Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com
Spring Senior Scholar-Athlete Spotlight: Thomas Mason
4/14/2020 11:17:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Gavin McFarlin- Associate SID
Thirty-three seniors were on Davidson Wildcat rosters as this spring began, and though their 2020 seasons were abbreviated, their contributions to their respective teams, the overall athletics program and college itself make them worthy of recognition. Each Tuesday and Thursday, we will feature members of the class of 2020 as part of the Senior Spring Scholar-Athlete Spotlight.
Name: Tommy Mason
Sport you competed in: Men's Tennis
What is your major/minor: Biology, Pre-Med
What was your favorite class and why: Modern Physics with Dr. M Kuchera. I am a biology major, but I had a free class and decided to take modern physics for fun (I know, I'm crazy) and I absolutely loved it! From learning how relativity was derived to how to solve Schrodinger's equation the course was fascinating. It was also really nice to
take a class that had no bearing on my future; I was just a kid learning what they enjoyed again, without a thought on a grade or the next test.
Where are you completing your studies this semester: I'm in Blacksburg, Va.
Though it was cut short, what will you remember most about your senior season: The last match that I played, on the day that classes were canceled. We were playing a strong A-10 team and it was my birthday. On the court we were unaware of what had been told to the student body, but midway throughout the match, lots of people came to watch and the crowd got into it. I ended up winning a very tough match in three sets and my whole team rushed onto the court to celebrate with me!
If you had to choose, what was the defining moment of your athletic career: The match against South Carolina, where I beat a former top-50 player in the country, 6-1, 6-3. I had a tough end to my freshman season, and this kick-started my sophomore season and my next three years into being a solid player for the team.
What was your favorite trip you took as a team and why: Spring break my freshman year. We always rent a house for spring break, play a couple of matches, and have one free day. That year we went to Universal and played Central Florida, who was ranked at the time. It is always a really fun time to hang out and get closer with your team without the academic stress of being on campus.
What makes a Davidson scholar-athlete different: The level that we are both a Scholar and an Athlete. Coming to Davidson we are students first. We chose Davidson because of the academics, but we are also athletes. I have had the privilege to compete against many top teams and nationally ranked players, such as Wake Forest, UNC, South Carolina and many more. We combine world class academics with top collegiate athletics.
You can invite any three people to dinner, who is joining you: I would invite Rafael Nadal, Steven Gerrard and Steven Hawking.
Did you have a pre-game/match/meet superstition: I have a very set pre-match ritual. I do the exact same warmup every time, take the same break, grip my racket and tape my wrist at the same time, and put my music in during doubles to get ready for my singles match.
What lessons from sports has helped you deal with the unusual situation of the spring semester: Dealing with adversity. As a Davidson student athlete, we are put in many difficult situations, from injuries to playing poorly because we are in a classic Davidson Hell week. We learn how to make the most out of a situation, and not dwell on the difficulties. This is a very challenging time for everyone, so if I can bring a positive attitude, I can hopefully at least bring a smile to the faces of everyone I interact with.
What are you most proud of from your time as a Wildcat: Being able to represent Davidson on the court, in the classroom, on travel trips, at work and during internships. Truly embracing what it means to be a Wildcat.
Who do you want to thank for their support: I want to thank my parents for their unwavering support. No matter what is happening, they are there to support me, and get me through tough times.
What's next for you: Right now I am still looking for a one to two year job. I plan on going to medical school, with the dream of eventually becoming an orthopedic surgeon for a college or professional sports team.
Name: Tommy Mason
Sport you competed in: Men's Tennis
What is your major/minor: Biology, Pre-Med
What was your favorite class and why: Modern Physics with Dr. M Kuchera. I am a biology major, but I had a free class and decided to take modern physics for fun (I know, I'm crazy) and I absolutely loved it! From learning how relativity was derived to how to solve Schrodinger's equation the course was fascinating. It was also really nice to
take a class that had no bearing on my future; I was just a kid learning what they enjoyed again, without a thought on a grade or the next test.
Where are you completing your studies this semester: I'm in Blacksburg, Va.
Though it was cut short, what will you remember most about your senior season: The last match that I played, on the day that classes were canceled. We were playing a strong A-10 team and it was my birthday. On the court we were unaware of what had been told to the student body, but midway throughout the match, lots of people came to watch and the crowd got into it. I ended up winning a very tough match in three sets and my whole team rushed onto the court to celebrate with me!
If you had to choose, what was the defining moment of your athletic career: The match against South Carolina, where I beat a former top-50 player in the country, 6-1, 6-3. I had a tough end to my freshman season, and this kick-started my sophomore season and my next three years into being a solid player for the team.
What was your favorite trip you took as a team and why: Spring break my freshman year. We always rent a house for spring break, play a couple of matches, and have one free day. That year we went to Universal and played Central Florida, who was ranked at the time. It is always a really fun time to hang out and get closer with your team without the academic stress of being on campus.
What makes a Davidson scholar-athlete different: The level that we are both a Scholar and an Athlete. Coming to Davidson we are students first. We chose Davidson because of the academics, but we are also athletes. I have had the privilege to compete against many top teams and nationally ranked players, such as Wake Forest, UNC, South Carolina and many more. We combine world class academics with top collegiate athletics.
You can invite any three people to dinner, who is joining you: I would invite Rafael Nadal, Steven Gerrard and Steven Hawking.
Did you have a pre-game/match/meet superstition: I have a very set pre-match ritual. I do the exact same warmup every time, take the same break, grip my racket and tape my wrist at the same time, and put my music in during doubles to get ready for my singles match.
What lessons from sports has helped you deal with the unusual situation of the spring semester: Dealing with adversity. As a Davidson student athlete, we are put in many difficult situations, from injuries to playing poorly because we are in a classic Davidson Hell week. We learn how to make the most out of a situation, and not dwell on the difficulties. This is a very challenging time for everyone, so if I can bring a positive attitude, I can hopefully at least bring a smile to the faces of everyone I interact with.
What are you most proud of from your time as a Wildcat: Being able to represent Davidson on the court, in the classroom, on travel trips, at work and during internships. Truly embracing what it means to be a Wildcat.
Who do you want to thank for their support: I want to thank my parents for their unwavering support. No matter what is happening, they are there to support me, and get me through tough times.
What's next for you: Right now I am still looking for a one to two year job. I plan on going to medical school, with the dream of eventually becoming an orthopedic surgeon for a college or professional sports team.
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