(Editor's Note: This is part of a series of stories of the RUDY Award finalists. Two winners – one male and one female – will be announced at the conclusion of the end of the R.UD.Y.S. Awards Banquet on Monday.
R.U.D.Y.S. stands for Recognition and celebration of University of Dayton student-athletes Year-end Showcase. It is hosted by the UD Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and Dayton Athletics administration for the student-athletes to recognize individuals and teams for their accomplishments this past year.
These stories were written by students in Dr. Haozho Pu's HS 353 Sports Media class.)
Written by Anna Slattery, Claire Hand, Jace Fletcher, John Estes
Mikkel Zinder, a junior on the University of Dayton men's tennis team, takes pride in being passionate, organized and hardworking. He is from Richboro, Pa., a suburb of Philadelphia, and attended Council Rock South High School.
Zinder has become a key contributor for Dayton's men's tennis team, showing consistent improvement throughout his career. As a junior, he earned a No. 86 ranking in the ITA fall singles rankings and posted an 11-3 record, highlighted by titles at the A-10 Masters. He built on an impressive sophomore season, going 19-1 in singles and earning All-Atlantic 10 First Team honors. From a strong freshman year to continued success on and off the court, Zinder has become one of Dayton's most reliable players.
Outside of tennis, Zinder remains goal-oriented, aspiring to work for a Philadelphia professional sports team he grew up watching. He also hopes to obtain his pilot's license, driven by his interest in aviation. In his free time, he enjoys cooking and baking.
Q: How has being a student-athlete contributed to your personal growth and development?
A: Time management, and I do a lot of my work in advance so I don't need to worry about getting behind on work or being stressed. The biggest reason I get my stuff done early is so I can focus on the court. Freshman year, I struggled balancing workload with tennis so I have since figured out better ways to manage them alongside each other.
Q: What advice would you give to an incoming freshman student athlete at UD?
A: I advise them to get ahead of their work, and to find a way to get in with the team before you're on the team. Reach out to the teammates and get to know them better, and to learn from them to get ahead more.
Q: What does being a Flyer mean to you?
A: Representing the logo, team, and school every time I play. Always representing the community is also a huge part of being a Flyer.
Q: What is one of the most influential moments in your athletic career?
A: This year earlier in October at regionals, playing Eastern Kentucky, I was playing doubles and we almost got into a fight. I felt fired up and my doubles partner, teammates and coaches had my back, so I felt super supported. We went on to win the match which was a great feeling.
Q: What has been your favorite memory from playing tennis at UD?
A: In D.C. we beat VCU and Richmond and were able to celebrate and had a great trip overall.
