The USTA National Campus Championship is the pinnacle event for college club tennis teams from around the country. Sixty-four colleges qualify for the championship through their respective USTA Campus Championship - Section Events and compete for bragging rights and the illustrious title of National Champion. The 2011 event is taking place April 7-9 at Cary Tennis Park in Cary, N.C. , and USTA.com is talking with a number of clubs who have advanced to the championship. First up is the University of Michigan club from Ann Arbor, Mich., which was founded in 1999, has 43 members and has participated in the National Campus Championship for more than 10 years. Ben Ryan, the team's president, talks about his team's preparation for the big event, what they are looking forward to most about competing and what his team will do if they win the illustrious title.
USTA.com: What is your team doing to prepare for the upcoming National Campus Championship?
Ben Ryan, University of Michigan Club Tennis President: We are continuing with our regular weekly practices, as well as participating in larger club tennis tournaments. At the end of March, we will be traveling to both Purdue for the Big Ten Tournament and Georgetown for the Duel in the District.
USTA.com: What is your team looking forward to most about attending the National Campus Championship?
Ben Ryan: Competing against the best teams in the country and enjoying the National Campus Championship experience with the other 63 colleges. There is no other club tennis event like it.
USTA.com: What are your team goals at this year’s National Campus Championship? Any predictions on your placement or outcome?
Ben Ryan: We’re here to win it all.
USTA.com: What are some of the things you attribute to the success of your team?
Ben Ryan: Great players – can’t win without them. And we’ve been fortunate enough to attract a few in recent years.
USTA.com: What advice do you have for fellow club tennis teams that are striving to qualify for the National Campus Championship?
Ben Ryan: Try to make the club tennis team experience as fun as possible for everyone through both tennis and non-tennis events. If the experience is awesome, more prospective players will want to join your team and then attend the weekly practices to improve their game, as well.
USTA.com: Does your team have any unusual or unique pre-match rituals? Any team superstitions?
Ben Ryan: Just stay relaxed.
USTA.com: Describe your typical practice schedule or week with your team before a big tournament?
Ben Ryan: The participating players will come to both our regular weekly practices. These players will often schedule their own court time on the side to hit with each other, too.
USTA.com: Are there any teams you are hoping to meet at the National Campus Championship? Any big team rivalries?
Ben Ryan: No teams in particular. We’re just looking forward to competing against the best teams in the country. As for our biggest rival, definitely Wisconsin. We compete against them every year in the finals for the Midwest Regional Championship.
USTA.com: What has been your team’s favorite Tennis On Campus moment this year?
Ben Ryan: Winning the Midwest Regional Championship, winning the Badger Classic and bringing 30 of our players down to Virginia in the fall to participate in the Virginia Invitational.
USTA.com: If you could add one professional player to your team’s roster, who would it be and why?
Ben Ryan: Marat Safin. While he is definitely not the most reliable option, we’d still like our chances with him, and he would be sure to keep everything entertaining. He knows how to bring a crowd into a match.
USTA.com: If your team won the National Campus Championship title, how would you celebrate? Would you take the trophy anywhere interesting?
Ben Ryan: We’d go to Disney World.