Tag: charlie ellis

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Campus News Sports

Fall Sports Off to Strong Start

A few weeks into the fall semester, and athletics are off to a good start. Both the women’s tennis team and field hockey team have seen improvements in their season and are fighting hard in competition.

According to Charlie Ellis, head coach of the tennis team, the team is a close-knit group which has a high level of respect for each other and the teams they compete against. It’s been a good season and although they have had some difficulties with illnesses and the high demands of the classroom, the team is holding together very well.

“The girls are an extremely humble group,” said Ellis. “It’s enjoyable to work with them because they really do care about the team and their reputation deeply.”

Ellis emphasized the positive culture his team has created between every player, “These girls enjoy each other’s company regardless of ability. They push each other everyday and work to help each other instead of trying to compete within their team.”

As a coach, Ellis likes to observe the girls who are not typically in the front line up. Their goal is to push the players at the top in practice everyday. “They always do a great job pushing and fighting to reach the top,” said Ellis. He explained how those girls have to work hard because they always have to be ready to be called upon to play in a game.

As a team, “They don’t press and get outside of what they are capable of doing and they don’t embarrass themselves. They make sure the other team has to play and really fight for their points. Even if a team beats us, they have to spend a long time fighting for it,” said Ellis.

Women’s tennis is a new team, just started 4 years ago by their current coach. Ellis attributes their success to the girls’ commitment to improving their tennis game. As a coach, he focuses on the skill sets of his athletes and seeing individual and team improvement each week and year.

Ellis said, “We are more focused on measuring the physical success of tennis skills compared to winning or losing. The skills of our team are better this year for sure.”

The team looks forward to their home match against Alfred University on Tuesday, October 4th. Ellis said, “It’s always a pretty even competition and it’s nice to enjoy a conference match with a team right down the road.”

Also showing success, with a 4-2 record, the field hockey team is one to look out for this season. According to Elizabeth Modesto ‘18, “This year’s team is primarily upperclassmen who have been playing with each other for several years. We’ve also gained some solid key players.”

Captain Kelsie Ashley ‘17 said, “Our team is unique in that we have a larger roster than years past. Even with some new players, our previously young team has transitioned into a veteran squad.”

Modesto commended their strong season to the team’s connectivity on and off the field. This strength is witnessed in their successful passing patterns up the field and their constant communication.

One of the team’s main goals for their season is to push each other to their full potential and raise the overall standard of play.  According to Ashley this is something they talk about regularly as a team.

Moving forward into a busy season, Ashley, Modesto, and their team look forward to more challenging conference games as well as continued growth in their learning and weakness on the field.

Field Hockey plays at home on October 8th and looks forward to redeeming themselves to Washington & Jefferson College after a tough loss last year.

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Campus News

Spring Sports Fight for Postseason Play

Spring sports are entering their last week of regular season play. Every team faces an Empire 8 opponent, which gives them an opportunity to improve their record and a chance to squeeze into a conference playoff spot.

_DSC5742-2In the third year of their program, the men’s tennis team could ensure an Empire 8 tournament berth if they finish among the top four teams in the conference. “If we can beat Alfred and Nazareth than we have a chance of going to the conference playoffs,” said Head Coach, Charlie Ellis. Currently the team’s overall record is 9-6 and their conference record is 4-2. Last weekend, the team pulled out two stellar wins against the Hartwick Hawks and the St. John Fisher Cardinals. It was their first win over St. John Fisher since joining the Empire 8 conference three years ago. “This supporting cast daily has pushed every top player in practice and supported them in the matches,” said Ellis. “They have been sweating and fighting daily to get the entire team ready to play.” Earlier this month, Chase Rangel ’16 was named the Empire 8 Men’s Tennis Play of the Week for his victories in singles matches and double matches, with the help of his partners, ending the week of April 10. “They all get along very well and they are enjoyable to coach which is part of the reason for their success this season,” added Ellis.

The men’s baseball team’s record, unfortunately, does not reflect the hard work and small wins that they have had this season. Currently the team is 13-20 overall and 3-10 in the Empire 8 conference. However, having a fairly new team comprised of mostly freshman and transfers, incoming players have had to step up and fill big roles on the team. “We lost a lot of pitchers last year and some guys who played a big part as leaders on the team,” commented Michael Knapp ’16. Head Coach, Brian Reitnour added, “[We] are a fairly young team and my ultimate goal is to see us develop an identity that reflects our core values.” During the middle of the season, the team had a six game winning streak where they rallied from deficits to win games, but it was snapped due to a split with the Penn State-Beave Nittany Lions. On April 7, the Highlanders played for over six hours and nineteen innings against the Alfred State Pioneers. The game resulted in a split where the Pioneers won the first game 5-4 in 11 innings, and the Highlanders scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to win the second game 4-3. “This season has been better than we expected it to be” said Ethan Duryea ’18. “Collectively we have played more as a team this year than we did last year.”

Both teams have games this week and possibly next week, depending on how well they play.  The Highlanders will take on the the Stevens Ducks on their home field at 6 p.m. Friday, April 29, and at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 30. The men’s tennis team will take on the Alfred Saxons on their home  court at 4 p.m. Friday, April 29.

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Stories In Focus

Women’s Tennis Achieves Goals

In their second season headed by Coach Charlie Ellis, the women’s tennis team welcomes seven new players to their roster. The recruits include five first years, one junior transfer, and one senior who did not play on the team during their first season. “The [new players] definitely bring a new culture to the tennis team,” says senior captain, Jennifer Iacucci, “since they are so young and [are] learning at a rapid pace, they have a bright future.”

Senior, Jennifer Mechler, said, “[Our bigger team] brings more competition, more resilience.” The returners have improved and they are able to teach the new players who have high school experience. Iacucci commented that, “Skills have gotten better, confidence levels have grown, and [they are gaining an] understanding of collegiate tennis.” However, not everyone is able to travel when they have away games. Coach Ellis maintains that the team, “plays together competitively every day. [He plays] everybody in exhibition matches to get experience.”

“LukeLauer_TennisAll the returners are with new players so even [if] they are not playing, they can still be a part of the team,” said junior captain, Bethany Chesebro. The women’s tennis team arrived early before school started for preseason among other fall sports. Iacucci said, “It was easier to have good team chemistry during preseason. We are intentional about the time we spend together.”

The women’s tennis team is currently 2-6 overall, but these scores do not show the improvements they have made from last season. This year, the team is able to conduct themselves better in matches because they know the rules and know what to expect. Coach Ellis’ main goal was to win at least two matches and they have already achieved that. Iacucci shared the team’s main goals are to: “slowly work [their] way up the ladder in each match, [win] at least individual matches, be friendly, have the highest team GPA on campus, be a well-rounded team, and [be] visible and supportive of [each other] in all that [they] do.”

Throughout the year, the team aspires to grow spiritually as well. Before matches, they invite their opponents to pray with them so everyone remembers they are playing for the glory of God. Prayer as a group and with their prayer partners is a big part of their devotionals, headed by the team chaplain, senior, Andrea Melhorn. “Prayer partners are a good idea because you can hold someone accountable,” said Chesebro. Beyond attending church and doing devotions together, they are currently planning a mission’s trip to the Dominican Republic for preseason next year.

Since the start of this season, women’s tennis has shown signs of progression and improvement. Chesebro said, “He exposes us to competitive play and it has helped us because we are now able to compete with other teams in the conference.” However, Coach Ellis wants his girls to know that being competitive is not their sole focus as a team so they should not walk away discouraged from any match. He does not see the girls just as tennis players, but is invested in their lives off the court. Coach Ellis wants, “[His seniors] to enjoy their last year and to pass on the culture [they have] created to the new players by respecting one another, being thankful for what God’s given [them], honoring what [they] are doing, and not being self-centered.”

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Sports

New Tennis Teams are a Hit

Men’s and women’s tennis are welcomed this fall as the two newest teams on campus. Both teams are practicing hard as they begin their inaugural year headed by Coach Charlie Ellis.

“I have come from the corporate world of tennis club and fitness club management. My management of clubs has gone back as far as 18-20 years,” said Coach Ellis, “I feel very fortunate to be working with Skip Lord and Matthew Webb; those men have been extraordinarily supportive of me.”

Bethany Chesebro, sophomore, returns the ball to her opponent.
Bethany Chesebro, sophomore, returns the ball to her opponent.

Under Ellis’s direction, the women began their training two weeks prior to classes along with the rest of the fall athletes, while the men started training this past week. The women have competed in several matches already and are 2-3 overall. While there are thirteen women on the team, not all are able to travel for every match.

“This is a tennis team and even the ones that aren’t playing on that particular day are still important, even the ones that don’t go on the road trips,” said Coach Ellis, “This is a group of girls who have come together and they have established a relationship with each other that is unprecedented. They are extraordinarily supportive of each other to play as a team and to serve their Lord.”

“For almost all of us, it is our first time being a Houghton athlete,” said junior Molly Freihofer, “So while we have had to learn a lot, the process of forming the first women’s tennis team was something we were all excited about and have really enjoyed.”

At a tournament, six single matches are played and three doubles, each counting as one point. Thus, there is a total of nine points to be earned in a college tennis match. The winner must win five or more of those points.

The women were down 4-1 against Medaille on September 5th, but fought to win each subsequent game. The men have played one match thus far, against Penn State Behrend. It was a close competition, as the men lost 5-4.

Junior Brennen Campbell expressed the men’s goals: “To have the highest overall team GPA of Houghton Athletics, to make an impression on the opponents that we face throughout the season, and to build the Houghton tennis program to be one that will be recognized as a competitive Empire 8 program.”

Each player has come in with a different level of playing experience. While the teams are training athletically to improve and fine-tune their skills, they are also encouraging each other spiritually. The women have devotions led by chaplains and prayer partners, while the men emphasize prayer before and after they meet to compete.

“The team has been getting along really well. Everyone’s personality works together to form the disciplined team that we have this year,” said Campbell, “No matter the skill level, everyone is willing to help improve their fellow teammates.”

“They have responded very well to my coaching, my direction, as well as the understanding that we are about to embark on another journey, of Houghton tennis,” said Coach Ellis, “And we want to set a culture and footprint off the right foot. The girls and boys have responded very well to understanding the gravity of that.”