Unlike many college tennis players, NIU’s Ryan Schnack was not raised with a racket in hand.

Schnack’s first sport was soccer, which he picked up when he was 5 years old. But Schnack’s grandparents soon shifted his focus to tennis.

“They hated soccer; they thought it was really boring,” Schnack said. “So they wanted me to try a more individual sport.”

As his tennis career reaches its final month, Schnack said he wants to be remembered for his perseverance and commitment.

Schnack has a NIU career record of 22-19 in singles and 17-6 mark in doubles. However, he has played only five total matches this season, tallying a 2-3 record. But Schnack is not complaining.

“He’s a hard worker,” said junior Willy Gali, Schnack’s teammate. “As a player, he hasn’t played as much with the team this year, but he’s always ready to work hard.”

Since joining the NIU tennis team in the fall of 2000, Schnack said he has had a strong sense of unity and camaraderie with his teammates.

Gali and assistant coach and 2003 NIU graduate Raymond van Wasbeek, are just two of the friendships Schnack has developed in his four years in DeKalb.

“Ray [van Wasbeek] and I have been friends since my freshman year,” said Schnack, who played doubles with van Wasbeek last year. “On Thanksgivings and stuff, he goes home with me. Aaron Forsberg, my roommate, he’s a real good friend of mine, too. I think these relationships will last the rest of my life. I feel fortunate.”

As NIU (13-4 overall) prepares to host UIC (5-9) at 3 p.m. today at the Anderson Courts, Schnack doesn’t expect to play, but that doesn’t change his attitude, he said.

“No matter if I play or not, I’ll always be there cheering with the team,” he said. “It took a lot of hard work to get through four years of college, and some players have left. I want to be remembered as one who stuck it out.”