Men's Tennis Senior Spotlight: Marco Osorio and Oliver Webb
2/18/2014 10:05:00 AM | Men's Tennis
STATESBORO, Ga.- Georgia Southern seniors Marco Osorio and Oliver Webb have played key roles as student-athletes on the men's tennis team. Marco is a member of head coach Nick Zieziula's first recruiting class, and Oliver entered the following year. Both Marco and Oliver were main components in the Eagles' victories over #64 Elon and #60 Samford last season.
At this point in the season, Marco holds a 2-5 singles record and a 3-4 doubles record. Oliver is 1-7 in singles play, and 4-3 in doubles. The Eagles are 1-7 on the season, and they earned their first win against Bethune-Cookman University last Sunday, February 16th.
"Both of these guys have been such a big part of this program for the last few years," said head coach Nick Zieziula. "Both of them were at the heart of last year's squad that posted multiple wins over ranked teams and helped us earn a #8 ranking in the region- ahead of Georgia Tech. We had success last year that we haven't had with this program in a long time. Marco and Oliver have both overcome a lot of adversity in their time here at Southern and both of them have bounced back even stronger; those lessons in overcoming the adversity that they did will serve them well in their future careers."
Marco Osorio, the Tegucigalpa, Honduras native, was born on May 30th, 1992, and is a Business Administration major at Georgia Southern.
"Marco is probably the most tenacious player I have ever coached," said Coach Zieziula. "It was a privilege to work with him in rehabbing his shoulder after surgery his freshman year and see him through the process to get back to the point where he was coming back and winning 3 set matches against nationally ranked Elon and Samford last year to help the team pull through."
We asked Marco a few questions about his time here at GSU:
1. What is one of the most memorable moments you've experienced during your tennis career here at Georgia Southern?
My freshman year I was introduced to a culture of men who wanted to achieve their own goals in life. That led me to take my dreams more seriously and gave me confidence. I proved myself that I could come back from the worst when I had a surgery my sophomore year and have a positive record by the end of the season. I became more disciplined, organized and productive while in this team. The good friends I made will be there after I graduate and I came with the idea of making a name for myself and becoming independent, which I am proving to myself it's possible now more than ever. Basically I came here with dreams and ideas, now I have plans and objectives.
2. How did you become interested in tennis?
I had to decide between futbol (soccer) and Tennis. I always preferred futbol but my mother didn't like me coming muddy into the house after late practices. One of my sisters played college tennis in Virginia and that incentivized me to move into the courts. I also had more friends in the tennis courts because of my family's influence in the Tennis Federation. That led me to feel more comfortable with tennis. In the end I also found myself in the right moment at the right time with many great tennis players of that generation coming out and making tennis popular in the country and the region.
3. What's the most valuable thing you've learned from your coaches?
Order, focus, grit.
4. What's your favorite Georgia Southern tradition?
I find the couples jinx on Sweetheart Circle interesting, it's a funny thing to mention to a date when walking past it.
5. What are your career goals after college?
I will appreciate the value of people and things, I believe everybody plays a role in life and it should be respected. My faith will greatly shape my decisions in the future, and the way I decide to invest myself to the Honduran people. Real Estate, Law, Banking, Music, and Literature will be part of my story in the future.
6. What is your favorite quote?
'It might be statistically more rare to reach greatness, but it does not require more suffering than perpetuating mediocrity.' - Jim Collins
Oliver Webb was born on November 22, 1991 in Watford, England. Webb came to Georgia Southern from Florida Atlantic University.
Head coach Nick Zieziula said, "Oliver struggled with the transition to Southern at first but he has come a long way, posting perfect or near perfect GPA's in his last semesters as well as wins over nationally ranked doubles teams and playing #1 singles."
We asked Oliver a few questions about his time here at GSU:
1. What is one of the most memorable moments you've experienced during your tennis career here at Georgia Southern?
My most memorable moment whilst playing for Georgia Southern would most definitely be Spring 2013 when we beat Elon on their courts 4-3. They were the number one team in conference at that time and didn't expect any kind of contest from us. We had played a really bad match the day before and to turn up the next day and for the whole team to come together to pull off a big upset, especially after losing the doubles point was incredible. Everyone was involved in that win, even the guys that didn't play as they were yelling from start to finish which really helped the guys playing. It was extra special for me as I was able to come back and win in the third set.
2. How did you become interested in tennis?
I actually really liked soccer growing up and was constantly outside playing, however after a few years playing on a team I realized I wasn't much of a team player at that age because I couldn't understand why my teammates were making mistakes. One of my school friends invited me to go and play tennis with him one Friday night and ever since then I have loved it. At first I played once a week while the other four nights were taken up with soccer, eventually the role was reversed and tennis was all I wanted to do. I didn't start playing tournaments until I was about 13 so you could say I was a late starter.
3. What's the most valuable thing you've learned from your coaches?
A big thing that I have learned from the coaches is that failure is not an option and there are always things that can be done to improve any situation. Basically, to never give up. I have had many coaches in my time as a tennis player, but Nick has been one of the best with his outstanding commitment and belief in each and every one of his players.
4. What's your favorite Georgia Southern tradition?
My favorite tradition here at Georgia Southern is the "GEORGIA… SOUTHERN" chant. How the students yell "Georgia" and the alumni section on the other side of the field yells "Southern." The noise is something else and makes me proud to be an Eagle.
5. What are your career goals after college?
I hope to use my degree in Sport Management to get a job either back home in London or here in the US. I have an internship lined up with IBM and the Wimbledon Tennis Championship this upcoming summer, so I hope that this will show me more about the industry.
Congratulations and good luck Marco and Oliver!
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics and twitter.com/GSAthletics, and its new "Eagles GATA" mobile app for Android and iOS.
At this point in the season, Marco holds a 2-5 singles record and a 3-4 doubles record. Oliver is 1-7 in singles play, and 4-3 in doubles. The Eagles are 1-7 on the season, and they earned their first win against Bethune-Cookman University last Sunday, February 16th.
"Both of these guys have been such a big part of this program for the last few years," said head coach Nick Zieziula. "Both of them were at the heart of last year's squad that posted multiple wins over ranked teams and helped us earn a #8 ranking in the region- ahead of Georgia Tech. We had success last year that we haven't had with this program in a long time. Marco and Oliver have both overcome a lot of adversity in their time here at Southern and both of them have bounced back even stronger; those lessons in overcoming the adversity that they did will serve them well in their future careers."
Marco Osorio, the Tegucigalpa, Honduras native, was born on May 30th, 1992, and is a Business Administration major at Georgia Southern.
"Marco is probably the most tenacious player I have ever coached," said Coach Zieziula. "It was a privilege to work with him in rehabbing his shoulder after surgery his freshman year and see him through the process to get back to the point where he was coming back and winning 3 set matches against nationally ranked Elon and Samford last year to help the team pull through."
We asked Marco a few questions about his time here at GSU:
1. What is one of the most memorable moments you've experienced during your tennis career here at Georgia Southern?
My freshman year I was introduced to a culture of men who wanted to achieve their own goals in life. That led me to take my dreams more seriously and gave me confidence. I proved myself that I could come back from the worst when I had a surgery my sophomore year and have a positive record by the end of the season. I became more disciplined, organized and productive while in this team. The good friends I made will be there after I graduate and I came with the idea of making a name for myself and becoming independent, which I am proving to myself it's possible now more than ever. Basically I came here with dreams and ideas, now I have plans and objectives.
2. How did you become interested in tennis?
I had to decide between futbol (soccer) and Tennis. I always preferred futbol but my mother didn't like me coming muddy into the house after late practices. One of my sisters played college tennis in Virginia and that incentivized me to move into the courts. I also had more friends in the tennis courts because of my family's influence in the Tennis Federation. That led me to feel more comfortable with tennis. In the end I also found myself in the right moment at the right time with many great tennis players of that generation coming out and making tennis popular in the country and the region.
3. What's the most valuable thing you've learned from your coaches?
Order, focus, grit.
4. What's your favorite Georgia Southern tradition?
I find the couples jinx on Sweetheart Circle interesting, it's a funny thing to mention to a date when walking past it.
5. What are your career goals after college?
I will appreciate the value of people and things, I believe everybody plays a role in life and it should be respected. My faith will greatly shape my decisions in the future, and the way I decide to invest myself to the Honduran people. Real Estate, Law, Banking, Music, and Literature will be part of my story in the future.
6. What is your favorite quote?
'It might be statistically more rare to reach greatness, but it does not require more suffering than perpetuating mediocrity.' - Jim Collins
Oliver Webb was born on November 22, 1991 in Watford, England. Webb came to Georgia Southern from Florida Atlantic University.
Head coach Nick Zieziula said, "Oliver struggled with the transition to Southern at first but he has come a long way, posting perfect or near perfect GPA's in his last semesters as well as wins over nationally ranked doubles teams and playing #1 singles."
We asked Oliver a few questions about his time here at GSU:
1. What is one of the most memorable moments you've experienced during your tennis career here at Georgia Southern?
My most memorable moment whilst playing for Georgia Southern would most definitely be Spring 2013 when we beat Elon on their courts 4-3. They were the number one team in conference at that time and didn't expect any kind of contest from us. We had played a really bad match the day before and to turn up the next day and for the whole team to come together to pull off a big upset, especially after losing the doubles point was incredible. Everyone was involved in that win, even the guys that didn't play as they were yelling from start to finish which really helped the guys playing. It was extra special for me as I was able to come back and win in the third set.
2. How did you become interested in tennis?
I actually really liked soccer growing up and was constantly outside playing, however after a few years playing on a team I realized I wasn't much of a team player at that age because I couldn't understand why my teammates were making mistakes. One of my school friends invited me to go and play tennis with him one Friday night and ever since then I have loved it. At first I played once a week while the other four nights were taken up with soccer, eventually the role was reversed and tennis was all I wanted to do. I didn't start playing tournaments until I was about 13 so you could say I was a late starter.
3. What's the most valuable thing you've learned from your coaches?
A big thing that I have learned from the coaches is that failure is not an option and there are always things that can be done to improve any situation. Basically, to never give up. I have had many coaches in my time as a tennis player, but Nick has been one of the best with his outstanding commitment and belief in each and every one of his players.
4. What's your favorite Georgia Southern tradition?
My favorite tradition here at Georgia Southern is the "GEORGIA… SOUTHERN" chant. How the students yell "Georgia" and the alumni section on the other side of the field yells "Southern." The noise is something else and makes me proud to be an Eagle.
5. What are your career goals after college?
I hope to use my degree in Sport Management to get a job either back home in London or here in the US. I have an internship lined up with IBM and the Wimbledon Tennis Championship this upcoming summer, so I hope that this will show me more about the industry.
Congratulations and good luck Marco and Oliver!
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics and twitter.com/GSAthletics, and its new "Eagles GATA" mobile app for Android and iOS.
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