With the boys tennis season winding down, two seniors on the Talawanda boys tennis team are soaking up the final moments of the year.
Senior Milo Flaspohler is enjoying every moment as the season comes to an end.
“It’s been complete fun every year. I’ll miss it, it’s really been enjoyable,” he said.
Flaspohler has been one of the conference’s best players in first singles over the past three years.
He leads the Southwest Ohio Conference (SWOC) in first single wins with an 8-3 record and he is 2-0 in conference matches.
Flaspohler is one of three seniors leading the Brave this year as they are closing in on a second SWOC championship.
Senior Julian Danoff and Davy Ellenberger are both also in their last year.
Ellenberger and Danoff each excel in doubles matches for the Brave, as they are undefeated.
Ellenberger is a foreign exchange student from Switzerland. This is his first year playing tennis and he has enjoyed his time at Talawanda.
“I’m proud of the place here. I learned a lot, and I’m happy to play here,” he said.
Tennis wasn’t the only sport Ellenberger played, he also played soccer for Talawanda in the fall.
For the Brave last season, he was the team’s starting goalkeeper, and was third in the SWOC in saves with 35.
Junior Varsity boys tennis coach Mike Morgan has high praise for Ellenberger and what he has brought to the team in such a short amount of time.
“Davy has been great,” he said. “He’s a player I can always count on to keep the team focused and help keep the team’s mood up. He’s a positive influence on everybody.”
The Brave have certainly had a lot to cheer about this year, as they are undefeated in SWOC play with a 2-0 record and have an overall record of 7-5.
With only three regular season matches and the SWOC tournament left, the seniors are trying to cherish their final moments with the Brave.
Both Flaspohler and Ellenberger each have had slightly different memories during their time, but their overall experience with Talawanda was unforgettable.
Flaspohler remembers his time as a freshman fondly, and now that he is a senior he’s glad that he got to meet and grow with his teammates.
“When I was a freshman, I knew no one here,” he said. “The relationship with all of the guys has been special. I’m guys with all of them, and it’s been great.”
Despite only one year at Talawanda, Ellenberger’s favorite memory was beating Harrison.
“The first match against Harrison where we went to the third set and won was my favorite memory,” he said.
The match against Harrison was the team’s first SWOC victory, and its second of four straight victories in mid-April for the Brave.
Talawanda has won the last three matches in a row and are looking to stay hot with the SWOC Tournament close by.
Morgan said he believes this team has grown a lot during the season and is ready for what comes next.
“Coach Silberstein does a great job preparing the boys,” he said. “The boys are prepared when they come onto the court and everything shows on the court what we are trying to accomplish.”
The Brave’s next match will be the SWOC Tournament. The tournament begins at 8 a.m. Thursday at Harrison High School.
