I sat down with Billy Strunk '12 and Michael Laser '12, both members of the Dartmouth tennis team, to talk about tennis, relationships, and their questionable off-season study habits.
How do you think that your fall season went?
ML: I mean you can just look at the results and records. We've done better than we have in the past. I know my record is better than it was last year.
BS: I mean, I had a pretty quality fall season. I'm not going to lie. I went 5-2. I mean, no big deal. I took out Boston College and Bucknell. You know I'm not trying to self-call or anything. Overall, we have a much smaller team this year. We only have 11 guys, we're a lot smaller, but we're a closer group of guys and I think that is going to help in the long run.
The team is off until January, so how do you plan to spend all of your extra time?
BS: We will be having captain's practices and, you know, we'll be hitting the books pretty hard.
ML: I'll be spending most of my time in Baker [Library].
BS: Yeah, we'll be spending all of our time studying and cleaning the basement of [Theta Delta Chi fraternity].
ML: That's pretty much my major upcoming time commitment studying in the basement of Theta Delt.
BS: Yeah, we'll be studying behind the bar.
As I was assigned this article, one of my editors told me that I shouldn't look at "Laser" in the eye because his eyes might blind me.
ML: My eyes are very piercing from time to time, but I don't think you should be afraid to look me in the eye
BS: I mean, I've known many girls who have gotten lost in his eyes, so that actually might not be such bad advice.
Well, Billy, I was also told by some of your teammates that you are the instigator of all of the locker room jokes and pranks on the tennis team.
BS: There is a lot of joking that goes on in the locker room, certain really raw stuff that I don't think The D would be able to publish. But you know, we have practice six days a week and our season is the entire year, so I try to keep things fresh by making fun of the freshmen especially [Kevin Cox '13]. His name is enough to do it. Your class has no idea what they just got themselves into by electing him treasurer.
ML: And the deal is that being treasurer is a four-year thing.
BS: So, pretty much, you guys soiled immediately.
ML: Hopefully he'll be included in the next budget cut.
OK, speaking of other teammates, Michael, I know you play doubles as well as singles, what do you look for in a doubles partner?
ML: Last year I had five doubles partners, but this year I have one partner [Dan Freeman '10]. I have now come to realize that we are successful because we have the same playing styles, we understand each other, and we have great chemistry.
So, it sounds like finding a good doubles partner is comparable to finding a girlfriend.
ML: It's definitely very similar. I mean, you could definitely say that [Freeman] and I are boyfriend and girlfriend however you want to say that. It definitely has something to do with our success.
You have several new members on the team. How has that changed the team dynamic?
ML: We have four freshmen, but we don't really know. We haven't seen them play in dual match action, which is kind of the big team pressure situation. So we don't really know how we are going to react to that.
BS: They have some different game styles. Hopefully come springtime, in the IVY season, they will be at their peak.
So, spring season is more intense than fall season? ML: Yes. Fall season is more about getting into shape and getting to know the team. Its about work ethic and working on team chemistry as we go into the winter and spring.
