Women's Tennis | September 27, 2019

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Western Michigan Division of Intercollegiate Athletics will induct the 2019 Hall of Fame class on Friday, Sept. 27, at the Fetzer Center. The inductees will also be honored the following day on Saturday, Sept. 28 during halftime of Western Michigan football's game against Central Michigan. This week www.wmubroncos.com will take a closer look at each of our inductees: Shawn Faulkner (football), David Gennero (men's tennis), Frederika Girsang (women's tennis), Bill Horn (ice hockey), Shaylen Jackson (volleyball), and Jeff Zylstra (men's track & field and cross country).

FREDERIKA GIRSANG
Frederika Girsang starred for the WMU women's tennis program from 2000-04. She made an immediate impact, earning Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year honors for the 2000-01 season, in which she was also a First-Team All-MAC selection after helping lead the Broncos to a MAC regular season title. She was also a First Team All-MAC selection in 2003 and 2004, while becoming the first athlete in the prestigious program's history to be named MAC Player of the Year in 2003. Girsang broke the program wins record with 195 and now sits fifth-all time. Girsang also has the distinction of achieving the highest singles ranking in WMU history at #62 on Sept. 4, 2003. 

Q&A With Frederika Girsang

Q: What was your reaction when you found out you were being inducted?
I was shocked because I wasn't expecting to receive this award. AD Kathy Beauregard personally called and notified me about it. I felt honored and grateful to be one of the recipients of the award.

Q: Do you have some favorite memories from your time competing at WMU?
There were so many. I remembered that I enjoy practicing with my teammates and competing together against other schools. There was a tradition before the conference matches started, where former coach Betsy Kuhle came out on court and dressed up as a character. It was hilarious! 

Q: Who were some of the people at Western Michigan that made your time memorable? 
The coaches and other staff who helped me reach success on and off the court. My former teammates who I've become friends with over the years, as well as other friends outside tennis whom I shared my college years with.

Q: Have you kept up with the program since you left?
Yes, I tried as much as I can. I'm actually working in the same profession as a college coach myself at Temple University. 

Q: What has life been like for you since leaving Western Michigan? 
I'm now a mother of two young children. Viviana is almost 2.5 years old and Vincent is 11 months old. I met my husband, Frank Tavani, four years ago in Philadelphia. All these have been a life changing. I'm glad that I'm still involved in the tennis setting and trying to make a positive impact to these student-athletes as my coaches did to me a decade and many years ago.