Tennis and My Life

By Taylor Graalman

Tennis has been a great sport and asset in my life. It has blessed me with the chance to do something with myself. I have Played tennis from when I was a little child to high school and college.  

When I was around 5 years old, I was fortunate enough to play on a stadium court in front of a crowd of people. In the picture below, Wayne Bryan, father of the most winning doubles team in history, is asking me questions. I had been playing tennis for a few years at this point. This really was the spark of my love for tennis and how it has shaped my life.

Myself wearing a MTSU shirt next to Wayne Bryan

In the picture above, you see that I am currently wearing a Middle Tennessee State University shirt. After what happened, I was beginning to make connections. I was fortunate enough to become the first live mascot for this college. I was 8 years old at the time and was always around the guys on the team. They had an amazing season where they made it into the NCAA Tournament.

Tennis at Siegel Middle School

While at Siegel Middle School in Murfreesboro, I was fortunate to play at the number one spot out of six and I would meet lifelong friends. We had a stellar team, winning the team tournament all three years. We were one of the best teams to come through middle school in Rutherford County history.

Tennis Tournament for the USTA in Huntsville, Alabama 

During my time at Siegel High School, I played in many tournaments around the South traveling to such states as Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi and Alabama for the United States Tennis Association League. Like life, these tournaments had many ups and downs. The best part was always learning something new about myself good or bad. I won more matches than I lost, but the loses always stuck with me more. If anyone is interested in signing up for the USTA and play in tournaments, visit this. https://www.usta.com/

Playing for Siegel High School

While I was at Siegel, I was fortunate to play number one for all four years. I was coached by Jeff Martin, who also taught me how to be a better person on and off the court. Siegel and I were three-time state semifinalists. I made it to state competition as an individual four times and winning a quarterfinalist twice, and a semifinalist twice. Also, I was fortunate enough to be The Daily News Journal Male Tennis Player of the Year for three years in a row. It really gave me confidence and helped me accomplish what I did this summer.

Coaching in Connecticut

This summer, largely due to my connection as a mascot for MTSU, I was fortunate enough to get a job as a tennis pro in Connecticut. I taught many different people from young to old and made great connections. As a tennis pro, I worked six days a week from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. It was not an easy job as most might think. I learned more this summer than I did my freshman year of college.

For anyone wanting to improve their game and to win more matches, key to greater improvement is to increase footwork and focus. When I was playing a match where I was losing 6-2, 5-2 that is what I did to create a comeback. I have seen plenty reach new heights by increasing these two simple things. Here is a link to improve your consistency. http://www.active.com/tennis/articles/10-steps-to-improve-your-consistency

That is just a few ways how tennis has helped to shape my life. Like a tennis match, life has many ups and downs. I have been fortunate and blessed to be able to live the life I want because of this sport. If you want to know more follow me on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/taylor.graalman and https://www.instagram.com/graalmanater/?hl=en

Experienced MTSU Defensive End Uses Life Lessons to Make Impact

By Sylvester “Sly” McCaulley, III

Motlow Buzz Reporter

MTSU's Steven Rhodes

 

            MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Steven Rhodes, a junior year defensive end on Middle Tennessee State University’s football team, made key defensive plays at the team scrimmage on April 16.

            Rhodes, who is no stranger to overcoming life’s hurdles and achieving success, continues to make great strides both mentally and physically in improving his on-field play.

Rhodes with USMC Commandant Gen. James Amos

            Rhodes’s success in overcoming adversity goes back to his years in serving in the United States Marine Corps, as it is known for being the toughest out of all the military branches. He served five years of active duty while stationed at Marine Corps Air Station New River in Jacksonville, N.C., and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego. His experience with the Marines taught him discipline, a good work ethic and humility.

           “I feel it gave me a lot of grounding and foundation for what I do out here on the field,” Rhodes said.

Rhodes made national headlines in 2013 when the NCAA denied him eligibility due to his 2012 participation in the MCAS Miramar football recreational league that was held on the base. The NCAA originally considered it an organized competition. The school immediately launched an appeal in favor of Rhodes.

When the story broke onto social media, it immediately gained national attention, which helped gain plenty of support for Rhodes. MTSU head coach Rick Stockstill was one of those supporters.

Rhodes

“I’m always going to battle for our players,” he said. “For the NCAA to say that Steven wasn’t eligible to compete his first year because of what he did in the service, I didn’t think it was fair. I didn’t think it was right, so we stood up for him.”

This caused the NCAA to look further into the case, and once it realized the on-base league was only recreational, it changed the ruling to allow Rhodes to play immediately.

“It was a challenge,” Rhodes said with a laugh as he reflected back on the incident. He also felt that the incident made him the “lead blocker” for future veterans coming out of the military and want to play collegiate sports, so they won’t have to face the same struggle. His advice to those veterans who hope to achieve the same goal as he did: “To come out and work, don’t be outworked by anybody, and do the things that the next man won’t do. Stay extra, do extra things to get better, and focus on good work ethic.”  

Coach Stockstill believes Rhodes is having his best spring practice since he arrived on campus in 2013, and is playing at a high level.

MTSU Head Coach Rick Stockstill

“He’s got great energy, great intensity, a great focus,” Stockstill added. “He comes out here with a good attitude to get better every day, so I think he is really playing well right now through the spring practice.”

The coach also believes Rhodes has a good chance to be a starter this upcoming season if he keeps up his work ethic and maintaining his humbleness.

            Rhodes has big goals for this upcoming season that will be a challenge to accomplish, but he is ready to take it on.

            “Goal number one is to get a championship, go to a bowl game and win,” he said, adding that he wants “to be the best player I can be.”

            MTSU will have a tough schedule this season, facing Alabama, Vanderbilt and Illinois. However, Rhodes is still maintaining his extreme confidence.

            “I never strap on my helmet to go lose, so I plan on winning and dominating at my position," Rhodes continued. "I feel that we will come out victorious.”

            Coach Stockstill also commented on the upcoming season, as well as his current team. “I like the team," Stockstill said." I like our attitude right now. Our schedule is going to be incredibly tough with who we play. But I think we’re improving fundamentally this spring to give us an opportunity to be successful."

           For more information about the MTSU Blue Raiders football team and their up upcoming season, visit http://goblueraiders.com/index.aspx?path=football and http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa-15/conf-usa/2015-middle-tennessee-blue-raiders-football-schedule.php.

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MTSU Football Preparing For 2014 Season

By Nick Fisch

Motlow Buzz Reporter

            MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University’s football team held its "Blue and White Spring Game" at 12:50 p.m. on April 19, 2014 at the Dean A. Hayes Stadium located on 1568 Greenland Drive.

            The Blue Team, which was the offense, beat the White Team, which was the defense, 27-0. The final score had the Blue Team winning the game, but the White team actually dominated the whole game. The White Team managed to rack up a total of seven sacks, 11 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, and three interceptions.

            Redshirt freshman cornerback Shon Akins, who is number 37, was a serious presence on the field by forcing two interceptions, and redshirt senior cornerback Chris Sharpe, who is number 27, had one interception as well as one forced fumble. Redshirt junior defensive end Alexandro Antoine, who is number 17, and redshirt senior linebacker Leighton Gasque, who is number 40, had two sacks each.

            The Blue Team still managed to score some points on the ball hawking defense of the MTSU Blue Raiders. In the first quarter, the Blue Team started off with a three-point lead when redshirt sophomore kicker Cody Clark, who is number 89, made a 29-yard field goal.

             In the second quarter, redshirt sophomore quarterback Austin Grammar, who is number two, connected with redshirt sophomore wide receiver Terry Pettis, who is number 84, for a 49-yard touchdown. The extra point from Cody Clark was good, making the score 10-0 at the half, with the Blue team leading.

            Redshirt freshman fullback Jordan Willis, who is number 43, scored the first points of the second half with a 1-yard touchdown run. The extra point by sophomore kicker Canon Rooker, who is number 15, was good. The third quarter touchdown led up to Canon Rooker kicking a 24-yard field goal.

             In the fourth quarter, redshirt sophomore running back Chukwadi Echetebu, who is number 30, ran 8 yards straight to the end zone for a touchdown. The extra point by Cody Clark was good, making that the last points of the 2014 "Blue and White Spring Game."

            The MTSU defense, who gave up 26.2 points and was ranked 60th in all of Division I football for points allowed in 2013, looked very good in the spring. They created many turnovers, managed to get in the back field, gang tackled, created big hits, and most of all played as a team.

            The MTSU offense did not look all that great, which is ironic because their offense ranked 69th in all of Division I football for total points, 31st in total rushing yards, and 85th in total passing yards in 2013. The reason the offense could have been struggling was due to the fact their 2013 captain quarterback, Logan Kilgore, graduated.

             Battling for the starting quarterback position are freshman Brent Stockstill, who is number 12; redshirt freshman A.J. Erdely; who is number 11; redshirt junior Nolan Genovese; who is number 7; and redshirt sophomore Austin Grammer, who is number 2.

            Unfortunately, all four quarterbacks struggled throughout the spring game, which really caused the offense to play out of sync. There is still a lot of time for all four to get better before the 2014 season kickoff, including summer conditioning, practice and fall practice.

            The MTSU running game was one bright spot for the offense of the Blue Raiders. The MTSU rushing attack gained a total of 242 yards and two touchdowns during the spring game. Number 35 Tony Rowland, who is a redshirt freshman, rushed for 114 yards on 23 carries. Number 43 Jordan Willis, who is a redshirt freshman, and number 30 Chukwadi Echetebu, who is a redshirt sophomore, each had one touchdown to lead the Blue Raiders rushing attack.

            Senior wide receiver Marcus Henry, who is number 19, was the leading wide receiver for the MTSU Blue Raiders in 2013, grabbing 38 catches for 549 yards and three touchdowns. Henry formally played for Northwest Mississippi Community College in Courtland, Miss., making him one of the 15 junior college transfers on the MTSU roster.

            “Community College is harder than people think, and they have a lot of good athletes," Henry said. "Community College helps a lot of D-1 athletes to improve on their grades. It really had me prepared a lot for MTSU.”

             Henry is coming into the 2014 season with the mindset of just winning and high expectations for the team, as well as himself.

            “We want to win the conference championship and to go undefeated,” Henry said. “Every time I catch the ball, I am trying to score.”

            Henry has a lot of reasons to have high expectations. MTSU Blue Raiders football finished the 2013 season with a record of 8-4, making it to the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, where they fell to Navy, 24-6. MTSU football still had a successful 2013 season considering the fact that was the first season MTSU had to play in Conference USA since it made the switch from the Sun Belt Conference.

            MTSU starts the 2014 season at home on Aug. 30 against Savannah State. MTSU's first conference game of the 2014 season will be home against Southern Mississippi.

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