Tennis team faces different challenges, new faces this season

March 24, 2005
By Katie Voelliger
Staff Writer

Compare last years men’s tennis team to this years, and anyone will notice a major difference.

Three top-notch players graduated last year, which brought in two freshmen and one new sophomore to rebuild the team.

“We graduated three seniors last year and are playing two freshmen and one sophmore this year,” St. Ambrose University men’s tennis coach Rich Blomgren said.

“So the big difference is the experience factor. We need to get the bottom end of our lineup playing better, but it will take some time.”

This past Saturday instead of playing in the the cold, blistery wind outdoors against Luther College, the SAU men’s tennis players hit back and forth on the indoor courts at South Park Tennis Club. The Bees lost 6-1.

Steve Etheridge, JR Romer, and Hans Schnekloth lost in singles. John Miniter, Rich Hoover, and Jason Jones were tied after two sets, therefore, a third set was held. Jones and Miniter were defeated, while Hoover had an impressive win.

In doubles, Etheridge/Miniter and Ferrara/Romer lost, while Hoover/Jones won.

Schnekloth sees the team improving as the season continues.

“There were a couple of the matches in the beginning of the season we could have won, if we would have played them the way we are playing now,” Schnekloth said. “Our team is definitely improving all the time.”

However, their whole season hasn’t been a loss. Their current record is four wins and seven losses.

“We started out the year really optimistic on our goal of going to nationals, but now our goal as a team is to have a .500 record by the end of the year,” captain Steve Etheridge said.

“This year every match we have played has been challenging. No matter what team we play, if we all don’t bring our A game it is going to be tough for us to win the match.”

The Bees played well over spring break in Orlando. They won three out of the five matches.
“We got to play outside and the weather was perfect,” Schnekloth said. “Our toughest match in Orlando was Aquinas College. They are ranked 14 in the nation.”
The Bees lost to Aquinas 0-9.

“The best thing about this year’s team is the quality of our top four players both on and off the court. Etheridge, Miniter, Hoover and Jones are all friends on and off the court. They are all responsible and take tennis seriously,” Blomgren said.

According to Etheridge, a challenging upcoming match will be against St. Francis. It is a conference match and if the Bees win, they will be seeded higher, going into the regional tournament.

“What is fun about this team is the diversity of kids playing. We have a 27 year old, a 25 year old, a father of two young children, then throw in a couple of 18 year-olds...it makes an interesting group,” Blomgren said.

This interesting group is still hoping on turning things around and making it to the national championships via winning the regional in late April.

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