Commitment Profile
Top 2013 Prospect Edward Covalschi Picks Notre Dame
by
Ali Jones, 29 February 2012
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With college tennis as the logical denouement of his stellar USTA career, Blue Chip Edward Covalschi started looking at his options midway through his junior year of high school. He whittled down the list to his top choices: Ohio State, Michigan, Cornell, Illinois, and Notre Dame.
In the end, the myth and magic of the shillelagh-wielding Leprechaun and the Fighting Irish won him over.
The decision to make South Bend his college home was clinched after the Michigan native sat riveted as the Irish battled the
Kentucky Wildcats (losing 4-3) and Michigan Wolverines (winning 4-3) in nail-biting suspense.
"I just knew I wanted to go there," the recruit said. "I loved how the team competed, how the coaches talked to the players during changeovers and encouraged them. I just knew I wanted to be part of the team."
He made unofficial visits to the other schools, but in his heart Notre Dame held a special place, and as he watched the team and coaches in action those two weekends in February, his decision came easier.
"I tried to find the best mix, the perfect school," the Eisenhower High School student said. "Academically and tennis-wise I felt that Notre Dame was it. I looked for a school that was improving and where I can have an effect on, where I can try to make the school better."
Covalschi also believes that the coaches will elevate his game, as they have helped his friend and fellow Michiganian Greg Andrews, who was named Big East Freshman of the Year.
During his two unofficial visits to South Bend, Covalschi was captivated by the entire campus - from its tennis team and coaches, stunning landscape, student population and small classes, to its dorms and cafeteria. It was the perfect place to earn a degree and polish his tennis skills. And, of course, there are football and basketball games to be enjoyed in between his tennis and classes. The 5-foot-10 righty from Shelby Township plans to major in business.
Grant Asher, men's head coach at the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) and Covalschi's longtime coach, describes the incoming Irish as "friendly, generous and focused in all aspects of his life."
Covalschi is blessed with speed and powerful groundies, but Coach Asher says that "the reality is since seven [years old], he has had a passion to learn and improve his game. His ability to find solutions and not make excuses separates him from the pack. He doesn't handle defeat well and doesn't accept it - but is gracious when it happens."
