Vartan keeps things loose for men’s tennis

The F&M men’s tennis team has had one of its most successful seasons in years.

Senior Armen Vartan has contributed to this achievement and took time to reflect on his final season. 

Ironically, Vartan said he was horrible at playing tennis before he started playing seriously at the age of thirteen. He would play once in a while over the summer, like many kids, but he had no talent for the game. It was not until he met his coach that his career started to take off. 

Vartan was not completely sold on the idea of playing tennis in college during his high school years. He originally wanted to quit the sport before attending college. 

“I decided to take it seriously again after spraining my ankle in my first match of my freshman year,” Vartan said. “I was really angry about forfeiting the match and that kind of rekindled my relationship with tennis.” 

The men’s tennis season has been a good one. Everyone on the team has gotten along well with one another and has had a fun time getting to know each other, Vartan said. 

Additions on the roster from talented first-years have added to the great group of guys on the team. As of right now, the team is playing for the second spot in the conference. This is a huge accomplishment and improvement from years where the team did not even make the conference tournament. 

Some of the team’s big wins include defeating Gettysburg, McDaniel, Haverford, Ursinus, and Washington College.

Vartan, one of two seniors on the team, was an important leader for the team this season.

The 2010 campaign has contiued the upward trend for the men’s tennis team.

After recording their first winning season in several years in 2009, the Dips reached the 10-win mark this season, compiling an overall record of 10-8, going 6-3 in the Centennial Conference.

Up until their showdown with nationally ranked Johns Hopkins on April 10, the Dips had been undefeated in the conference.

Vartan’s signature match came against the Ursinus Bears, when he defeated his opponent in two sets, 6-3 and 6-0, helping the Dips record a 9-0 victory.

Vartan has greatly enjoyed himself over the past few months. 

“My goal was to enjoy playing this year,” Vartan said. “There are some people I was hoping to peg, but I didn’t get the chance to,” he added jokingly.

While many would argue that making conferences is the greatest accomplishment the team had this year, Vartan takes a different approach. 

“I guess our biggest accomplishment would be making [the conference finals], but I don’t really see things that way,” Vartan said. “I don’t like to judge myself based on others. I am really happy to see everyone getting along and improving. I think as long as those two things are happening, you shouldn not ask any more of yourself.” 

Vartan explained why he enjoys tennis.

“I like running around the court; being alone is also pretty cool,” he said. “I like knowing that everything is up to me and in my control. I have no legitimate excuse for anything not going my way.”

However, there is a flip side.

“It also can be no fun to be alone like that. If I’m having a bad day, there is no one to help me out,” Vartan added.

The tennis team, which has only two seniors on the team this season, will undoubtedly miss Vartan’s leadership in 2011.

However, with new recruiting classes and a junior class more than capable of filling the void, the men’s tennis team will look to continue the steady improvement the team has ben experiencing.

As far as plans for the future go, Vartan isn’t making any permanent decisions yet. He still wants to learn and enjoy himself in life. He says he’s not in the proper position to know what he wants to do with his life yet. However, he knows playing tennis will be a part of it; he plans to keep playing after college. 

Vartan feels he hasn’t hit his prime yet and is excited to see how he develops as a player even more in the future.