Yesterday we spent the day in Pella, IA at a tennis tournament. Ethan asked if he could try competing in a tournament even though he's only been playing a few months.

He played well in his first match holding his serve and keeping score. In these tournament, the players call the balls in or out and keep track of their score. It's a lot to think about and he did a great job for his first time!

After finishing this match at 8:50AM, we began the wait for him to play in the consolation round. We waited and waited and waited and watched some other Kirksville kids play their matches and waited some more! Finally at 4:50PM (ARGH!!) he was told to go to a different park where there was an open court.

Half way through the second set, Ethan calmly asked his opponent if he was going to keep cheating and call in balls out? The kid said what and Ethan repeated his question and told him if he was going to keep cheating, he was finished playing him because he doesn't play cheaters. OMG I almost died listening to this! Ethan then walked over and began to pack up his bag when a tournament official asked what was happening. He told her what he had just told his opponent and she said she would not call the balls but would monitor their court. Ethan went on to win 2 more games during that set.

I am so proud of him. He confronted the problem head on and took care of business!