Commitment Profile
Countdown: Damon Niquet Heads to the Tribe
by Sonny Dearth, 5 November 2012
Special from the
Newport News (Va.) Daily Press
| Share: |  |
|  | |
|
|
It's hard to imagine anyone more connected with Marquette University than Damon Niquet.
The Golden Eagles offered their hometown standout a scholarship, which he seriously considered. But after a couple of visits to Williamsburg, Va., the two-time Wisconsin high school singles champion instead committed to
William and Mary.
"I really like the feel of the school," said Niquet (pronounced "nuh-KWETT"), who is ranked 95th in the Class of 2013 by tennisrecruiting.net but was in the top 15 of his class from 2009-11. "I like the campus a lot. It's a lot smaller than most of the schools I was considering."
Niquet said he originally listed about 10 potential college destinations, including Georgetown. But when he went east last January, he didn't just go to the nation's capital - he also went to its colonial capital.
Then-Tribe assistant coach J.P. Ritchie, who since has moved on to Illinois State, emailed Niquet a form letter about W&M.
"I was already out there, so I scheduled a visit (to W&M)," Niquet said. "I got to see a couple of matches - Iowa and Dartmouth were there when I was there."
The Tribe beat Iowa and George Washington but lost to Dartmouth that weekend. Niquet soon returned for a second visit, when he met Peter Daub - a three-time Colonial Athletic Association Coach of the Year who has guided the Tribe since the mid-1990s - and many W&M players.
"It seemed like a really good group of kids," Niquet said. Regarding Daub, "he's really experienced, with about 20 years with the program. I think he does a really good job of developing players."
