Men’s Tennis reflects on its shortened season
Q&A with the MIT Men’s Tennis team, whose season was cut to only four games due to the coronavirus pandemic
Men’s Tennis played four games this spring before the remainder of their season was canceled due to the move off campus. With only a single loss against Division I Boston University and three wins against Division I Holy Cross as well as Colby-Sawyer College and Colby College, they set a strong record in the short season they were able to have. The Tech asked Men’s Tennis Coach Dave Hagymas about the effects of the shortened season on the team.
The interview has been edited lightly for length and clarity.
The Tech: What are you most proud of about your team’s progress this year?
Dave Hagymas: We had a very young team this year and it was great to see the squad progress to a high level of play so early in the season before we were expectedly suspended.
TT: What makes the current team and the graduating class of seniors special?
Hagymas: The current team is special as there are four freshmen on it who will help guide the future of the team. The seniors Albert Go and Victor Cheng will be sorely missed, as they were not only playing at the highest spots on the team but they also were amazing leaders whose work ethic and character lead the way for the rest of the team.
TT: Even though you didn’t get the chance to play a full season, is there a moment that sticks out to you this season?
Hagymas: We really were just getting to the point of playing our big DIII matches, so we did not get the chance to really show our potential. But we did have some sneak peeks into what this team was capable of doing against our match with Colby.
TT: Are there any words of wisdom you have for your team or the MIT Community as a whole?
Hagymas: We are all going through uncertainty during these unprecedented times but things will be back to “normal” one day and we will be better as a community for it.
The Tech also asked seniors Albert Go and Victor Cheng to comment on their tennis career and how the crisis has affected them. Cheng did not respond to The Tech's request for comment.
TT: What is your favorite memory from your MIT tennis career?
Albert Go: It was my junior year and it was the last match of the regular season against nationally ranked #17, Skidmore College (away). We were struggling to get a win against a top 20 team and we were down 1-2 after doubles. I started the comeback with a singles win at #4 and we ended up winning the match 6-3 overall. It was a great feeling to end the regular season on such a high note.
TT: What do you appreciate most about the senior class?
Go: We have a small senior class with just Vic and me, but I am so honored to have played with Vic. I know I can always count him and we’ve got each other’s backs. I remember freshman year when we were down 2-3 against Bryant University and we both came back from our respective matches to clinch the win. That was the start of a great friendship and a great duo. Vic was one of the best and most reliable players every year.
TT: What message do you have for the rest of your team and for future tennis teams at MIT?
Go: Enjoy every moment you have with the team because you never know what’s going to happen in the future. Always be there for your teammates and fight like crazy. Nothing beats the feeling of winning with your team, so every time you step on that court, put your heart and soul into the game because you never know when it will end. Finally, thank you to all my teammates and coaches, both past and present, who have made my tennis experience so memorable and enjoyable. Thank you for always believing in me and pushing me to be better. Love and miss all of you.
The Tech wishes, alongside the rest of the MIT community, that we could have seen where the tennis team would go this season. It is clear that seniors Albert Go and Victor Cheng have been a powerful duo of a senior class, and have set an excellent example for their teammates both on and off the court. We would like to recognize the efforts of everyone on the team this season, and look forward to watching Men’s Tennis continue to excel in coming years.