Spring Break
Co-captains lead men's team in '09
Matthew McDonough
Issue date: 4/14/09 Section: Sports
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Today, UConn is 5-4 in the spring, with an 8-5 overall record. The turnaround didn't happen overnight. Schueler and Michaels' first three years in the program were a struggle.
As a team, UConn finished 8-13, 5-15, and 6-9-1 in their first three years. Individually they competed well, but that's the difference between Michaels and Schueler, they care more about how the team does, rather than individual results. Now, as senior captains, they're on pace to lead UConn to its first winning season since 2002. Michaels and Schueler are all a coach could ask for.
"Ben came in fresh and earned some well-deserved playing time. He's a great server and can volley," said coach Marshall. "He is a focused competitor with a team-first attitude. He leads by example, and his strong fight and determination is a reason why he's well-liked."
Ben proved he was a team first guy, when he chose not to compete in singles this year for the good of the team. He knows how important this season is and how strong this team can be.
"This year is our strongest team in 4 years. We had a tough couple of years and we experienced losing. We realized we didn't want to do that anymore. We taught the five freshmen how to win, and we believe we can," Schueler said.
Ben is from Massachusetts, and has started all 4 years at UConn. He once played singles, but now he only focuses on doubles. This spring Schueler will graduate with a degree in healthcare management. His counterpart and co-captain Joey Michaels will graduate with a degree in Marketing. Michaels hails from Michigan and has been a starter all 4 years. The soft-spoken Michaels can fool you with his calm off-court demeanor, but he is scary with a racquet in his hands.
Coach Marshall describes Michaels as a, "Gritty competitor who has strong inner strength. He's grown in his 4 years, and has a never say die attitude."
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