What is your major and how did you end up at ONU?

My major is technology with an advanced manufacturing option. I was looking for a small school with a good tennis team. Plus, my dad went here so he suggested it and I came and visited and I liked the campus so that’s how I ended up here. I looked around Ohio and I wanted to stay close to home, I’m from Wooster so it’s not too bad.

What are your plans after college?

Well it’s kind of far away now because I won’t graduate till next spring, but I’m looking to go out and get a job, hopefully in a factory setting, working with robotics. I’ll get a job then go from there.

Who is your favorite athlete?

That’s a tough one. I’d have to say my favorite of all time would have to be Pete Sampras, an old school American player, just because he always went out and had a focus on the court that most people don’t have. He went out and every point, every match he was focused on winning the whole time. He never let up.

As a senior, what responsibilities do you feel you owe to the team?

We have a lot of seniors this year so it’s good, but we just want to make sure the younger people realize it’s not always going to be good or bad, but you will always be able to play. We are winding down our careers, even the juniors. You have to go out and play hard because you never know what will happen in the future

What are your greatest strengths on the court?

Power, I’m not the fastest person on the team by any means, so I go for big shots, put-away shots. I try to keep points short so I don’t have to run around.

What is your favorite ONU tennis memory?

So far, last year in the OAC tournament we played John Carroll in the semifinals and I played a 3 set match. It was the deciding point of the match to get us there and we ended up winning the tournament. Everyone was watching me and I knew that I had to win so it was a real adrenaline pumping moment.

Who is your tennis role model?

My pro from back home who has taught me most of my life, he always taught me the right way to play and the proper way to be in a match.

What will you miss most about playing tennis?

That one is easy, just playing with my teammates, who are all good friends. Our coach came in sophomore year after a marry-go-round of coaches. We had diff ones all the time and he came in to stay. I will miss them all for sure.

How did it feel to be a part of the NCAA Tournament last year?

It was pretty cool. You knew not many teams got to go and it was the first year the OAC got a bid. We just wanted to capitalize on that opportunity because you never know if they will take that bid away or what.

How did it feel to be nominated OAC player of the week?

That one was kind of funny because I was talking to my team the week before and the number one any given week is usually the one that goes out and does well and becomes player of the week. Since I play number two the recognition isn’t always there and since I was about to reach 100 wins it was good. I felt like people actually paid attention

What got you started playing tennis?

That was my mom, she took me out on the court when I was three years old and started tossing balls. I would hit them like baseballs. Then I started taking lessons and it went form there.

What is your major and how did you end up at ONU?

My major is technology with an advanced manufacturing option. I was looking for a small school with a good tennis team. Plus, my dad went here so he suggested it and I came and visited and I liked the campus so that’s how I ended up here. I looked around Ohio and I wanted to stay close to home, I’m from Wooster so it’s not too bad.

What are your plans after college?

Well it’s kind of far away now because I won’t graduate till next spring, but I’m looking to go out and get a job, hopefully in a factory setting, working with robotics. I’ll get a job then go from there.

Who is your favorite athlete?

That’s a tough one. I’d have to say my favorite of all time would have to be Pete Sampras, an old school American player, just because he always went out and had a focus on the court that most people don’t have. He went out and every point, every match he was focused on winning the whole time. He never let up.

As a senior, what responsibilities do you feel you owe to the team?

We have a lot of seniors this year so it’s good, but we just want to make sure the younger people realize it’s not always going to be good or bad, but you will always be able to play. We are winding down our careers, even the juniors. You have to go out and play hard because you never know what will happen in the future

What are your greatest strengths on the court?

Power, I’m not the fastest person on the team by any means, so I go for big shots, put-away shots. I try to keep points short so I don’t have to run around.

What is your favorite ONU tennis memory?

So far, last year in the OAC tournament we played John Carroll in the semifinals and I played a 3 set match. It was the deciding point of the match to get us there and we ended up winning the tournament. Everyone was watching me and I knew that I had to win so it was a real adrenaline pumping moment.

Who is your tennis role model?

My pro from back home who has taught me most of my life, he always taught me the right way to play and the proper way to be in a match.

What will you miss most about playing tennis?

That one is easy, just playing with my teammates, who are all good friends. Our coach came in sophomore year after a marry-go-round of coaches. We had diff ones all the time and he came in to stay. I will miss them all for sure.

How did it feel to be a part of the NCAA Tournament last year?

It was pretty cool. You knew not many teams got to go and it was the first year the OAC got a bid. We just wanted to capitalize on that opportunity because you never know if they will take that bid away or what.

How did it feel to be nominated OAC player of the week?

That one was kind of funny because I was talking to my team the week before and the number one any given week is usually the one that goes out and does well and becomes player of the week. Since I play number two the recognition isn’t always there and since I was about to reach 100 wins it was good. I felt like people actually paid attention

What got you started playing tennis?

That was my mom, she took me out on the court when I was three years old and started tossing balls. I would hit them like baseballs. Then I started taking lessons and it went form there.

What is your greatest achievement while playing at ONU?

I think the team last year going to nationals was the biggest as a group and for myself missing a whole season my sophomore year and still reaching the 100 win mark in only 3 years.

How did it feel to finally reach that 100 win mark?

It was a big relief because I had been thinking about it every match and had been counting down, wondering if I was going to make it. It was just an overall great relief.

How did it feel when your team won its 3^rd consecutive regular season title in the OAC?

It felt good because we worked so hard. In the off season we did football conditioning since our coach is the football coach. We are one of the best conditioned teams at the school, plus playing on the court just verifies that.

How did it feel to win your 20^th win of the season as a doubles player and 15^th win as a singles player?

It was another thing that you just feel good that you are playing up to your potential. Coach says, “you guys are all good enough to win you just have to go out there and do it”.  Another good solid season continuing.

Do you have a preference of doubles vs. singles?

When I came into college I liked singles more, but as I’ve gotten older and slower and just more experienced I prefer doubles.

How do you and your partner get along?

We get along really well, and playing doubles you can use more angles. More experienced players are better at doubles; it gets more fine tuned I guess.

A 9-0 season is very impressive, what got you to this point?

Just going through and playing each match as if it’s the end. We knew if we lost any matches in the OAC we might not get the title because there are other teams that are really solid like Baldwin Wallace or john carol. We knew we had to execute each time out.

What tournament do you look forward to most each year?

This year the biggest match was Baldwin Wallace or Mount Union. At Baldwin Wallace one of our players went down with an injury. When we played Mount Union we beat them 5-4. It was the closest match you could possibly have. We look forward to the big matches we know will determine the tournament. The OAC tells us if we are going to be done with our season or if we get to keep playing. The ultimate goal is to win. We don’t want it to end we want to keep playing.

How did it feel to be done with your last home match of your ONU career?

Well other than feeling old, it’s kind of sad. You look back and you are like “wow, I have been here for four years and played so much tennis and it’s good to win it”, so I’m pretty happy with how my ONU career has gone so far.