Rebels' Tribune: Tim Sandkaulen
Rebels' Tribune features the voices of Ole Miss student-athletes detailing how their experiences have changed since the coronavirus pandemic upended lives both on campus and around the globe. Ole Miss men's tennis senior Tim Sandkaulen, found his final season cut short due to the crisis, but he has found the 'good in the bad'. Tim details this in the letter written below. (A day after this letter was written and prior to its release, Sandkaulen was named an All-American in doubles, becoming the program's 30th All-American all-time.)
To the loyal and ever faithful fans of Ole Miss,
I started playing tennis when I was three years old. My mom had just started playing and I loved watching her. We put up a net in our backyard and I asked my mom to play tennis every day. When I was five, I started getting lessons from my stepdad who is a tennis coach with his own academy. Even that young, I knew that tennis was the sport I wanted to pursue, the thing I would find my passion in. But even then, I had no idea what kind of impact it would have on me or my life.
The sport has dominated my life for most of my 22 years. Tennis has taught me values and lessons nobody else could have ever taught me. I’m beyond grateful to the sport that has shown me beautiful places and blessed me with lifelong friends. Most importantly, though, my ability to do one simple thing… to hit a fuzzy, yellow ball brought me to the place that has changed my life most.
The beautiful city of Oxford, Mississippi. Who would have thought that a kid from Germany would appreciate a small college town in the Deep South so much that he would not want to leave?
The transition to the United States was fairly easy as the Ole Miss community welcomed me with open arms. I love Oxford, the Ole Miss Athletics family, our fans and absolutely everything Ole Miss stands for. My four years here have given me a greater perspective and appreciation for my journey. I will forever be grateful to my coaches, Toby Hansson and Devin Britton, for giving me the chance to represent Ole Miss and wear the M proudly.
About two months ago things changed. The COVID-19 outbreak ended my supposedly best and last season as an Ole Miss Rebel. When the SEC suspended our season, I started to feel something I had never felt before... panic. The team this season was the closest it has been in my four years and we were on our way to new heights. Tennis had always been my safe haven and this couldn’t have been it.
These uncertain times have really made me appreciate the time I was able to spend with my teammates and coaches on and off the court even more. I am so grateful for the NCAA’s decision to have granted all spring sports another year of eligibility.
And with that, I leave you with this Rebel Nation...
I am incredibly excited to announce that I will be coming back next year to finish my college career on MY terms.
GO REBS, AND HOTTY TODDY!