Senior men’s tennis player Alex Kaczkowski dominated on the court this weekend in the victory over Coe College. Kaczkowski got the Tigers off to a great start when he and senior partner Dan Rodefeld took down the Kohawks at No. 1 doubles. Later, when DePauw had slipped behind Coe with a one point deficit, Kaczkowski tied it back up with a 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 3 singles. With it being his first match coming off of an knee injury, Kaczkowski had a very impressive showing, rightfully earning himself the Tiger of the Week.
The DePauw (TDP): What is your reaction to your meet against Coe college this weekend?
Alex Kaczkowski (AK): It was a great team win for us. Some of the guys on the team really stepped up and it's really exciting to see that going forward.
TDP: What do you think was the biggest contributing factor to your performance?
AK: I think the time off helped a lot. It sucked not being able to play over spring break and watching the team lose some close matches, but being out definitely gave me a new perspective and got me even more ready to play.
TDP: What kinds of goals have your set for yourself and the team this season?
AK: We all know we should be at nationals. That's a tangible goal. But more importantly, we want to be playing at our best and compete out there. I think we showed that against Coe. As a captain, I want to set an example for the team and, even if I'm not playing my best that day, be there as a leader.
TDP: What can we expect from you for the remainder of the season?
AK: Hopefully I can keep up my level of play--if anything, raise it. We have a tough next couple weeks so, speaking for myself and for the rest of the team, we need to bring it.
TDP: Recently, you came back from an injury. How have you adjusted to the adversity you faced with the injury?
AK: I was out for four weeks. It definitely motivated me going forward for these last couple weeks and got me excited to play again.
TDP: Finishing up as senior, do you have any advice for fellow student athletes?
AK: Enjoy it. It goes by fast, but I can't imagine my college career without tennis. Thinking back about my memories in college, the ones from tennis are the ones I will remember the most.
