Senior Spotlight: Evan Powell, Men's Tennis

STORRS, Conn. - The UConn men's tennis team had just one senior this season in Evan Powell, from Guilford, Connecticut.  Even though his final season in Storrs was cut short this spring, Powell took a few minutes to reflect back on his four-years and share what made UConn such a special place to him.

Your hometown is Guilford, CT, what was it like to get to play tennis in your home state at UConn? What drew you to UConn and what was that decision process like?

It was a dream of mine to be a UConn Husky. I grew up watching UConn basketball and my sister was a UConn alum also (graduated 2016). The excellent Actuarial Science program mixed with the world-class athletic facilities made playing at UConn my goal in high school. UConn was always my number one choice for both tennis and academics so when I was recruited and accepted into the school it was a no-brainer for me to be a Husky.

What was your most memorable fall tournament you played in and why?

The most memorable fall tournament was certainly my sophomore season's UConn Invitational. My teammate Jonny Edwards and I shared the D-flight tournament title. We got to play our matches in front of all our teammates, family, and friends which was a really unique experience.

Which singles win over your years at UConn do you remember the most and why?

I still vividly remember playing my first match as a UConn Husky freshman year in the fall of 2016 and getting a win. Even though there wasn't much on the line I recall being very nervous prior to the match and extremely relieved once I got my first win.  

NOTE: Powell defeated Anthony Santino of Sacred Heart, 6-3 and 6-1 in the UConn Invitaitonal.

Who was your favorite teammate to play doubles with and why? And what was your most memorable match together?

I got to play doubles with Brady Flanagan several times during my first two years at UConn. Every time we got to play together was pretty memorable. We were very close friends off the court so it was always a lot of fun to play together.

Over your career at UConn, the Huskies traveled all over the country to play? Which was your favorite trip? How about your favorite courts to play on?

I would say my favorite trip was this past January's training trip to Orlando, Florida. It was so nice to leave the cold Connecticut weather to train in Florida for four or five days. We had so much time off the court to bond and relax also. The intense on court training really prepared us well physically for the start of the season.

My favorite courts to play on were probably Southern Methodist University's facility in Dallas, Texas. I have always loved Texas and it was a great experience to play at their incredible facility.

Who was the toughest opponent, team or individual you faced during your time at UConn?

My junior year we played at the University of Miami and I played singles and doubles against them. They were a very solid team and really pushed us. It was also challenging to transition from indoor Connecticut tennis to hot Miami outdoor tennis.

What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome both on the court and off the court during your four years in Storrs?

I would say the biggest challenge was being able to pass several actuarial exams while also being a student-athlete at UConn. My course load at UConn was pretty manageable over my four years, however, studying for professional exams outside of school was extremely demanding. Spending countless hours preparing for exams certainly took a toll on my tennis and academics at times but was certainly worth it.

Can you talk about your educational experience at UConn?

I was extremely fortunate to study actuarial science during my time at UConn. It is the only Center of Actuarial Excellence in New England. The professors and advisors in the Actuarial Department at UConn are truly some of the most devoted and caring people I've ever known. They really cared about your future success and would always challenge you.

What was your favorite course? Favorite spot on campus?

My favorite course at UConn was Math 3630 taught by Tim Hoxha. This is the introductory course to an actuarial exam titled "Long-Term Actuarial Mathematics". This course really begins to tie together some of the foundational material in previous exams to real-world insurance concepts. It was very interesting to see a multitude of prior knowledge coming together to make up this material.

I would say my favorite spot on campus is the Fine Arts Library near Storrs Center. I spent almost all of my last two years at UConn studying there. It was a great place to study and it was very close to where I lived.

What was your favorite off-court moment at UConn?

My favorite off court moment was when the men's and women's team visited Newport, Rhode Island to see the Tennis Hall of Fame.

After graduating, what are your future plans? How do you think tennis will play a role?

After graduating I will be working as an Actuarial Associate at Buck located in Secaucus, New Jersey. I think tennis will play a role in that I will still try to play as much as I can. I have always loved tennis and the competition.