With the spring season just around the corner, we take a look ahead for this week’s Cardinal Character. Mike Frank ’08, a.k.a. “The Franchise,” is the captain of the men’s tennis team, something he has been preparing for seemingly since birth. The team had a solid fall season, working its way to a 3-2 record, and there is a lot of optimism surrounding the upcoming spring season. I talked to Frank about the season ahead, the team’s chances and his coach’s famous ponytail.
JC: Are you excited for the season?
MF: Yes, being a senior, this is the culmination in a way of many years of hard work, preparation and competition. I feel lucky about the fact that my last season is in the spring and I have had the opportunity to watch my friends on other teams go through this already. Its cliché, but I’m going to try to play the best I possibly can and not have regrets. I don’t want to be a player who feels like they had more talent than they showed.
JC: What has your team been doing to prepare for the season?
MF: Well, we’ve been running, lifting and hitting every week. We also make an effort to try to hang out socially at least once a week because it’s both fun and good for camaraderie. These social events generally consist of intense film sessions and tennis strategy discussions. Some of the members of the women’s team have joined in for these sessions, with mixed results due to their high intensity.
JC: Speaking of the women’s team, how would you describe your relationship with them?
MF: Very positive.
JC: Care to elaborate?
MF: The women’s team is a group of the most talented, hard-working and charismatic athletes I have ever met. They are a true inspiration to me every time they walk on the court.
JC: Favorite Chick Flick?
MF: Wow, there’s a lot but probably “Hitch” or “For Love of the Game.”
JC: I hear you’re on the ski team, too. What kind of commitment does that entail?
MF: Oh, it’s intense (laughs). No, in seriousness, it’s the most seriously-casual team I’ve ever been on, if that makes any sense. We usually stay up late hydrating, and then wake up early and groggy and compete in the always-intense Club McBrine division. My perspective might be different if I wasn’t really mediocre, but I feel that my major contributions to the team are off the slopes.
JC: What is the tennis team doing for spring break?
MF: We’re going to Florida for a week of matches. On spring break, we usually play a match everyday ,so it’s rigorous but excellent preparation for the spring season. It’s also great to get some sun for a few days.
JC: What are your expectations for the season?
MF: We want to make the National Division III tournament. Every year I have been here, we have been very close to a selection, but it is tough because NESCAC is by far the best conference in Division III tennis. As long as we do well in conference though, everything else should take care of itself.
JC: Do you have a favorite pro tennis player?
MF: I don’t know if I have just one. I love the way Leyton Hewitt competes, running down every ball, but lately I’ve been very entertained by a lesser-known player, Radek Stepanek, who does the worm on the court every time he wins a big match.
JC: Thoughts on your Coach Ken Alrutz’s ponytail?
MF: A lot of people say my coach looks a lot like Neil Young. Personally, I think his ponytail reminds me a lot of a blond Steven Segal. Either way, though, that seems like pretty good company.
JC: Any misconceptions about tennis you want to clear up?
MF: Yeah, I think watching tennis sometimes get a bad rap as boring and formal. Tennis fans in other countries are loud and charismatic. In fact, many countries have tennis hooligans that are similar to European soccer fans. It would be great if tennis supporters at Wesleyan took a similar approach. Nothing would make me happier than to hear a Wes Tech chant every time I hit a big serve or passing shot.
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