Two MTSU seniors beat out defending national champs from Illinois in NCAA doubles tennis. Marco Born and Andreas Siljestrom finished their college tennis careers on May 28 and marked a first-ever NCAA championship for MTSU tennis.
Congrats, guys!
These two 6’9″ ball-smashing machines served their way to victory and claimed their spot at number one after falling a bit short in the semis last year-to Illinois.
“It feels pretty good to be the first NCAA champs from MTSU,” says German-born Born. “I actually didn’t know that we were the first from MTSU to win. I’m glad I didn’t know or I may have been a little nervous.”
Wow. It’s like he just enjoys playing the game. Props, Marco.
After the commotion of their big match, these MTSU athletic heroes spent a brief time talking with The Pulse.
MP: Where are you from and how much time have you spent in the States?
Born: From Germany and I’ve been here four years.
Siljestrom: From Stockholm, Sweden, and I’ve been in the States for four years.
MP: How do you feel about being the first NCAA champs out of MTSU?
Siljestrom: It feels awesome. It was a perfect ending of my college career and a dream come true. I hope it will help bring good recruits for the MTSU tennis team.
MP: What are your future plans involving tennis?
Born: I plan on playing in tournaments this summer. Just weekends. I stay pretty busy with my job at MTSU in sports marketing.
Siljestrom: I’m actually playing club tennis in Germany at the moment. After that, I will try to play some doubles tournaments maybe with Marco if he wants . . .
MP: When and why did you start playing tennis?
Born: I was three or four. My mom and dad were both coaches so I was born with a racket in my hand pretty much.
Siljestrom: I started when I was eight or nine and I’ve been playing ever since.
MP: What do you like to do other than play tennis?
Born: Anything with sports. A little basketball. I just picked up golf to relax a little bit. I spend time with my girlfriend and two dogs, hang out with friends at the pool and watch lots of sports.
Siljestrom: I love sports in general. So I like to play any sport that involves a ball. I also like to swim and just hang out by the beach taking it easy.
So these are just some normal guys studying at MTSU who happen to kick ass in tennis. And be really tall.
They show that MTSU athletics can get out there and rumble with the best of ’em, especially is the school focuses on that whole European recruitment thing.
Go Blue Raiders!
