Welcome to Saturday Spotlight, where we dive 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.
Kyle Seelig has been with the Ohio State program for three years.
A former five-star recruit, Seelig is a redshirt sophomore from Hatfield, Pennsylvania. He finished 30-7 in his first year as a competitive player with the team, and is currently the #30 ranked player in the country, with a 15-5 record thus far.
We sat down with him to learn about his favorite Ohio State tradition, place to eat on campus, and much more.
When did you realize you had a chance to play tennis at the collegiate level?
Kyle Seelig: I think I always wanted to, but I guess it really hit me maybe when I signed to come here. I always thought I had the capability of playing Division-I tennis and always dreamed of going to a great school like Ohio State. The program is amazing. [Head coach] Ty Tucker has been incredible, and I guess it kind of hit me when I signed and I was coming here to play.
What drew you to Ohio State outside of tennis?
KS: That's a tough one because tennis is the biggest reason why I'm here but I'd say that the academics are great. Growing up I went to a Christian high school and have Christian parents and am firm in my beliefs and they have always stuck with me. OSU has a great place for athletes to go that have strong religious beliefs like I do and that really drew me here. So that was another huge reason for why I decided to come here. I never really thought about coming to Ohio from Philly. I grew up liking Penn State so it was a little bit different for me.
What is your proudest tennis moment?
KS: I'd say in college when last year in the Elite 8 when I came back and won a three-set match against TCU. I could've easily gone away after losing the first set. The heat index was above 100 and I was really struggling but I fought back and won my match in three sets and our team ended up winning 4-3 a couple minutes later and we ended up getting to the final four. That was really special.
What do you like to do when you are not playing tennis?
KS: I like to relax, honestly. I feel like most of the time im always go go go with tennis, school, and friends. I mean I love hanging out with friends but sometimes I like to sit and watch a movie or read a book or something to keep me rested up a a little bit.
What are you studying? What has been your favorite class so far at Ohio State?
KS: I'm studying middle childhood education. I want to be a teacher in middle school of history and science. I guess my favorite class so far would have to be my first education experience program class. Last semester, I got to log 100 hours in a Columbus city school. I helped an 8th grade social studies teacher in her class and taught small groups and tutored kids. I was there every Monday, Wednesday, Friday in the morning and it was very hands-on which is what I want to do.
If you could have any super power, what would it be?
KS: I guess the power to teleport wherever I want to. The first place I would go would be Bora Bora.
What is your favorite meal you have had while in Columbus?
KS: Buckeye Donuts. That's a good one.
What is something about you that we wouldn't believe?
KS: This summer in Zimbabwe I got to walk with lions. I went to Zimbabwe on a mission trip and worked with orphans and the last day, we went on a safari and I did this thing called walking with lions. There were two female and one male adult lion and we basically walked around with them for an hour, pet them, it was insane. They'd walk with you. We were in the middle of African nowhere walking with lions for an hour. It was insane. There were tons of rules- we couldn't wear red, couldn't crouch, but it was crazy how close you could get to them and touch them.
What is your favorite Ohio State tradition?
KS: Carmen Ohio. That is my favorite tradition for sure.
Kyle and the tennis team just came off a 2-1 weekend at the ITA National Indoor Team Championships where they lost to UCLA, but beat both Duke and North Carolina. They will travel to South Bend this weekend to take on Notre Dame.
You can follow the tennis program on Twitter @OhioState_MTEN.
