Charles Nailen/The Hoya
Sport: Tennis
Hometown: Bethesda, Md.
High School: Georgetown Prep
School/Year: COL ’04
Major: Government
High School Highlights: Named All-Metropolitan for tennis junior and senior years . Captain of high school tennis team . Placed in the top 100 in the nation in Boys’ 18 and under . Placed in the top five in the mid-Atlantic region . Finished high school with a 56-5 overall record.
Georgetown Highlights: Captain of the tennis team . No. 1 singles player for the last two seasons . Placed in the top four players at Georgetown for all four years . Recipient of the Captain’s Award as a freshman . Made the starting lineup all four years . Twice named a Big East Academic All-Star . On the team that was named the Academic All-American Team . Only singles participant in the ITA Singles East Championship this year.
When did you start playing tennis? When I was 10, I started playing at a summer camp in D.C. The after-school program was tennis and from there I started taking lessons and playing in tournaments. I started playing in national tournaments when I was 11 or 12.
Who do you want to win the World Series? The Red Sox.
One thing that cheers you up when you are having a bad day: Just hanging out with friends.
One passion you have other than tennis: Being a Boston sports fan. My father’s side of the family is from assachusetts, so I grew up under the Boston curse.
Do you prefer playing singles or doubles? I prefer singles because I like having all the pressure on myself, and only myself to blame or praise.
Favorite Georgetown event: Senior week, just because it’s a great opportunity to see a lot of people – close friends and people you might have lost touch with. You can even meet new classmates.
Favorite place to study: My couch, in front of the TV.
If you had one wish, what would it be and why? To go to the Big East Tournament this year. In my four years, I’ve never been and I’d be the only player who’s never made it. I think it’d be a great opportunity not only for me, but for my team, too.
Most challenging aspect of tennis: Just dealing with all the different types of players. You can play one match against a 6-5 lefty and then the next match against a five-foot ground-stroker.
Biggest misconception that other people have of you: I guess that tennis isn’t as demanding as other sports. I don’t think people understand the level of commitment we put into it, and that we are a good team. I don’t know if it’s just myself or tennis players in general.
If you could be completely knowledgeable about any one subject, what would it be and why? I guess history, just to give me a better background to understand people and understand people’s differences and where they’re coming from.
Favorite childhood memory: Taking a family vacation out to Montana to see where my mom used to live and just to see another part of the country. It’s probably one of my favorite places to go.
Complete the sentence, “This world would be a better place if .” Georgetown makes it to the Big East Tournament.
Favorite snack food: Definitely not the protein shake that my teammate bought me the other day. I’d have to say Lime Tostitos.
Worst fear: Graduating.
Do you have any good luck rituals you perform before a game? I try not to, but I find myself consistently believing that I have a lucky pair of shorts or shirt or something that’s helping me win matches.
Have you ever met anyone famous? I met Hilary Clinton when I was younger. I met her through an event at Capitol Hill that my mom was helping out with. I actually got to have lunch with her, so it was pretty interesting. It was when she was trying to pass the health program back in ’94.
If you were stuck on an island with one ’80s movie, one book and one CD, what would you bring with you? ovie: Goonies, Book: Aristotle’s Ethics, CD: Best of U2.
Plans for after graduation: I’d like to travel for a bit and then try to get a job, maybe on Capitol Hill. And I can see myself possibly going to law school down the road.
One guilty pleasure: I’d say eating anything and everything. I enjoy cooking.
Best thing you know how to cook: Anything you throw down on a grill.
Favorite thing about Washington, D.C: Probably the museums and feeling like you’re in the center of everything that’s going on in the world. And anybody who’s somebody at some point makes it to D.C.
Favorite saying or personal motto: “Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is.” I think that was Vince Lombardi.
What did you want to be when you were little? A professional tennis player. Going into the players’ locker room when I was younger, it was enjoyable to see what goes on, and I was enamored with seeing all of the these great tennis players like Ivan Lendl and Andre Agassi.
Favorite stroke: My backhand return. I’ve been told it’s the best in the Big East.
Proudest non-sports moment: Getting into Georgetown. Of all the schools, it was my top choice, and it was going to be competitive. It was just great to have made it in – it was a great reward for the work I put in throughout high school.
If you could own and operate any business what would it be and why? A restaurant – a fine dining Italian restaurant with a bar. It brings together some of my passions, which are eating and cooking.
Do you have any siblings? I have a younger sister, Cristina, who’s 18 and a freshman at Duquesne and a younger brother, Kevin, who’s 15 and a sophomore in high school. I try to make it home when I have a free weekend, especially to see my brother. I can tell I have a big influence on him, and being 15 is a tough age.
Person who knows you the best: My parents, just because they’ve been around and have been involved with my tennis and academics. They know how I think, what I’m thinking and how I react to situations, so they usually know how I’m feeling.
First thing you do when you wake up in the morning: I check my fantasy stats.
What fantasy sport do you play? Basketball.
One non-sports related thing you hope to do before you graduate: Beat [freshman] Kevin Killeavy in ping pong. He’s on the tennis team.
What is under your bed right now? Clothes and my Ab Dolly – my ab machine – which is collecting dust.
