Spring Senior Scholar-Athlete Spotlight: Axel Fries

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: Axel Fries

Sport you competed in: Men's Tennis

What was your major/minor?: Mathematics Major, Economics Minor

What was your favorite class and why?: My favorite class is my independent study that I am taking right now with Dr. Chartier. Working with Dr. Chartier has allowed me to use the skills that I have learned as a mathematics student, and connect it to the world of sports. Together with two other students, we have researched and implemented different mathematical methods to create predictions on the outcome of different facets
of sports.

Where did you finish your studies for your final semester?: I am staying in Davidson for the remainder of the semester.

Though it was cut short, what will you remember most about your senior season?: I think that I will mostly remember the times we spent off the court with the team. I absolutely love tennis, but the relationships that I have with my teammates are ones that I will keep for the rest of my life. We all got along very well and had a ton
of fun together with whatever we did.

If you had to choose, what was the defining moment of your athletic career?: The defining moment of my athletic career happened during my freshman year. I was able to get a good start to the season which gave me the confidence to do well in the rest of my tennis career.

What was your favorite trip you took as a team and why?: My favorite trip that we took was during my sophomore year when we went to Chicago. Usually when we go on trips, we never really get to explore where we are. But this trip, our returning flight was snowed in so we had a whole extra day to see the city. Also, our coach is from there
so he was able to act as our tour guide which made the trip even more memorable.

What makes a Davidson scholar-athlete different?: The ability to handle the academic rigor that Davidson places on us while still having a full athletic schedule is definitely what makes a Davidson athlete different. I could not count the amount of times that my teammates and I had to do work on the bus, in airports, or in hotels. I believe that these shared experiences is what brings us so close together.

You can invite any three people to dinner, who is joining you?: Roger Federer, Lin Manuel Miranda and Kevin Hart.

Most memorable college moment outside of competition?: It is very difficult to choose just one moment to put here as I have so many. I was very fortunate to get the opportunity to bring a teammate home with me to the Philippines this past summer. It was a ton of fun and I hope for more people to visit as well!

What lessons from sports has helped you deal with the unusual situation of the spring semester?: Sports has helped me realize that things do not always go as planned. Setbacks happen and all you can do is pick yourself up and continue to work hard.

What are you most proud of from your time as a Wildcat?: I am very proud of my commitment to the tennis team over my four years. I care a ton about the team and I hope that I set a good example for the underclassmen this year.

Who do you want to thank for their support?: My parents no question. Even though they live all the way in the Philippines and I see them maybe twice a year, I still feel their support just as if they were here. I also really want to thank my host family: Jen, Molly and Layne Osman. Because my parents are so far away, the Osmans have
volunteered and been there for me as if I was a part of their family. They were some of our biggest fans and I owe them the world.

What's next for you?: I will be working for a fintech startup aimed towards helping college students manage their finances.

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