ATHLETE PROFILE: Amy Stolach

With three impressive seasons under her belt, recent University Athletic Association (UAA) Player of the Week Amy Staloch, a senior, looks forward to finishing her collegiate tennis career on a high note. UAA Rookie of the Year (2004–2005), UAA MVP (2006–2007), and multiple All-UAA and All-American honors are just a few accomplishments on Staloch’s résumé.
The Carnegie Mellon women’s tennis team is 2–0 as its players start their spring season. As things get underway, The Tartan sat down with Staloch to learn about life as an athlete, student, and almost-graduate of Carnegie Mellon.

Tartan: How long have you been playing tennis?
Staloch: I have been playing tennis since I was three but didn’t take it seriously until I was about 12.

T: Do you enjoy traveling for matches? What is your favorite part about being on the road?
S: I like traveling for tennis and seeing different parts of the country. My favorite part about being on the road is bonding with the team. We have a lot of fun on trips. My second favorite part about being on the road is we always go to Olive Garden and I get the Tour of Italy.

T: Was tennis a deciding factor in your choice to come to Carnegie Mellon?
S: The team was definitely a deciding factor in choosing CMU. The girls on the team and the coach were amazing, and I knew I could play. What else interested me in the school was its location, great academics, and the feeling I got when I visited.

T: What are some of your individual goals? What are some team goals that have been set for the season?
S: My individual goal for this season is to always have a really good attitude on the court and to get into better shape so I don’t get tired in long matches or long tournaments. Those are the two things that I think hold me back in matches. I want the team to always play with confidence and class and to hopefully make it to nationals.

T: What is the best part about being a student athlete?
S: The best part is having something outside of school to try really hard at and be successful at. It’s another place to put my efforts.

T: Where is your favorite place to go on vacation?
S: I always go different places so I don’t have a favorite. Anywhere with water.

T: What do you like the most about your major? Is there anything that you wish you could have studied as well?
S: I like that it’s a major that I can use to do a lot of different things. It’s pretty practical. My humanities depth was in history, and I always enjoyed those classes.

T: Is there anything that surprised you about coming to school in Pittsburgh?
S: Several of my friends were from Pittsburgh so they were die-hard Steelers fans and said weird words and had funny sentence structures sometimes.

T: Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Do you think tennis will always be a part of your life?
S: I think I’ll always play tennis. I am really going to miss the competitive tennis. It’s going to be really difficult for me to get used to social tennis.

T: What year of college has been your favorite?
S: All of them! I feel like every year I get to meet more people and get a little wiser and more mature.