As the only senior on the men’s tennis team, Alessandro Santangelo has become a leader for the underclassmen that he plays alongside.
The Georgetown, Ontario native is a second-generation Canadian. Santangelo gets his love for tennis from his mother, who put a racquet in his hands at the age of three. Alessandro fell in love with the sport instantly and started playing in tournaments three years later.
Tennis wasn’t the only sport Santangelo played, as he was in soccer until he was 13 when he realized he needed to focus on one sport. He chose his bigger passion in tennis, and he’s been playing ever since.
Santangelo says these experiences, and the three-and-a-half years of playing collegiate tennis, have helped him be the best leader possible for the underclassmen.
“I always try and share those experiences and stories with my teammates when it’s due,” Santangelo said. “It helps prevent them from making the same mistakes I did. We play for the love of the game, and there’s nothing better than respect for the game. I see that in my opponents as well when Ferris plays other teams.”
The choice to play collegiate tennis at Ferris was easy for Santangelo, as it’s similar to that of his hometown. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Santangelo had a friend who went to Western Michigan who knew head coach Mark Doren, as well as the head coach at Grand Valley State. Santangelo joked that he made the correct decision not to pick Grand Valley while also stating that he loved the small town of Big Rapids, which was key in his decision.
The professional tennis management senior loves playing for Coach Doren and would like to assist him when his career at Ferris is done.
“It’s been awesome,” Santangelo said. “He’s a great coach and a great mentor. He gives a different perspective than other coaches I’ve had. He sees tennis differently. He knows when to have fun and he knows when to be serious. Doren and I relate so well, and this sport brings out the passion in me. I would love to be an assistant coach at Ferris right after I graduate, or maybe a grad position somewhere. College coaching is my passion and I see that in myself currently when I’m with my team.”
Santangelo is always aware of the college tennis space, knowing what teams are ranked and who’s new, whether a transfer or a freshman, from different social media accounts.
Doren called Santangelo one of the most unique players he’s ever coached at Ferris while also claiming that he’s a “tennis geek” and that he “lives and breathes tennis.”
“Over the past four years, I’ve leaned on Alessandro many times almost as an assistant coach,” Doren said. “He knows everything about every team we play, and I get my scouting reports from him.”
As a senior, Santangelo looks to finish strong on the court and in the classroom. He still has capstone classes and some matches, but he likes to keep working and never settles for less.
Freshman Adrian Catahan talked about the type of leader Santangelo is for the new players.
“He has been an amazing leader for the team,” Catahan said. “He provides his experiences for the team and he’s a big role model. He shows how passionate he is about tennis and how we can improve. He’s like a big brother to us with his maturity and his fighting spirit.”
Santangelo plays tennis for the love of the game, as he says going pro is difficult with how good the young players are. Playing collegiate tennis at a DII school is exactly what he needs to keep his love and passion for the sport.