Who Am I: Matthew Fullerton

There are certain things you grow up with that become so routine and ingrained in your life that you assume they’re the right path for you. For me, tennis has always been that constant. I’ve never known a life without it, it’s been a core part of my identity from the moment I started playing. I truly enjoy the game, and while the work can be demanding, the rewards have always made it worthwhile. I’ve never doubted my love for tennis, especially with the support and encouragement of my parents.

Who am I? I’m someone whose identity has been shaped by the sport, but also by the people who have believed in me along the way. Tennis has taught me discipline, perseverance, and joy, all of which are deeply woven into who I am today.

But as important as tennis is to me, my academics are just as serious. Many of my tennis playing peers growing up decided to join academies to focus on their tennis careers. A lot of them transitioned to online school, especially during recruiting periods, putting less stress on them. This gave them more time to compete in tournaments and travel. My parents wanted me to attend public school for all four years of high school. Going to an academy was never really in my head, and I didn't want to do it either. I wanted to finish my time at school and graduate with my friends. Taking online classes or skipping classes was never a route for me.

Because I participated in tennis and maintained a solid academic record, I felt like I didn’t need to push myself beyond that. I stayed within my comfort zone. But by putting all my eggs in one basket, I ended up putting a lot of pressure on myself. If I was known as “the tennis guy”, I felt like I had to maintain a certain standard of excellence.

I felt like I couldn’t show any emotion because of this. Sure, I would feel good or bad while playing, but I never wanted to distract myself by being caught up in the moment. This made me a very reserved player. Even if I did have things I wanted to say or express, I didn’t. I just wanted to focus on the game.

Junior year of high school is when coaches can start reaching out. Wisconsin was the first school to notice me, coach Urban Ljubic came to watch me practice. They were always there. I did my own research as well, trying to figure out what school was right for me. Wisconsin’s commitment to academics stood out to me as an athlete. Growing up in Minnesota, it was close to home. It has a good tennis program, good academics, it was right for me.

College has been a transformative experience for me. I joined a team full of individuals from diverse backgrounds, but we all shared a passion for tennis. There was a collective intensity and a desire to excel that challenged me to raise my own standards. I quickly realized that if I wanted to improve, I could no longer stay in my comfort zone. This shift pushed me to embrace new challenges and take some risks. 

The intensity of balancing academics and athletics increased significantly in college. In high school, it's hard balancing a sport, but my parents helped me through it. They were always supporting me. They were traveling with me, they were doing a lot, a lot for me. I realize now that I took that support for granted. Transitioning to college was the biggest adjustment for me. I remember telling my mom during the first few weeks of school that playing tennis felt like attending two schools at once.

I’ve never been the loudest, or most vocal person. But once I started playing for the Wisconsin team, I learned that wasn’t good enough. Right from the start, the older teammates reinforced that we need to be vocal, we need to be loud, we need to show emotion. We need to get the energy up every day in practice, no matter how we're feeling. And that voice could come from anyone. That pushed me to find my own voice. I didn't want to put any pressure on myself. Everyone here had the same goals and we all shared similar experiences, why should I put so much pressure on myself? Why can’t I be the person who speaks up? In the first couple tournaments, it felt unnatural, but as time went on, as I played more matches, I started to develop habits that became second nature.

I was surprised by how much being vocal positively impacted different aspects of the game. It not only made me a better teammate but also someone others enjoyed practicing with. As I became more open, a new side of my personality emerged. Balancing academics started to feel more natural, too. Living on my own, I developed routines and gained a clearer understanding of what was expected of me. Using my voice became crucial in making sure I stayed on track, especially when it came to reaching out to my teachers and staying engaged with my coursework.

Even my coaches admitted they didn’t expect me to evolve into this version of myself when they started recruiting me. They selected me to be our teams Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representative, a role I had no idea about at the time. To make things more challenging, my teammate who was supposed to go with was recovering from injury, so I ended up having to go solo.

I discovered that it was a group of athletes from different teams across the athletic department. We meet once a month, focusing on enhancing the student athlete experience and developing our leadership skills by organizing events, volunteering, and networking with alum. It’s been a great way to connect with athletes from different sports, build relationships, and collaborate on impactful projects. 

Last year, my group organized several events during finals week to help student-athletes manage stress. We hosted a movie night that included a yoga session, set up a nutrition station offering hot chocolate, and posted words of affirmation for each other. We also held a watch party for the volleyball team’s semifinal game. It was such a rewarding experience for me, as I had never been involved in anything like SAAC before.

Engaging in different communities, volunteering, and meeting new people has become a key part of who I am, something I’ve grown to appreciate since being at Wisconsin. These experiences have shown me the value of stepping outside my comfort zone and connecting with others in meaningful ways. I’m incredibly grateful for being chosen last year—it was an amazing opportunity that not only allowed me to give back but also helped me better understand myself and my place within a larger community.

Now, I'm going to attend the Big Ten Student Athlete Advisory meeting. I remember talking to the two athletes that went last year. I was intrigued by the information they shared. They talked about how they were meeting different athletes from different schools, and how they're trying to better their student athletes. I was interested, and then when I got the invitation, I thought why not take the opportunity to learn more and see a different athlete’s perspective.

In high school, I don't think I would have even attempted half the things I've done in college. I might have wanted to, but I would have followed through or shown any real interest. It would have felt unfamiliar, working with people I didn’t know, and I would have just overthought it. 

Being more vocal on the court and stepping into leadership roles has changed that. It’s given me the confidence to try new things outside of sports. I’m no longer afraid to speak up or share my thoughts on a topic. The lessons I’ve learned on the court have translated into my life in a much bigger way. Now, I’m more open to new experiences and building connections with others. I’ve learned not to shy away because of fear of failure or feel tied down to one path. Expressing myself and sharing my experiences is part of who I am now.