WESTERVILLE, Ohio –
Brandon Wall arrived to Otterbein University sight unseen. The Adelaide, Australia native and promising tennis player had only viewed the campus through a virtual tour (not as crazy nowadays, right?), but was ready to jump in head first and become a Cardinal.
"I guess I kind of walked into it blindly," Wall said with a chuckle. "The college environment here in the U.S. is incredibly different than back home. Being on campus and living with your peers is such a great experience. I was amazed at how nice the surrounding area was and then Columbus in general. It's been great from day one."
Fast forward a few years, and Wall has now been selected as the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Scholar-Athlete of the Month for October. Now in its 23rd year of existence, the award honors an exceptional student-athlete on a monthly basis, with each of the 10 institutions receiving an assigned month of the academic year. Criteria consists of being at sophomore, junior, or senior status, typically competing in a sport that is in-season, sportsmanlike conduct, and carrying at least a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Wall attended one year of university (college) in the "Land Down Under" but wanted to change things up. He had been thinking for awhile about trying to play college tennis after beginning the sport at age five, as his entire family also played. His high school didn't have a team, so local and regional tournaments allowed Wall to develop and gain recognition throughout teenage years.
"It definitely started getting more serious around 11 or 12 years old," Wall explained. "I really loved it and wanted to keep continuing."
After that first year out of high school, the Wall's started contacting agencies to help find opportunities in the United States. They ended up getting in contact with Otterbein head coach
Tyler Stephen a few months later, and the rest is history.
"Brandon was very fast, in great physical shape, held a big serve and could play for hours on end," Stephen began. "But I have been most impressed at the way he improved his consistency. Early on, he would try ending the point in 2-3 shots every time… but that doesn't always work at the college level. Now you see him grind more and extend the point, which helps extend certain matches and get better results."
Wall got tossed into Otterbein's No. 1 singles position right away, and has been constantly improving ever since. In less than two full seasons, he holds a 21-18 individual mark and then a 19-17 record across double play. The big-serving righthander was voted first team All-OAC following his inaugural campaign and was likely on track to repeat that accolade in 2020, before the pandemic shutdown.
His efforts have been even better in the classroom, maintaining a 3.97 grade-point average as a double major in allied health and sport management. Out in the community, he's helped provide tennis instruction at local country clubs. Around campus, he's worked as a resident assistant and served in the Peer Mentor program.
"The way Brandon carries himself, whether it be in the classroom or on the court, is a huge help to our program," Stephen said. "He is definitely what you would classify as a leader by example… Not super vocal, but always comes ready to work. I think it's a big encourager for the younger guys."
Wall still technically has three years of athletic eligibility left after the recently-shortened spring, although it's very likely that he spends just one more season at Otterbein before graduating in 2021. Based on options/preferences for a potential master's degree, Wall would attend graduate school elsewhere. So, in the meantime, his focus remains on helping Otterbein win a conference title before finding a career in college athletics. He hopes to pursue either coaching or athletic administration.
The Cardinals boast a 25-7 dual record since Wall arrived and project to have a strong lineup once again this spring. The Aussie, arguably the league's best returner, will certainly be at the center of that mix and in the conversation for OAC Player of the Year.
"He is everything we expected him to be," Stephen said in conclusion. "It's a testament to his daily work ethic and finding the right path in college. He's stayed the course and kept improving… that's all you can ask as a coach."
Regardless of what accolades Wall might receive, or how many matches he wins, or what his final GPA ends up being, Otterbein is certainly proud to have him representing the Tan and Cardinal colors. Likewise, Wall knows how much the 10,000-mile journey from Adelaide to Westerville has shaped his future.
"I am just really grateful because it's been an experience of a lifetime," Wall said, reiterating how being part of an athletic team helps with the adjustment to campus life. "I owe my coaches a huge thank you for providing the opportunity and then my teammates for always being supportive and creating an amazing atmosphere. I have always felt taken care of."
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