ROCKFORD ATHLETICS I HOME OF THE RAMS

The Rockford boys varsity tennis team traveled to Jenison on Thursday and came away with a commanding 8-1 victory over the Wildcats. The match was held at Jenison’s brand-new 16-court tennis facility, a state-of-the-art venue that provided a unique experience for both players and fans. “There’s something special about competing on brand-new courts,” Rockford head coach Tom Huizing said. “The ball bounces differently, the surface grips differently, it just makes the competition more exciting.” The Rams fed off that energy, turning in a strong performance across the lineup. In singles play, Rockford seniors Elijah Johnson and Easton Wurm set the tone at the top of the lineup. Johnson battled past Jenison’s Elijah Kind 6-1, 6-4, while Wurm dominated Drake Apol with a decisive 6-0, 6-1 win. Alex Moore added another singles victory for the Rams at No. 3, defeating Calvin Soukup 6-1, 6-2. Jenison’s lone point of the day came at No. 4 singles, where Samuel Giere topped Rockford’s Noah Clark 6-0, 6-4. The Rams’ depth and chemistry showed in doubles play, where they swept all five flights. Senior duo Quinn Geshel and Sam Martin cruised at No. 1 doubles with a 6-0, 6-1 win, while the No. 2 pairing of Jayden Fudge and Joseph Miesiack fought through early pressure before taking a 6-4, 6-1 victory. Rockford’s young tandem of sophomores Coen Beickman and Broderik Gee impressed at No. 3 doubles, earning a 6-2, 6-4 win. The Rams closed out the match with two more solid performances: seniors Tray Storms and Carter Drolema secured No. 4 doubles 6-4, 6-2, and the No. 5 team of Scott Julian and Liam Storms matched that scoreline with a 6-4, 6-2 victory of their own. With the win, Rockford builds momentum heading into the OK Red Conference Championships this Saturday. “This was exactly the kind of competitive day we needed before conference,” Johnson said. “It was great tennis in a great environment, and we’re ready to carry this into the weekend.”