Grantham, PA - The Messiah men's tennis team finished up their fall season over the weekend with a great showing at the MAC Individual Championships. The Falcons advanced to the semifinals in all seven singles matches and three doubles competitions, and they also played in five of the championship matches. Senior Devin Esch was part of the team's success as he won his No. 3 singles quarterfinal match on Friday, dominating (6-1, 6-1) to advance to the semifinals. Esch teamed up with teammate Austin Warren for No. 2 doubles in which they advanced to the semifinals as well. Messiah will now head into the off-season, but the hard work will continue as they prepare for the spring.

We caught up with Devin Esch and hear more about his experience in this week's edition of #WhyMessiah

What are the names of the rest of your family and where do you fall among your siblings?
My parents are Randy and Tracy Esch and I have an older brother Derick. He graduated from Messiah 2014.
 
What is your favorite activity or hobby other than your sport?
I love to ski and play music, whether it's guitar, piano, or really anything else I can find!
 
Why did you come to Messiah and/or why do you love being at Messiah?
Messiah was the only school I was interested in and applied to. The engineering program, the atmosphere on campus, and the tennis team really peaked my interest. The ice cream certainly helped as well! Messiah is a great place where you can focus on your academic studies but also take time to enjoy playing sports, attending concerts and events, and building deep relationships with friends and with God.
 
Why did you choose your specific major here at Messiah? Have you enjoyed your study in it? Why or why not?
I chose mechanical engineering because I love creating things and solving real-world problems. I also have a heart for missions work and the Collaboratory allows me to combine my love for engineering with my passion for missions work.
 
What is your dream job after college?
My dream job is to use my engineering skills and knowledge to help improve the lives of those in need across the world, sharing the love of Jesus Christ through my work.
 
If you could have dinner with one person in history, who would it be and why?
I would have dinner with Steve Irwin (Crocodile Hunter). He was an amazing man and had the coolest job. Plus, he had a sweet accent that would be fun to listen to for an hour at dinner.
 
Who is your favorite professor and why?
My favorite professor is Dr. Phillippy (from the math department). Not only is he a great professor, he's a great guy outside of the classroom. He destroys people in ping-pong, and it's pretty wild to see your math professor covered in soap and mud after doing a slip 'n slide!
 
How do you balance your academic work and your commitment to your sport?
It's all about time management and being able to focus on work when you need to. After long tennis practices or matches that last six hours, being able to buckle down and focus on homework in the library for a few hours is crucial to being successful.
 
Who has most influenced your life and why?
My parents and family have had a huge impact on my life. They support me in whatever I pursue, are my biggest fans, and allow me to travel to crazy places without worrying (too much). They also raised me with strong morals and values, which I am thankful for.

What is one thing about Coach John Arosell that those outside your team may not know?
After winning Coach of the Year he got up on a chair in a restaurant and started dancing as a mariachi band played. Also, he never fails to provide us with fruit gummies.
 
What is special about your coaching staff and teammates, and how would you explain that to a recruit or someone outside of the program?
Our coach and team are super laid back. He understands that academics come first and is willing to work around our schedules to find the best practice times. The tennis program at Messiah has been very successful in recent years and I believe it's largely due to Coach Jon and the self-determination of my teammates. It's a really great group of guys and coach is just one of us.
 
What is one of your favorite team traditions and why?
Wow, where do I start? Renting bikes in Hilton Head over spring break is probably my favorite. We also have team roller skating nights, campus golfing, jumping in the creek after winning MAC's, and crazy van rides with incredible music playlists.
 
Do you have a pre-game ritual or habit? If so, what is it?
Our pre-game ritual as a team is to do a stretch we call "lunges and spanks" before matches which probably isn't what you're thinking but it's been a team ritual for years. Also, our warm-up playlist is not your average warm-up playlist.
 
What advice would you give to younger student-athletes looking to play a sport in college?
Begin learning how to budget your time now. That's the biggest difficulty as a student-athlete in college so if you can master it before coming to college you will have an advantage. Train hard in the off-season and above all never forget that at Messiah we are playing for the glory of God.
 
What is your favorite Messiah memory?
My favorite memory is breaking a Guinness World Record my freshman year with 24 guys on my floor for the furthest distance covered on a kick scooter in 24 hours: 344 miles!
 
If you had to answer #WhyMessiah what would you say?
Messiah is a great place where you can focus on your academic studies but also take time to enjoy college by playing sports, attending concerts and events, and building deep and lifelong relationships with friends and God.
 

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