With the spring sports season just about wrapped up, we will be taking a closer look at Muhlenberg’s senior student-athletes.
We continue with men’s tennis, which beat Ursinus, 5-4, in its Senior Day match. Seniors Jordan Rutt, Andrew Brod and Robert Buesser were honored before the match.
Jordan Rutt
What’s been your key to balancing tennis and school work to be named to the Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll each of the last two seasons? I’ve always been a horrible procrastinator, so playing tennis and having even less time for schoolwork makes me focus really hard during crunch time. Luckily it’s worked out pretty well!
What was it like studying abroad in the Netherlands during the fall of your junior year? Studying abroad was the experience of a lifetime, which is why I took 10,000 photos! I had never even been on a plane before, so leaving America and flying across the Atlantic to a new continent was a huge adjustment for me. I still can’t believe I got to see 11 countries, and I certainly want to travel again when I’m older.
Are your parents going to go through withdrawal next year not having any Muhlenberg sporting events to attend for the first time in eight years? Yes, absolutely. It will be the first time one of their kids isn’t playing a sport in 20 years, and they have never missed a single tennis match throughout both high school and college! Luckily my sister coaches high school field hockey, so they can go watch her games.
What are some of the funniest moments from your time with the team? Burrito seshes, swum seshes, singing on the bus rides, Maestro (and Eli), and watching coach lather sunscreen on an umpire.
Do you have a favorite pro player? Rafael Nadal because of his athleticism and fighting spirit, and Maria Sharapova for obvious reasons.
What made you decide to major in economics and political science? When I was a freshman I was really interested in politics, but I knew I wanted and needed something else too. I thought I might enjoy a career in business, but I kind of liked math as well, so I chose economics. I don’t really care that much for politics anymore, so I’m glad I’ll have that econ degree!
What are your future plans? I’ll be looking for a job in business or statistics, and maybe one day if I somehow get super rich I’ll attempt to become a politician (but I doubt it). I also definitely want to coach tennis in the near future.
What’s Andrew Brod like off the court? Brod’s an all-around great guy. He’s goofy, happy, funny, a conscientious student, and not to mention a good friend. I’ll miss him a lot next year, along with the entire team.
Andrew Brod
What was it like getting to intern at the Library of Congress and with former Senator Arlen Specter the past two summers? … Hoping to learn more from government service work in D.C., I was selected for the 2011 Summer Junior Fellowship program at the Library of Congress. Assigned to the law division, I was able to hone my research and analytical skills by examining U.S. Court of Appeals records and briefs. After reviewing them, I docketed the briefs in a proprietary computer system so that they can be located if a lawyer or law clerk requests them. The fellowship was a great opportunity to whet my appetite for the study of law, particularly antitrust and consumer protection law, interests that stemmed from constituent phone calls in Senator Specter’s office. During my research, I came across a brief in a case involving an NFL antitrust claim in Joe Kapp v. National Football League. That case inspired me to research antitrust and sports contracts, including a specific provision in standard NFL player contracts, and I presented the findings in an exhibition at the Library of Congress. I performed a detailed search as if I were preparing to represent Joe Kapp directly. Researching the law and applying it to the circumstances of a potential case was exhilarating to me.
Do you have any interesting or unique pre-match traditions or superstitions? I like to keep the same overgrip on my racquet until it rips off completely.
Do you have a favorite pro player? Gael Monfils
What made you decide to major in psychology and minor in political science? I have always been interested in the intersection of psychology and law. After exploring the various disciplines, I found that studying psychology allows students to think critically, especially while attempting to take different perspectives and understand theoretical constructs that define everyday behavior. I feel as though it has prepared me well to handle the rigors of the law school curriculum.
What are your future plans? I will be attending law school in the fall.
What kind of person is Robert Buesser? Rob is a perseverant and overall stand-up guy who I’ve seen grow as a tennis player over the years. His enthusiasm is uncanny; he has a desire to constantly improve. It’s quite an admirable trait.
Robert Buesser
What made you decide to join the team as a sophomore? Originally, playing tennis in college didn’t really cross my mind freshman year. But I was encouraged to try out after a couple kids on the team saw me playing. So I decided to try out as a sophomore, and it’s been fun ever since. I guess it’s pretty cool to be a college tennis walk-on.
What’s the most memorable moment from your tennis career? The times in practice were actually the most fun, but I think the most memorable moment came this year against Gettysburg when Corey and I came back from down 6-3, 40-love all the way back to win 8-6.
What’s your most memorable off-the-court moment or accomplishment from your time at Muhlenberg? I have had the opportunity to be the Mule at the Homecoming football game twice. That was one of the most fun and memorable experiences I can remember.
Do you have a favorite pro player? Probably Roger Federer. He is the most respectable player in tennis because he almost never complains. And because of the hard work he puts into his game, he makes every shot look easy.
What made you decide to major in psychology and minor in Spanish? Coming into college, I always subconsciously knew that I would major in psychology. I have always found psychology interesting and applicable to everyday life. In addition, the professors from the psych department left a great impression on me, and I knew that psychology was for me. As for Spanish, I have always been naturally good at speaking the language. Also, I have taken Spanish since seventh grade, so I decided I should continue to study the language. Speaking Spanish is very important because in 20 or 30 years the majority of the nation will be Hispanic.
What are your future plans? My future plans include: Visiting every continent as well as the moon, curing cancer, saving a beautiful woman from a fire then marrying her, then eventually becoming the town hero of Little Rock, Arkansas.
What kind of teammate is Jordan Rutt? Jordan is a great teammate and captain. He legitimately cares and notices how you are playing and, of course, gives great pre-match speeches.