Welcome to Saturday Spotlight! Here, we dive deep into the lives of Ohio State student-athletes and learn more about their journeys to Columbus, their love of the Buckeye traditions and who they are as competitors and students.
The No. 1 Ohio State men's volleyball team, winners of 28 consecutive matches, are off to a stupendous start this season, and look poised to defend their national title.
At the core of the Buckeye barrage is junior outside hitter Nicolas Szerszen. A native of Conflans Ste Hne, France, Szerszen made a difficult decision after completing high school — and years later, he is now a national player of the year in Columbus, Ohio.
We had the chance to sit down with Nicolas to discuss his journey to Ohio State, being a student-athlete and his favorite spots in Columbus.
When did you realize you may have a chance to play college volleyball?
Nicolas Szerszen: Coming out of high school, I had two choices. It was either: I play professionally in Europe, or I could come to Ohio State and study and play at the same time. So since in Europe you can’t play pro and study at a good university at the same time, I came here because I wanted to have something in the background in case I got injured.
What drew you to come to Ohio State outside of volleyball?
NS: My sister went here before me about eight years ago. She graduated in 2011, and told me it was a great campus, a great university; so I said ‘why not?' I didn’t visit any other universities, just took her word for it, and came here.
What is the best part about being an athlete?
NS: We definitely get a lot more help than any other students academically, with organizations, and everything. The coaches help us all the time, we have access to food, the fuel zone, any different kind of help that can make life easier on campus.
What’s been your best volleyball moment?
NS: I would say when the goal we set for ourselves was realized. That’s where it all came together, and you just realize how good the season was. I mean, on the day of the national championship, I thought, ‘did that actually happen?’ Like, I wasn’t really sure it really happened. That’s basically when the whole story ended, and the whole year was good. We had 32 wins and three losses, so it was a great season overall with big wins.
Do you or the team have any special superstitions?
NS: We usually we have pregame meals all together three hours before….Also, I would pray and try to focus, and just do my thing before the game. Don’t get too distracted, don’t laugh too much, just be focused to be ready to play.
What are you studying? How are the courses?
NS: Mechanical Engineering… It’s good, I have around a 3.7 GPA right now, but this semester is going to get tougher. It’s supposed to be the worst semester of undergrad, so we’ll see how it goes because it’s in season, too. But I’ll try to figure it out. I always try to figure it out in some type of way.
What’s your favorite Ohio State tradition?
NS: I’d say game day gets pretty crazy here. All the tailgating, everyone coming down to Columbus, no one can move, you have to walk all around campus, there’s no parking; It shows that a lot of people are coming to the games. There is a pretty big Buckeye Nation, and the Buckeye tradition around football…It’s pretty crazy to see the marching band before the game and everything, it’s just unbelievable. Something like this in Europe would never happen.
What’s the best restaurant you’ve been to/meal you’ve had in Columbus?
NS: I really like to go to some small food places. I went to Melt, and I really enjoyed it and it was pretty good. But I think the best, cheap, most effective/quality play is actually Pizza Cucinova. They have pizzas for, like, eight bucks, and it’s actually pretty decent pizza.
What’s been your favorite aspect of Columbus while you've been a student?
NS: By default [St. John Arena] is my main place. But I just like how big the campus is, and how you see new buildings come around, like, every two weeks, and it changes a lot. So I kind of like to see how the buildings change, and how it kind of grows up, and grows up, and grows up, and just never stops growing up.
What is something you would tell an incoming OSU student, or even just another athlete coming to continue their athletic careers?
NS: Just, don’t be shy, and try to use everything they give you, which it mostly free. So if it’s free, just take it, and use it because it can help a lot. For example, tutoring, help from coaches, or financial help, all the help with academics and athletics. So, just use everything you can to make it happen, and don’t waste it.
