The Wake

You know you’re good when the University of Minnesota men’s tennis coach Dave Geatz wants you to play for his team after he watches you at a national tournament at age 14. You know you’re really good when you’re the first freshman in the state of Arkansas to win a state tournament at the high-school level. And when you beat a No. 1 seed and a No. 2 seed on your way to Big 10 singles tournament championship in 2003, everyone begins to notice how good you really are.

This is the story of Chris Wettengel, a fiery and confident player holding the No. 53 ranking in college tennis. He switches off playing the one-and-two-spots for the 31st-ranked Gophers men’s tennis squad meaning he plays the best players each university offers.

Wettengel, nicknamed Wett by his teammates and friends, slowly developed into one of the Gopher’s best players while battling nagging injuries and inconsistent play for the last couple of years. Wett is healthy and feels he has matured mentally and physically compared to his first years on campus. Rather than thinking how good his opponents are, he now knows they’re thinking how good he is.

As his confidence continues to grow, so does the list under the “W” for the win column. He has compiled a 12-4 singles record in the spring and is 4-1 in the Big 10. He has four matches to go and he knows if he wins them all, he is a sure lock for the national tournament which selects the top 64 players in the country. Sure this is a difficult task for Wettengel, but how about his opponents?

“I know I’m gonna make it so I’m not worried,” he said. “Cuz I’m not gonna lose.”

Some feel his confidence can be borderline cocky considering his style of play and mannerisms on the court. Wett considers himself an aggressive baseline player whose game revolves around power rather than finesse. He hits through the player rather than volleying with him and often encourages himself with yells of, “Let’s Go Wett!” or anything else that comes to mind. He insists his yelling is all positive unless of course his opponent chooses to chime back with a negative barb. It’s been a part of Wett’s game since he began competing and uses it to his advantage when other players become distracted. When they talk, they’re done, he says.

Geatz knew he was good at 14 and he was right. After all, the kid Wett beat at that same tournament 8 years ago was Geatz’s son and current teammate D.J. Geatz.