ROCKFORD ATHLETICS I HOME OF THE RAMS

The Rockford boys varsity tennis team and Holland West Ottawa are no strangers to high-stakes battles. Traditionally, their clash is circled on the calendar as the final conference match of the season, a contest that often decides who will claim the first half of the OK Red Conference crown. But this year, fate had different plans. Instead of closing the season, these two perennial powers opened it, setting the stage for one of the most electrifying matches in recent memory. The energy was undeniable. Fans packed the courts, their voices echoing with every rally. Coaches were locked in, pacing the sidelines, while players battled with grit, nerves, and fire. Two titans of the OK Red, Rockford and West Ottawa, were trading blows like heavyweights, neither willing to flinch. From the very first ball, the duel lived up to its billing. West Ottawa claimed a win, then Rockford answered. Back and forth it went, each team refusing to yield. By the time dusk began to fall, the scoreboard reflected the deadlock: 4-4. It would all come down to one final match, one final showdown under the fading light. On court was 3 singles, Rockford’s Alex Moore (11) and West Ottawa’s Sebastian Dozeman (11) found themselves carrying the hopes of their teams on their shoulders. Each had already won a set, and the third and deciding set would determine the outcome of not just their match, but the entire dual. The tension was thick enough to cut with a racket string. Hundreds of spectators clung to every point, their gasps and cheers surging like waves after each rally. Teammates huddled together, voices hoarse from urging on their guy. Both players delivered punishing groundstrokes, testing the other’s resolve, daring the other to blink. Moore, locked in and fueled by the roar of the Rockford crowd, surged ahead. At 5-3, with two match points on Dozeman’s serve, the match reached its breaking point. The rally that followed was everything tennis fans live for—big forehands, deep backhands, nerves of steel. Dozeman charged the net, looking to finish the point. But Moore had one more dagger left. With a fearless swing, he ripped a passing shot down the line. The ball clipped Dozeman’s racquet and sailed wide. For a moment, silence hung in the air, then came the eruption. The Rockford crowd exploded in cheers, teammates stormed the court, and Moore was swallowed in a celebration worthy of a championship. The Rams had secured the 5-4 victory, earning a statement win in their OK Red opener. “West Ottawa is always one of the best-coached teams in the state,” Rockford’s coaches reflected. “Brian Metz has built a program that is always disciplined, always dangerous. That’s why matches like these are so special—they bring out the best in both teams.” The win was sweet, but Rockford knows it’s just the beginning. The OK Red is one of the toughest conferences in Michigan, and every team has Rockford in its sights. The Rams understand the journey ahead will require the same fight, passion, and resilience they showed against the Panthers. “This is only the first battle,” Assistant Coach Jerry Hewitt stated, grinning through exhaustion. “We’ve got a lot more work to do.” Match Results – Rockford 5, Holland West Ottawa 4 Singles #1: Elijah Johnson (R) def. Trevyn Bethke (WO) 6-2, 6-2 #2: Noah Van Wieren (WO) def. Easton Wurm (R) 6-1, 6-1 #3: Alex Moore (R) def. Sebastian Dozeman (WO) 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 #4: Drew Rothstein (WO) def. Noah Clark (R) 6-1, 6-0 Doubles #1: Quinn Geshel / Sam Martin (R) def. Lincoln Taylor / Lukas Woudwyk (WO) 6-3, 6-3 #2: Jayden Fudge / Joseph Miesiack (R) def. Teddy Mauger / Brayden Goodwin (WO) 6-3, 6-4 #3: Coen Beickman / Broderik Gee (R) def. Kingston Smith / Jack Zernicke (WO) 6-0, 4-6, 6-0 #4: Soren Traver / Josh Reimink (WO) def. Tray Storms / Carter Drolema (R) 7-6(6), 6-4 #5: Myles Wilkinson / Dawson Linn (WO) def. Scott Julian / Liam Storms (R) 6-4, 6-2 For Rockford, the victory wasn’t just about the numbers, it was about grit, belief, and the will to rise in the clutch. If this season opener is any indication, the OK Red is in for a season filled with drama, passion, and tennis at its very best.