Grace fell 9-0 in their opening match to cross town opponent Calvin College. Grace fought hard in doubles, including 3rd doubles player Andy Clark diving for a shot, but when down 3-0 early by dropping all 3 doubles matches.
The Tigers couldn’t find their rhythm in singles either as they dropped all 6 matches. Coach Miedema commented, “This isn’t an easy place to play for our first match. Not only is Calvin a tough opponent but their courts play like none other. Their indoor service is more like a track and takes some really funny hops. Overall I’m really proud of our guys and the heart they showed. We showed strong athletic ability and will continue to convert that to our tennis strokes.”

Grace will have their first official match this coming Fiday against Calvin College. The match will take place Friday at 6 pm at Calvin College. We caught Coach Miedema to get his thoughts on the upcoming match. He said, “this is the beginning of the tennis history at Grace. It will be a very tough match but one we’re looking forward to. I look forward to great effort from our players and know they will give everything they have. Right now it’s about us competing as we continue to build at Grace. And, we have some very competitive athletes.”

An exciting time indeed for Grace athletics.

The tigers continued practice yesterday for the beginning of their season starting March 18th when they take on Calvin College. This is the first meeting between the crosstown schools and figures to be just one of many. This will be a tough test for the tigers but one that Coach Miedema is looking forward to mentioning that, “with our quick athletic players, the slow courts at Calvin will benefit us. We’ll be able to get to a lot of shots and look to create errors from the other team. Furthermore, our aggressive doubles will be an asset in the Calvin facility. 

March 18th-6 pm at Calvin.

Grace began preparation for their upcoming season with practices indoors starting at the end of January. We caught up with Coach Jon Miedema on what he sees for this inaugural season at Grace.

Coach-What are the primary strengths of your team and the primary areas that need work?

Coach “We have very aggressive, competitive players which is a great asset. I think our doubles play will be strong because of our length and aggressive nature. Doubles play is also about gelling together as players, moving together on the court, and communication. I think our team will be excellent is those areas as we have a lot of character and outspoken personalities. I believe we can improve on our technique and our singles play and over time I think those areas will improve.”

What are your realistic expectations for this coming year?
“I expect us to be very competitive with some established teams and for us to improve as the year goes on. Those are my primary goals. In addition I believe we will grab our first win as a College tennis team. I expect a lot from these players and look forward to continuing to work with them.”

Want to hear more about opportunities of playing tennis at Grace? Contact Coach Jon Miedema.

Email: JMiedema@gbcol.edu

Phone: 616-915-4781

Come see if Grace is a good fit for you!

Several match dates have been scheduled for the season including the following.

Match Dates

March 18^th-Calvin

April 9^th-Saint Joseph

April 9^th-Purdue Calumet

April 15^th-Adrian

Continue to check for further updates on the scheduling section as these times and places become available.

The Men’s tennis team wrapped up official fall practices in early October but players continue preparation for the spring season. Moses Mouanoutoua and Joel Schmuland have continued to practice at the Michigan athletic club and look to improve their skills for the coming season. “The offseason is the best time to work on adding skills and improve in consistency and various areas of ones game,” said coach Miedema. “I’m excited for the challenges of the upcoming season and look forward to improving as a team, but the more preparation that goes in now, the quicker players hit the ground running when the season starts.”

Coach Jon Miedema comes from the Grand Rapids, MI area. He has taught and coached tennis for both juniors and adults for over 8 years at country clubs, recreation departments, and local athletic clubs.
During his playing days Coach Miedema enjoyed success in both high school and college. He played #1 singles at Grand Rapids Christian High School and earned all conference honors. From there he went on to play for four years at Calvin College. His proudest accomplishment was his contribution to the team his senior year, when he played #1 Singles and #1 doubles and helped captain the team to a 16-3 record while being named to the first team all conference.
Coach Miedema said he looks forward to ‘building a winning program at Grace that focuses on success for students both on and off the court.’

10 Questions for Joel:

GBC Graduation Year: 2014

Major: Youth Ministry

Hometown: Post Falls, Idaho

Also… 3 favorite movies……. Hot Rod, Waynes World, Shooter

3 desert island cd’s……. Bob Marley, Exodus, Jeremy Camp, Restored, any Jack Johnson cd

One person I’d love to meet……. Jake Locker (University of Washington Quarterback)

Most exciting place I’ve been on this planet is……. Capemento Del Caribe, Puerto Rico

Greatest moment in my life (outside of receiving Christ) is…….signing to play tennis at GBC

Top 3 people who have impacted you in life…….Mom and Dad, Ryan Phillips, Kelly Calabretto

One life goal of mine is…….Be the man God wants me to be and fulfill his purpose for me.