May 3, 2003

It's the end of a journey for Vikings tennis captain Adam Mercurio (Lorain/Lorain Catholic), and in his eyes, the road has only gotten better with time. "We've reached a new level of success this year," he said. "Our wins have increased fourfold over last season."

The team's lone senior, Mercurio has seen many changes in the Vikings men's tennis program in his three years at CSU-on the roster and in the coaching staff. "Not one guy has traveled the same road-from my first match against Canisius as a sophomore 'til now-not one," he marveled. The pinnacle of the team's success came this season, and Mercurio credits the improvement to coach Brian Etzkin, who came to the Vikings after two years as an assistant at Michigan State. "He brought in a new attitude, and that attitude equals success," Mercurio said. "He's very credible, coming from a major program like Michigan State. He also played in college at Southern Illinois, and coached other college teams before this."

Mercurio said that Etzkin's enthusiasm has rubbed off on the whole team. "He's made tennis more of a priority for us," he said. "In the past, some of our players treated it as just a hobby." He recalled that Etzkin brought a new attitude to this year's team right from the start. "On the first day of practice he gave us each a packet of stuff to read, including the CSU fight song. He said, 'Take pride in this team. Even if we go 0-50, we're playing each match like it's our most important'."

Mercurio, who represents men's tennis on CSU's Student-Athlete Advisory Board (SAAB) was experienced at adjusting to a new coach long before this season: in his eight years of high school and college tennis, he has had a different coach each season. "Either I left or they left," laughed Mercurio, who transferred to CSU in his sophomore year after playing tennis at Mount Union as a freshman. "It's been really interesting. Every one had a different view of coaching. You can take in what you can, but you get used to doing what you want to do."

While many successful tennis players begin playing in pre-school, Mercurio waited until high school to pick up a racquet. "I was good at tae kwan do, but my parents let me stop to pursue other interests," he recalled. "I tried basketball and guitar, but I got bored. I had never played tennis. In fact, I had to borrow a racquet from a friend's sister! I wasn't a superstar, but I picked up the game really quickly, and I had fun doing it."

Mercurio's said that his parents' willingness to let him attempt new interests has helped to shape the person he is today. "They have never once said, 'That's not a good idea' about anything," he said. "They've always let me learn from my mistakes. They've never tried to hold me back."

Mercurio was playing first singles for Mount Union when he was offered the opportunity to come to CSU for the 2000-2001 season. Cleveland State had not fielded a varsity men's team since 1992, and Mercurio was thrilled to be part of the new era. "Being asked to help restart the program at CSU had to be one of the biggest honors I've ever had," he said. "Every player who will ever play for Cleveland State will be here partly because of what I did. It's great to know I've been a part of it."

Mercurio held the first singles position in that first season, earning the team's Varsity "C" Club Award as the Most Outstanding Player and the Athletic Academic Excellence Award. This season he competed in the #6 spot, as recruiting brought better players to CSU over the past three years. Mercurio sees this only as a triumph for the Vikings. "I think it's the greatest thing ever, because it means we have gotten that much better," he said. "How could you not be happy about that? It baffles me to consider thinking otherwise. We were 1-22 my sophomore year. I'd rather be #6 and see the team win eight matches. If you don't want to see the team succeed, then you don't deserve to be on the team."

Not only has the team developed in the past three years, but Mercurio is aware of his own growing maturity on and off the court. "Some people get lost in the crowd, and some people stand out from the crowd," he said. "As a sophomore it was easy to get lost in the crowd, but as a senior, you can't just show up-you have to grow up."

Mercurio remembered a moment on the court in his first season with the Vikings when he learned about "growing up." "I started break-dancing on the court," he recalled. "It was a conference match against Butler my sophomore year. I was playing the best kid in the conference, and managed to take one game from him, so I started dancing 'The Worm.' Players still ask me about it. I got in a lot of trouble for that. You learn, though, and you get past it."

"I've grown up," he said. "You learn to become smarter-not just book-smart, but smarter about yourself and other people. Between job-hunting, being team captain, SAAB and holding an office in my fraternity, I've had more responsibilities."

"Responsibility" is a trait he looks for in others. As an athlete, Mercurio enjoys watching Patrick Rafter, as much for his off-the-court manner as his on-the-court success. "I always cheer for the Americans," he said, "and I like his style on the court, with the bright clothes, the long hair, but off the court he's very charitable and a nice guy." He does not believe, however, in having "heroes" or "idols." "Everyone should be a sponge," he said. "If you admire any one person, you might make the same mistakes they did. Take something good out of everyone you know and live the way you want. Everyone can teach you something. Everyone has something to offer. You have to look for it and wait for it. Everyone I meet is a role model."

Mercurio will graduate this month with a degree in marketing and is weighing his options between graduate school and entering the workforce. He ultimately hopes to move to Las Vegas, and is applying for hotel jobs in marketing and administration. As his time at Cleveland State comes to a close, Mercurio is proud to know he will remain part of the saga of the Vikings tennis team. "You create new opportunities," he said. "My scholarship will go to a new player, then four years later a new player after that. The cycle goes on. You've affected the kids you've played with, and hopefully they'll keep your name alive."

"I'm not doing CSU a favor by playing tennis," he mused. "They're doing me a favor by giving me a jumpstart on my career and allowing me to play tennis. I'm not necessary to the grand scheme of Cleveland State, but CSU has been necessary to the grand scheme of Adam Mercurio. Thanks to the opportunities I've had here, I've done everything I've set out to do."