athletes and incredible numbers. I’ll just try not to screw it up.”