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Courtesy of Gustavus Adolphus College
John Kauss of Gustavus Adolphus College reports back from representing the United States in team competition against seven other countries. The competition took place Dec. 4-7 in Poitiers, France. Kauss and five other collegiate players competed in the US first appearance in the International University Challenge of Tennis sponsored by BNP Paribas. The seven nations competing with the United States included Belgium, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Montenegro, Russia, and Switzerland. The teams competed in a best-of seven format consisting of two men’s and two women’s singles matches, one men’s and one women’s doubles match, and one mixed doubles match.
The US team finished fourth. They defeated Montenegro 5-2, and lost to France 6-1 and Belgium 4-3. John Kauss thought he played the best tennis of his life, but the competition was stiff. Many of the players on opposing teams were professionals with ATP ranking points. Several players had played in all four of the Grand Slam events this year. It was hard to figure out how they could be considered collegiate players. Nevertheless, John was thrilled that he could participate against such good competition. It was his first trip abroad and the experience of a lifetime. Also representing the United States included Nate Schnugg (University of Georgia), Michael Venus (Louisiana State University), Amanda Fink (USC), Jennifer Kung (University of Chicago), and Kelcy McKenna (Arizona State University). The team was coached by Michelle Dasso, the head women’s tennis coach at the University of Illinois, and Paul Settles, the head coach of the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges men’s tennis team.
Congratulations to John for winning a national Division III Championship and also to the rest of the team for representing the United States so well in international competition.
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