Lloyd Newell & The Mormon Tabernacle Choir!

On Sunday we had the opportunity to attend the broadcast of "Music & The Spoken Word." It is the longest continous broadcast in America, and has been on weekly for more than 80 years (it started as a radio program). We were able to attend as guests of Lloyd Newell, who is the voice for the program. Lloyd has been doing the show for 20 years. The conference center was decorated for Christmas and as always the Tabernacle Choir was amazing.

Here are the guys with Lloyd Newell after the broadcast.

(Notice the choir in the background)

The guys outside the conference center. This was the first snowfall of the year!


Here is the entire group.

BYU vs. University of Hawaii!

We returned last week from a great trip to Hawaii. We played against the University of Hawaii over 3 days while we were there. They were ranked #41 last year and we managed to beat them decisively all 3 days. Over the 3 day period we won 27 of the 32 matches we played! The rest of the photos from the trip are posted on the BYU Men's Tennis facebook page.

Here are the guys practicing the day before the matches began. It was quite an adjustment with the altitude, heat & humidity! side note: The guys really are quite buff this year, but everytime I pull out the camera a lot of flexing starts going on, so don't let them completely fool you!

We stopped at Matsumoto's for shaved ice!


We were able to visit the Polynesian Cultural Center. I always make sure, whenever we have an opportunity that the guys get their cultural lessons in. The guys especially enjoyed the fire dancers at the night show!


With a guy from Tonga!


With their BYU Hawaii approved tattoos.


Thomas with his mom who lives in Honolulu!


Here we are with the manager of the hotel checking in.
His daughter is a student at BYU.

Thomas on our balcony! Enjoying the view!

We were able to visit Pearl Harbor. At first not all of the guys were overly enthusiastic about spending the time to go there, but I told them that I could not face their mother's if we were all the way in Hawaii and they didn't go. So we made the trip and everybody really enjoyed it.

The guys body surfing. We were practically the only people at the beach this day.

One of the highlights of the trip was this game of football they all played on the beach!

Still friends after the game!

International Market Place in Honolulu!

The day we flew out all of the guys decided to get up REALLY early and take a surfing lesson. As they were being taught the proper form, I had quite a few people come up to me and say that all of these guys looked like athletes and ask who they were.

Heading out to try the waves. They had a little crowd up watching them!

Here they are with their teacher Virgil. I am proud to say that every single member of the team (and both coaches) were successful surfing.

Thomas & Cassidy playing doubles.

And most important....The after match victory talk!

Congrats to AJ & Kelsey Young!

Aj & Kelsey were married this morning in the Salt Lake Temple! Congrats to both of them!

Viva Las Vegas!

The team just returned from the Regional Tournament in Las Vegas. We overall had the best finish of any team there, with 5 of our guys getting to the round of 16 or better. Spencer, Evan & Thomas all reached the round of 16, Cassidy the quarters & Georgy the semis!

Cassidy enjoying his victory!

Ricardo & Evan

Michael & Cassidy

Evan, Roman & Spencer soaking up the sun!

Georgy getting ready to play his semi final match!

A New Tradition!

This year Brad started a new tradition with the team. On the 1st day of practice Brad gave an inspirational thought and then asked someone on the team to give one the next day. This assignment gets passed along daily and some thoughts and stories that the guys have come up with have been really inspiring.

University of Utah Invitational!

Again, BYU had a great showing at the Utah Invitational. 3 of the 4 semi-finalists were BYU players with an all BYU Final.

Thomas & Spencer both made it to the finals. Thomas won a close match in three sets.

This is our freshman, Spencer Smith, shaking hands after beating Utah's #1 player! Go Spencer!

Early Morning Conditioning!

This year the team has been doing early morning conditioning. They work out at 6:30 am on Monday, Wednesday & Friday. The trainers have started the "Cougar Country Club Competition." Our guys compete against the golf team in different activities.

Brad has committed to making it to all of the workouts with them this year, and is starting to get his own 8 pack.

For Brad, the toughest loss, so far this year, has been losing to the Golf Team in water polo. Fortunately, the next week we beat them in field hockey so he is able to sleep again.

BYU Fall Invitational!

The first tournament of the year is the BYU Invitational. We had some great results from the BYU team, with Cassidy & Evan both earning a spot in the finals.

Georgy, Evan & Spencer.

One of our freshmen Spencer Smith with his parents, Janice & Nick.

Evan has been assigned the task of being our new style consultant for the team!

Georgy & Thomas in doubles action.

Fall Racqueteer Day!

We had a great turn out for our Fall Racqueteer Day on Sept 19th.

Racqueteers were teamed up with members of the team for some fun doubles, followed by brunch.

Welcome to School!

We had our team party to welcome everyone to school.

The highlight of the evening was having Andy Rosenberg come speak to the players. Andy has been a director for NBC Sports for years. He has covered the Beijing Olympics, US Open, Wimbledon, French Open and pretty much every other major sporting event you can think of. Andy spoke to the guys about what he has seen that successful athletes have in common. The guys really enjoyed his stories and what he had to share.

Spencer & Chris.

Cassidy, Roman, Georgy, Ricardo, Michael, Thomas, Matthew & Evan!


Our traditional game of sharks & minnows! Oh, I forgot to add that I can't remember for sure, but I am almost positive that Cindi won sharks & minnows, woo hoo, Go Cindi!