Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Athletics

Tennis, the game I have had a love hate relationship with the last eight years of my life.  Who ever thought that hitting a little yellow ball over a net would be so hard! In the end, being cut from the baseball team at Totino Grace my freshman year of high school, and joining the tennis team, was one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life.  Over the years, I have had many great experiences and been able to meet some life time friends because of this game I love.  Most importantly, the game of tennis has helped me grow as a person.  It has taught me that with hard work anything is achievable, and how to never give up on something that you truly believe in.  
    
It seems like just yesterday that I arrived at Saint Mary’s, but now that I am graduating after these amazing four years, I owe thanks to a lot of people for helping me achieve my goals on the court, as well as in the classroom.  First, and most importantly, I want to thank my parents.  Without you, I don’t think I could have achieved many of my athletic and academic goals.  You have been there every step of the way, and I want to thank you for your support, patience, and time.  Nearly every great moment in my tennis and academic career you have been there, and I want to thank you for always being my #1 fans!
    
Second, I want to thank three of the most influential tennis coaches I’ve had: coach Wareham, coach Halberg, and my dad.  Mr. Wareham, thank you for teaching me the basics of tennis back at Totino Grace and being patient with me as a developed physically and mentally as a better tennis player.  Coach Halberg, thank you for molding me into the tennis player I am today.  I know I wasn’t the easiest person to work with, especially freshman and sophomore year, but thanks to you I am having the best season of my career and have emerged as a leader on the team.  Dad, after I started playing tennis, a sport you weren’t familiar with at all, you became just as involved in the game as I was.  You have been the beast coach I have ever had, and I sincerely want to thank you for all the work you put in to help become a better tennis player.
    
Third, I want to thank all the teammates I have had at Saint Mary’s over the past four years.  Mike, Andrew, Bobby and Sam, thank you for your guidance and giving me good role models to look up to my first three years here at Saint Mary’s.  Some of my best times on and off the court at Saint Mary’s were with you guys, and of course, I will never forget our epic trip to England!  Collin, Blake, Garen, Warren, Andrew, and Tim thanks for the memorable experiences this season.  I know you guys will continue to wreak havoc in the MIAC without me.  And last, there is Nick Kasel.  You have been one of my best buddies since high school and I’m glad you decided to join the tennis team again for your senior year.  This year we both had the biggest win of our tennis career against Gustavus, and I wouldn’t have picked anyone else in the world to share that victory with.  I hope we made Mr. Wareham proud!
    
Last, I would like to thank the Saint Mary’s community.  Your support has been amazing over the last four years.  We have not always had a large quantity of fans at our tennis matches due to them being off campus, but the quality of our fans is unmatched.  I would once again like the thank my parents, especially my dad,Gavin Smith
    
Tennis, the game I have had a love hate relationship with the last eight years of my life.  Who ever thought that hitting a little yellow ball over a net would be so hard! In the end, being cut from the baseball team at Totino Grace my freshman year of high school, and joining the tennis team, was one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life.  Over the years, I have had many great experiences and been able to meet some life time friends because of this game I love.  Most importantly, the game of tennis has helped me grow as a person.  It has taught me that with hard work anything is achievable, and how to never give up on something that you truly believe in.  
    
It seems like just yesterday that I arrived at Saint Mary’s, but now that I am graduating after these amazing four years, I owe thanks to a lot of people for helping me achieve my goals on the court, as well as in the classroom.  First, and most importantly, I want to thank my parents.  Without you, I don’t think I could have achieved many of my athletic and academic goals.  You have been there every step of the way, and I want to thank you for your support, patience, and time.  Nearly every great moment in my tennis and academic career you have been there, and I want to thank you for always being my #1 fans!
    
Second, I want to thank three of the most influential tennis coaches I’ve had: coach Wareham, coach Halberg, and my dad.  Mr. Wareham, thank you for teaching me the basics of tennis back at Totino Grace and being patient with me as a developed physically and mentally as a better tennis player.  Coach Halberg, thank you for molding me into the tennis player I am today.  I know I wasn’t the easiest person to work with, especially freshman and sophomore year, but thanks to you I am having the best season of my career and have emerged as a leader on the team.  Dad, after I started playing tennis, a sport you weren’t familiar with at all, you became just as involved in the game as I was.  You have been the beast coach I have ever had, and I sincerely want to thank you for all the work you put in to help become a better tennis player.
    
Third, I want to thank all the teammates I have had at Saint Mary’s over the past four years.  Mike, Andrew, Bobby and Sam, thank you for your guidance and giving me good role models to look up to my first three years here at Saint Mary’s.  Some of my best times on and off the court at Saint Mary’s were with you guys, and of course, I will never forget our epic trip to England!  Collin, Blake, Garen, Warren, Andrew, and Tim thanks for the memorable experiences this season.  I know you guys will continue to wreak havoc in the MIAC without me.  And last, there is Nick Kasel.  You have been one of my best buddies since high school and I’m glad you decided to join the tennis team again for your senior year.  This year we both had the biggest win of our tennis career against Gustavus, and I wouldn’t have picked anyone else in the world to share that victory with.  I hope we made Mr. Wareham proud!
    
Last, I would like to thank the Saint Mary’s community.  Your support has been amazing over the last four years.  We have not always had a large quantity of fans at our tennis matches due to them being off campus, but the quality of our fans is unmatched.  I would once again like the thank my parents, especially my dad for traveling hours and hours to come watch me play tennis over these last four years.  Your support is truly appreciated, one day I hope to be as good of a parent as you are!  
 for traveling hours and hours to come watch me play tennis over these last four years.  Your support is truly appreciated, one day I hope to be as good of a parent as you are!