DETROIT -- Former men's tennis player and current Wayne State University Medical student Michael FitzGerald excelled on and off the court. During his undergraduate career, FitzGerald was a Nutrition and Food Science Honors major and primarily played third singles and second doubles.

On the court, he finished third in career doubles wins (59) and fourth in singles victories (50).  All four years he achieved the 10-win mark in both singles and doubles. His overall combined record was 109-75.  FitzGerald continued that success in the classroom by receiving the 2013-14 Athletics Deans' Award from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for having the highest cumulative GPA of all student-athletes in that college, was voted to the 2014 CoSIDA Academic All-District (At Large) First Team, and was named to the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team all three years.

Balancing all of this though was difficult and required adjustments.

"Balancing the two things (academics & athletics) will sometimes be what I remember more than some tennis matches. Staying up at the library until 4 AM and practicing three hours later isn't what most people get to experience," FitzGerald recalls.

His teammates, including good friend Melvin Joseph, spent many hours with FitzGerald studying through the night and helped create the social bond that teams provide.

"Studying and balancing everything helps me because in the simplest terms; I can compartmentalize," stated FitzGerald. He discovered the benefit of this ability when interviewing at various medical schools. The competiveness as an athlete helped him determine if he was competitive enough for certain programs.

The greatest memory for FitzGerald isn't a close match or an award. Instead, it's the moment when he felt a part of something. When the indoor complex opened in fall of 2011. It allowed the tennis team to have a 5-10 minute walk across campus versus a 30 minute drive. FitzGerald recalls the moment, "I remember feeling really a part of something that is way bigger than myself. It wasn't the tennis court that made the memory, it was the institution. It was the feeling of really being a part of something."

WSU helped FitzGerald transition to life beyond the tennis court. Director of Athletics Rob Fournier brought alumni to speak to student-athletes about their careers after WSU. Through various volunteer opportunities with athletics and academics, Fitzgerald was exposed to Detroit's culture and helped shaped his view on the future. "You come across people who don't live a lavish lifestyle and who are working for their passion. After seeing all of this, it opened my eyes to see all that I can be beyond the tennis court," FitzGerald expressed.

FitzGerald is grateful for the experiences and opportunities the WSU athletic department and men's tennis coaching staff provided. He looks forward to continuing his relationship with Wayne State at their Medical School this fall. Although he has not declared a specialization, he is open to all possibilities.