Captain's Log with Mike DePietro: Chicago Bound
2/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Captain's Log with Mike DePietro
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 4 -- Chicago Bound
Hello everyone! It's hard to believe that it has already been a week since my last entry. I hope you all had a great weekend. Our team was in Chapel Hill, N.C., competing in the ITA Kick-Off Weekend. We won both our matches against California and Virginia Commonwealth to earn a spot in the ITA National Indoor Championship in Chicago (Feb.13-16). Our competitive effort this past weekend was unbelievable, and if we bring that intensity all season long, we are going to be a tough team to beat. Qualifying for the National Indoor is a tremendous accomplishment for our team and this program because Michigan has not been a part of this event for a long time. I know the team is very excited, but it's important that we do not look past our upcoming matches this weekend against Vanderbilt and North Carolina State.
I assume that most everyone watched the Super Bowl this past Sunday. As a team, we watched the game in bits and pieces at various airports on our way back to Ann Arbor. Even though it's better to watch the game in the comfort of your home, there was something cool about seeing all types of people gathered around the few TVs at the airport. It's amazing to me how one game can bring so many people together.
Seven of us are currently enrolled in a meditation class on Tuesday nights. I know that we all have come to look forward to this class because it provides us with a chance to relax. Sometimes the season can get quite stressful, so it's great to have a place where we can clear our heads. I personally have found the breathing techniques to be very helpful on the tennis court. There are points in a match where it can get stressful, and the breathing I've learned in meditation class really helps to slow everything down.
Many of us attended Mock Rock X last night at Hill Auditorium. Having Desmond Howard emcee the event was awesome, and I must say he did a fantastic job. I was amused by how many times he changed clothes throughout the evening. It seemed as though he had a new shirt on before each act hit the stage. My favorite act of the evening was men's soccer because I found it to be the funniest. However, the marching band and men's crew team were deserving champions. Overall, it was a great event that really created a sense of pride in our school. But what made this year's Mock Rock the best-ever in my mind was that it raised more money than ever before.
Our media relations director, Marc Ressler, will be making his acting debut this Saturday, Feb.7, in "Gifted Hands". He will be playing the role of a medical intern alongside Cuba Gooding Jr. in this made for TV movie. It's important that you pay close attention, because if you blink, you might miss him (although he claims he will be on for at least one minute). The movie starts at 8 p.m. EST on TNT, so make sure to tune in!
I hope everyone has a great weekend. We will be in the home of country music, Nashville, Tenn., for our matches against Vanderbilt and North Carolina State. Personally, I'm not a country music fan, but I am excited to visit Nashville for the first time. Take care and Go Blue!
Players Mentioned
