Roster:
Evelyn Qin – Grad
Lauren Taylor – Grad
Brynn Reichardt – Freshman
Gabe Yank – Freshman
Yusuf Chowdhry – Senior
Ricky Zamudio – Senior
Adam Dellos – Sophomore
Ben Dellos – Sophomore
Kyle D’Mello – Sophomore
Teams defeated this season: Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Wisconsin-Whitewater, Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Northern Iowa, North Dakota, Winona State
Q: How did you first hear about the Tennis on Campus program? What made you decide to actively take part and also become a leader on your campus? How do you feel about TOC and being a captain?
I grew up playing competitive tennis and continued through high school, so I wanted to look into any opportunity to stay around the game and compete. After seeing the “tennis club” booth at our student org fair, I signed up, and ended up making the club team and traveling to Tennis on Campus events. After a great experience freshman year, I decided to become more involved as an officer. Tennis has given me tons of great friends and experiences, so it’s a privilege to share the game with other Hawkeyes as our club continues to grow.
Q: How did you enjoy your National Championships experience last year?
We had a great time in Cary last year. While it was tough to finish lower than we’d hoped after a few close losses, it was a great time spending a few days with our team and the parents who came to watch us. In addition to playing and watching some great tennis, we enjoyed exploring the city and bonding as a team.
Q: What does it mean to be back? Was it a more difficult road to return to Nationals?
We’re pumped to be back. To us, it’s an opportunity to improve on our result from last year and enjoy time on and off the court with some great friends. There are different challenges every year on the road to Nationals. This year, we ran into a tough Wash U team that beat us by one game in the sectional championship, so we’re excited to get back on the winning track.
Q: In what ways has your team improved this year?
Four of our seven players from last year’s Nationals team either graduated or transferred, so we’re bringing a pretty different group. We have had some first-year players step up and play great tennis, and despite having such a new team, we’ve gotten very comfortable with each other on and off the court. We’re excited for the chance to improve on last year’s result!
Q: What do you tell new players about Nationals, or players that are traveling for the first time to compete for your school?
Qualifying for Nationals is always a goal for us from the start, so we’re sure to tell our new players how great of an experience it is. We realize that we will only get to experience this tournament a few times in our lives, so we’re always eager to make the trip.
Q: Who was your toughest opponent at past Nationals and how did they challenge you to become better?
Last year, our toughest opponent was UC Irvine. We were the one seed in our pool and they were fourth, and they beat us fairly handily and ended up winning our pool. That match showed us how deep the field is at Nationals, and was a reminder that every match at Nationals is a challenge.
Q: Does your team actively use social media to stay connected? If so, what social media platforms are your favorites? Does your team use social media in any special way that you feel sets you apart from other teams?
We try to be pretty active on social media for communication both within the club and with our fans. Our Twitter account shares results, club updates and a bit of comedy with our followers. We use a Facebook group to keep our 90-plus members updated on club events and in touch with each other. Our travel team also uses GroupMe to stay in touch, share embarrassing pictures of each other, etc.
Q: Do you have many seniors on your team? Do you think they know about opportunities after graduation like “Sets in the City” or young adult social leagues? Do you think anyone on your team would be interested in starting one?
We have three seniors and four grad students on our roster this year. Some of us are aware of USTA Leagues and plan to continue playing adult tennis after graduation. Social leagues sound like a great way to meet people, so after more research, our graduating members may be interested in getting involved.
Share with us some of the ways you help out in the local and global communities in the name of tennis.
Our main mission is to create a tennis community at the University of Iowa. This year, we have a very active club of more than 90 members and we hope to continue to reach more of the UI community. We promote tennis by attending UI Men’s and Women’s tennis matches, and in the past hosted a 10-and-under Clinic for kids in the Iowa City area.
Share with us a funny story about the 2015 team or team member(s).
We forgot Brynn once. It was my job to pick everyone up in our van before hitting the road for a tournament. We made our rounds, got the team together and had been on the road for at least 10 minutes before one of our players realized someone was missing. So we made a U-turn, scooped Brynn, and then tried it again with our whole team in the van. We were almost late for our first match after that mishap, but we had our squad. Sorry, Brynn!
If a local newspaper was to write a story about your team what is the one thing you’d want to make sure they included?
We would want everyone to know how much we enjoy the Tennis on Campus experience, both on and off the court. It’s great to compete for the University of Iowa, meet players from other clubs, and share so many experiences with a great group of friends.
