Pictured Above - Senior Bryce Mauro sets line-up for Fantasy Baseball on FanDuel. MEG MORROW // THE DEPAUW
Fantasy football is in full swing at DePauw, participants are in it for the love of the game, some friendly competition or even to make a little profit. While most teams are made for fun on ESPN.com or Yahoo.com, senior Bryce Mauro, a.k.a. 3rd_and_schlong is on sites such as FanDuel and DraftKings investing upwards of six figures per week.
Fantasy sports are played when participants make their own team and have them play against other fan made teams. The team that wins is the one with the best stats per player by the end of the game.
Mauro uses the skills he has learned at DePauw to maximize his success in fantasy sports.
“I treat it like I would treat an investment,” said Mauro. “Daily Fantasy Sports is basically securities trading. Everyday is an optimization problem. I’m trying to maximize my score while minimizing my risk.”
Mauro recognizes that risk, competitive drive and the willingness to put a substantial amount of time into his investments are the keys to his success. He treats it like a job, but does not take it too seriously. He knows that to be risky is okay, as long as it is backed up by substantial research, and looks forward to the “adrenaline rush” he gets every time he bets.
“I’m a very competitive person, so each time I sit down to research players, roster construction, and game selection,” he said “ It’s like I’m back in high school playing sports. There’s nothing like it. I’m very confident in my abilities.”
Confidence is key for investments as large as Mauro’s. However, he continues to remain humble, despite his national fame.
“Getting interviewed by media outlets is cool and whatnot,” Mauro admitted, “I just try to stay humble and be thankful for what I have.”
“This has literally changed my life and I can’t be thankful enough for that,” he said.
For Mauro, it is definitely more than luck of the draw.
“DePauw has helped me learn to analyze situations and solve puzzles from multiple viewpoints. Economics, history even language classes help me everyday,” he said. “While it may not seem like it, the ability to be successful in DFS all comes down to problem solving skills. Each day is a new problem, a new puzzle.”
Mauro’s experience is a prime example of what DePauw does for its students. Even before he graduates, DePauw’s education and curriculum has paid off for him in more ways than one.