Gents, what a great season!
Many folks are sending year end notes, don’t think for a second you were gonna make it to summer without a word from me. I want to thank everyone who contributed to this season…from the obvious Schmeeds/Lehman/Seefeld, Martin being the true MVPresident again, and all the members who make pizzas, throw stuff out, take out the trash, cover the couch, etc. etc. It’s a team effort to run a dirty garage shared by 100 people.
Ironically, this season may just end as it started… under water! Throw back to when the club flooded the same week new ownership took over. (not there yet, we’ll see how much rain we get tonight)
WHILE THE SEASON IS FRESH:
- Collecting photos for the season. If you have some, email them to me.
- Take a minute to recall who all you tried to get out to the club this year, or should have. Shoot me an email with their name and email and I will include them in invites for future open house events. This club works because we have great members, so if you know someone who would be great send ‘em my way and of course keep inviting them out.
- Shoot me a note with anyone who is wildly misranked. There really shouldn’t be anyone, but if there is lmk and we will adjust starting rank next year accordingly.
- Any feedback regarding club, possible updates/improvement, things you can bring to the table for future plans (speakers, heaters, construction, electrical work, etc) also welcome.
SUMMER RULES:
- Please be mindful that our neighbors have returned from the south and windows are open. We cannot have any noise complaints.
- Court lights are absolutely prohibited starting May 1. Use only as needed the remainder of April, then they’re off limits.
- There is no organized summer league, same as last year.
- Moving forward, while people are still playing, we will go with an early and late slot. 6:00-7:30 and 7:30-9:00.
- If nobody reserves the court before or after your slot, feel free to expand your playing time, but book these slots to allow others the opportunity to reserve a spot as well.
- Our goal here is to keep courts available to as many people as possible. We have 2 courts for 80 active players.
- You must use RMC to book courts. If you don’t reserve, you can be kicked off.
- Accurate court utilization is also something we want to be able to put in front of town and APTA, so it’s good for the future of the club to book your court.
SEASON ENDING PERFORMANCE REVIEW:
First up, thanks to Drew for the season ending “Dipshit Awards”. Always a highlight on Club Championship Day! Click HERE for the results. I’m personally ashamed of my appearances.
To wrap the season I usually always do a performance breakdown/highlight/shaming. Farley published a quick overview on that, twice, so read his second post HERE if you want, which was still has some ranking movement errors (or paid off omissions).
Here is the 2024/25 year in review if you’re into walking down memory lane.
Here is the 2023/24 year in review if you’re a real sicko.
Courts. If you don’t reserve, you can be kicked off.
- Accurate court utilization is also something we want to be able to put in front of town and APTA, so it’s good for the future of the club to book your court.
2025/26 Performance Review
How good is the S.H.I.T. system?
- 12 players were 50/50 on the season
- 27 players were within 1 match of 50/50
- 40 players were within 2 matches of 50/50
- 50 players were within 3 matches of 50/50
- HUGE gap at the top. Drew finished 141 pts ahead of MJ, who was 610 pts ahead of Brock. Accurate IMO.
- A clear top two and next two, as Brock was only 38 pts ahead of Mammal. Accurate.
- DAMN good system.
- THANK YOU SCHMEEDS!!!
The 10k point club
- Only one person starts the year with 10k.
- Ending the year at 10k+: Drew and MJ alone, two straight years for the duo.
- There were 4 last year, but DL and MJ racked up all the points this year.
Comeback of the Year
- This year the award goes to Bob Larsen! Bob finished 2023/24 at 18, the club got better and he finished 24/25 at 28, started this season at 23 because Vegas knew what was coming, and he finished the season at 13. Tough part of the ladder to climb….you have to go down to 31 to find someone who climbed more spots, Molepske. Only Molepske and Heinrich gained more than 10 spots.
- Several others had great seasons, but climbing this portion of the ladder is damn impressive for an old man.
Cracking the Top Ten
- EXCITING Category this year, youth movement is well under way.
- In the 6 spot – Brian Klein, started this year at 13 (and started last year at 25!!)
- In the 7 spot – CJ, started the year at 10 (we’ll count it as a crack in, ended 11 LY)
- In the 8 spot – Travis Murphy, FINALLY! Started this year at 11, ended the last two seasons at 11 and 12 respectively.
- Notable: 23/24 ending ranks: BK 22, CJ 17, TM 11. Keep climbing.
- Who fell out you ask?? OLD guys, Zipp and Teddy. Beloved members, but the points don’t lie. I trust they will be back to battling the top 10 next year.
Cracking the Top Twenty
- Larson – from 23 to 13! Can he crack the top ten next year?? ehhhhhh
- Jost – from 24 to 15. SOLID.
- Haddorff – from 21 to 16. Is he finally learning to keep the ball in play??
Highest Win %
- Bollinger – 100%! (only played 3 matches. The IDEAL member if you ask me) Let’s add an ideal member award next year Drew.
- Heinrich – 85% going 11-2. Quite good.
- Brogan – Cedar Club royalty, skips the first half the season, goes 8-3 for 73% win rate on bum hips, and then wins the Club Championship!
- MJ – 69%… NICE. Second consecutive 69% season for MJ, is he trying to take over the “sex legend” moniker??
- Shout out – MJ finished 23/24 only 8/12 for 40% win rate. Guy has gotten just a little bit better. Who woulda guessed??Who Won most matches?
- DUNN – guy is never dunn playing, won 20 matches, played many more.
Biggest Point Earners
- Last season 6 players earned 1000+ pts. This year, 1 did, 2 came close, big drop off after that.
- This signals good initial rankings, and smooth skill distribution across the ladder. I hear a lot about the latter (sic) in particular.
- Heinrich – +1202
- Larsen – +998
- Lied – +968
Biggest Rankings Move UP from Week 1
- Heinrich and Molepske: +12
- Larsen, Farley, Moser: +10
- Shout out New guy Mitch Hauser: +9 in his inaugural paddle season.
Last year was the sex machine’s year, this year, man I typed Heinrich quite a bit. Hell of a season brother!
And begin transition from positive to negative…
Biggest Question Marks
- Is Aiken too old? After last season’s meteoric rise from #14 in week 10 to #2 at the end of the season, this year he falls from #2 down to #10! He has 6 months to pontificate on the reasons and come back better.
- The Bayliss return was the most discussed and feared in club history…two years ago. He’s now finished two consecutive seasons at 9 on the ladder. Never meet your heroes they say.
- Will Vuk and Dusan come back next season? Will the club accept these Serbs and the fact that damn near everyone’s ranking just fell 2 spots??
- Can Pio/Klein/Armbrust/Murphy solidify themselves as ‘top-top’ players? Big points gap from 4(mamal) to 5(pio), but then it’s TIGHT. I think one or two of these guys will, as they enter years 3-5 which are big growth years in paddle.
- Brock? Gotta call myself out here. Held onto the top spot BARELY the last two years, and finished a DISTANT third this year. I’m basically tied with Mammal, and with a host of others chasing from below and still getting better, AND the potential for Dusan and Vuk to return…I might be battling for top 10 next year.
- Mr. Hevessey? What happened man? Do you want lessons? Will you come back? We want you to.
- This was in here from last year, and it’s still valid: Speaking of Zipp, what is appropriate punishment for several last minute sub requests for clearly not last minute absences? “Hey, need a sub in 4 hours, on spring break out of country”
Who flew too close to the sun?
- Not much craziness this year.
- Aiken, obviously gets a mention. From 2 to 10 is tough. Floating in the 2-10 range, still solid.
- Bayliss started at 9, flirted in the 4-5 spot several times, then settled back to 9 to end the year.
Biggest Ranking Move DOWN
- Won’t put anyone on blast… just kidding, sorry Oakes, for the SECOND consecutive year.
- Oakes, one of the most beloved members, fell more than anyone else in the club from their initial ranking…16 spots. This follows the 24/25 season in which he fell 15 from start to finish.
- He ended 23/24 at 14, 24/25 at 30, 25/26 at 41 after falling 8 spots on the final week. Props to not managing your ranking, we know this is the end of the slide.
- He had this to say in 2025: “I got older and the club got younger, and that’s a relief, I thought I dropped 18”. No relief this year as he says “But I technically won a club championship”
- Other notably falls: Gelin and Lehman -13, Doc -12, Teddy -10.
Who Lost most Frequently?
- DUNN – this MF won the most matches, AND lost the most matches. ???
- Lehman ties for first, both he and “never dunn” lost 18 matches.
Thanks everyone. Have a great summer and stay in touch!
Dave Brock
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