Sitting Down With Jason Norville
4/6/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
April 6, 2007
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Freshman Jason Norville was destined to become a tennis player - his father is a tennis pro at the Franklin Athletic Club and his brother is on the team at Western Michigan. If coming from a tennis family isn't enough, the former hockey player is also a pre-med major, which means balancing a demanding academic schedule with athletics. The Farmington Hills native talks about how he is handling the pressure of academics and athletics during his freshman year at Michigan State.
On his freshman season going a predicted...
It's close. I'm not doing as well as I would have hoped too and the team isn't either. However, we've had a lot of close matches. Hopefully things will get better the rest of this year and next season.
On how he balances being a pre-med major and an athlete...
It's very difficult. I have to stay on top of my studies. I don't get to go out as much as some people on campus. I spend a lot of time focusing on school and tennis. One thing I had to do when I came to college was find out how to balance my time well, because I wasn't too good at that.
On what he does in his free time...
I hang out with people. I play basketball. I throw the football outside. I like to stay in shape so I lift weights and jog.
On his other sport, hockey...
I miss hockey a lot. I miss the physical aspect of it and being out on the ice. I also love tennis though too.
On the position he played in hockey...
Left wing. I played anything on the offensive side.
On who he models his game after...
Andre Aggasi, because I like to play the baseline and dictate points from the baseline as well as I can. If I get a chance to come in, I like to come in behind a good shot. I have to do what I can for my height (5-6).
On who it is harder to beat on the tennis court, his father or brother...
My dad is a little older now so he is out of the question. He still puts up a little bit of a fight but he is older now.
On why he chose to come to Michigan State...
I've always wanted to go to a Big Ten School and I liked the academic reputation of Michigan State. I was debating between University of Michigan and MSU and I chose MSU.
On the advice his brother Bryan gave him about this season...
He told me to keep my head up high. I've had a long season and lost a lot of close matches. So he just told me to keep fighting and eventually it's going to come to me.
On his mother playing tennis...
She used to, but she has only played a few times since she met my dad. She sort of quit when she met my dad and found out he was so in to it.
On playing doubles matches within the family...
We do every once in a while on vacations and stuff. We've had family doubles matches but my mom has a tough time keeping up.
On who makes the best doubles combo... I'd have to say both kids.
Written and compiled by Sports Information Assistant Ryan McMillian
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