Junior Shaun Bussert may look like another athlete wearing his Ball State University tennis sweatshirt on campus, but academic pursuits are where he has earned the most recognition. Bussert has made the Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-Academic Team both years at Ball State. His 3.68 GPA as an accounting major surpasses the 3.5 requirement to make the national academic team. Ball State doesn't have any seniors on their roster so Bussert and fellow Junior Eduardo Pavia will be relied upon for experience this season.
QHow important is it to you to make the academic team?
A"I've always done my best in school. It shows my dedication to athletics and academics."
QHow hard is it to balance athletics and academics?
A"It's hard, you practice 20 hours a week. You miss at least 10 days of class during the spring. Three to four so far this fall. It's hard missing class but you just have to be more dedicated in terms of staying on top of your work. I let my teachers know I'm leaving before class. I take tests before I leave. I e-mail assignments. Yeah, I have to be more focused and use what little free time I have for my school work."
QDoes it upset you when you see an athlete put their sport ahead of their academics?
A"I wouldn't say it upsets me. I don't particularly like the stereotype athletes generally have of not being smart, because there are plenty of athletes working in school and do quite well in school. I think that gets lost in translation there."
QWhat do you tell athletes who say that they can't do well in both?
A"Not true, just takes a lot of dedication and discipline. It's definitely possible to be good at athletics and academics at the same time. With tennis we have practice in the afternoon so we have to have all our classes in the morning or at night. I have all of [my] classes in the morning. I have an hour to two hours between class and practice. I grab lunch and try to relax during that time and after practice is where I try to get work done. "
QSo how does a kid from Decatur, Ga., end up at Ball State?
A"My dad is originally from the Midwest. My sister went to [Indiana University]. We got a lot of family connections with aunts and uncles. One lives in Chicago and another Columbus [Ohio]. My dad went to Kalamazoo [Mich.] College. It was just destiny that I would end up back in the Midwest."
QWhat's the biggest difference with life in Indiana?
A"There is a more seasonal shift during the winter. It obviously gets a lot colder in Indiana as winters are mild in Georgia. We don't see any snow and I enjoy the snow here. I live just outside of Atlanta where we have lots of buildings. Here, it's a nice campus where you can see a lot more nature than what you would see in Atlanta."
QWhat's something about yourself most students wouldn't expect?
A"I've competed nationally in basketball. I made the national tournament for AAU basketball when I was 11 and 12. I've played basketball with one of the starters on Ohio State [University's] defensive line. I pretty much played every sport when I was younger. I ultimately had to make a decision between basketball and tennis and I wasn't going to grow anymore so tennis was definitely the sport for me."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
