DRAGON ATHLETICS
News
ALYSSA SCHAFER SERVES UP REWARDING JUNIOR CAMPAIGN
By Larry Scott, MSU Moorhead Sports Information Director
Now that the tricky riddle about future career plans has been solved, Alyssa Schafer can turn her full attention to putting the finishing touches on an undergraduate degree at Minnesota State University Moorhead and saying goodbye to an old friend, competitive tennis.
During her approaching senior year, Schafer will spend the second semester studying abroad in the land of London. The exchange trip to England will force her to skip her final season of collegiate eligibility.
“I’ll miss being on the court and that extreme focus you have,” said Schafer. “When I’m on the court, I can focus on a couple of simple things and enjoy it. I’m sure I’ll pick up a racket in England next year, but it won’t be the same.”
An English/Mass Communications major at MSU Moorhead, Schafer was runnerup at number six singles at the 2008 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Championships and earned honorable mention All-NSIC honors. A two-time NSIC Player of the Week, Schaefer completed her third and final season at MSUM this spring. She fashioned a 10-8 overall record in both singles and doubles.
Following her overseas odyssey, Schafer will head to the east coast.
“After I graduate (from MSUM), I would like to go to graduate school for magazine journalism, and I toured a school over spring break at Syracuse (NY). It’s a 12-month graduate program, and I would like to be an editor for a sort of special interest magazine with a national readership that is very focused, like TENNIS MAGAZINE.
It was an epiphany of sorts that helped Schafer realize her career plans.
Before casting her lot with the Dragons, Schafer lettered in tennis and volleyball at Mandan High School and was a two-sport captain. She earned North Dakota All-State honors in volleyball and was voted team MVP.
“When I was a junior in high school, I was trying to figure out want I wanted to do in life, be a lawyer, a doctor, all of those high school fantasies,” Schafer remembers I was on a tennis trip and reading Tennis Magazine, and there was a byline from a writer whose name was Alyssa Schaefer, same name as mine except for an extra E. I thought, ‘I like writing and if I had ever seen a sign, I could do that for the rest of my life.’ After that I got involved in the school paper and later the Bismarck Tribune, and this year, I’ll have an internship at the (Fargo) Forum.
Education has always been a high priority for Schafer, but athletics has had a special place as well.
“Academics isn’t difficult for me, but it’s stressful,” Schafer said. “I was an athlete in high school so I was used to the traveling, but there’s a new level here. Now you’re on your own, taking care of yourself completely, going to class and being an athlete. It kind of shocked me as a freshman, but I came to appreciate it. Tennis is a stress reliever for me; I enjoy being on the team and seeing my teammates. After writing stories for hours and hours it’s great to go out and play.”
Schafer gives high marks to her Dragon teammates and head coach.
“I’m impressed with our team and the dynamics. We’re hard workers and while we don’t always win, we have great sportsmanship and a great attitude. We get along great, and there’s no drama. We may not be the most intense tennis program, but we still try and do well and school is very important to us. We got the top academic team rating and that’s in large part to coach (Gary) Harris. He stresses academics as well as athletics. It works together well.”
Schafer admits there will be some separation anxiety when she puts MSU Moorhead in her rearview mirror after fall semester.
“I’ll miss so many things about MSUM; this is my new home. I won’t even be able to walk (graduation), and I’m broke up about that. I feel very comfortable in the Mass Communications and English Departments there, and just the people on campus are great. This was the most welcoming campus I visited.”
