Scholar Stories: How Tennis, Ross School of Business Shaped Steiglehner's Michigan Experience
3/11/2026 10:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Continuing the series that began in 2016-17, each week MGoBlue.com will highlight a Michigan student-athlete and their academic pursuits. These are our Scholar-Athlete Stories.
By Lily Zirin
Growing up in New York City, finding time on a tennis court was never easy. Between the crowded public courts and the high cost of playing, Nicholas Steiglehner had to work for every opportunity to compete. That persistence at a young age eventually carried him to the University of Michigan, where the senior has balanced Division 1 tennis with the academic rigor of the Ross School of Business.
Raised in Manhattan, Steiglehner grew up playing a variety of sports before focusing more seriously on tennis around the age of 12. What drew him to the sport was the unique combination of competition and problem-solving.
"Tennis is an individual sport, but has elements of problem-solving and strategy," he said. "You're constantly trying to figure out ways to adjust and see what your opponent is doing."
Tennis also runs in the family. His father played collegiately at Princeton, but never once pushed the sport on him. Instead, their time together on the court helped Steiglehner grow as a person and a player.
"My dad was a huge help in developing me into a player," he said. "He would practice with me on the weekends and after school. It was a massive advantage."
As his game improved, college opportunities began to emerge. Though Steiglehner initially expected to follow his father's path to the Ivy League, he ultimately chose Michigan, drawn by the opportunity to compete at a high level while pursuing elite academics at the Ross School of Business. The decision also carried family ties, as his mother attended Michigan.
"Michigan had that perfect balance," said Steiglehner. "At the time, the tennis team was one of the best in the country, and academically, it offered just about everything I was looking for."
But long before he stepped onto the courts for U-M, Steiglehner was already learning the basics of business. Growing up, he spent time buying and reselling sneakers and clothing, then reinvesting the profits into the stock market -- an early experience that sparked his interest in investing.
That early entrepreneurial mindset eventually led him to pursue business at Michigan. At Ross, Steiglehner explored a wide range of courses before discovering a strong interest in finance and investing, a path he plans to pursue after graduation.
"Tennis teaches you to focus on the process; there are a lot of great wins and also a lot of losses that you can learn from and grow from," Steiglehner said. "Losses improve your game. They make you one percent better in each way."
Now, as a senior, Steiglehner hopes to leave the program better than he found it. He appreciates the chance to mentor younger teammates and help build the future and culture of the team.
"My time at Michigan was the best four years of my life. There are great resources, great coaches, professors, teammates, memories for life, and I will always remember the huge team wins, tough morning practices, cool group projects, and amazing professors," he said. "Michigan provided a great foundation for teaching me some great skills I will use in the future."
Players Mentioned
