Jason Trask named top Aggie
Utah Statesman: Earlier in the season Jordan Butler said he felt the team was 1-0 after the Montana match, because it was the first time the team was playing with a full squad. Do you feel the same way?
Jason Trask: Yeah, I think the team, it’s a different team just because of the addition of Hannes [Schenk] and also we’ve had some injuries. So now that everyone is healthy and Hannes is in the lineup, I feel like it’s a different team, and the statement Jordan made is completely true.
US: Early in the season you lost a lot of close matches. What has been the difference-maker for you since then?
JT: Even though I am a junior and I have a lot of experience, I think every match gives you more experience, and it helps you perform better. Other than that, I really don’t know. There have been a lot of close matches. Even in the past few days, I’ve had close matches. But for some reason, just lately, I’ve had the upper edge.
US: With you speaking Spanish and Hannes speaking German and Italian, do you teach each other phrases?
JT: Italian is fairly close to what I’ve learned in Argentina, and so every once in a while we’ll talk. Like if I’m up at his apartment, he’ll have little posters that I’ll understand. We discuss it every once in a while – little translations of different words. It’s fun.
US: What part of your game do you feel you have improved on the most this year?
JT: I would have to say being more aggressive. Just my whole life, I’ve always had the mindset of always get that ball back no matter how ugly it is. And now I’ve worked on doing that, but just with a stronger game of being more aggressive and attacking the player. Instead of them dictating [the points], I’m dictating.
US: Who is the toughest opponent you have played, and what makes him as tough as he is?
JT: Oooh, there are a lot of really tough opponents. It’s hard to name just one. Pacific had a really, really good team, and he was one who was pretty frustrating [to play] because he was very aggressive, dictated the points, and didn’t miss. He was just playing a level higher to where I hope to be. It was a good learning experience, good teaching experience.
US: The team has been playing extremely well in doubles as of late. What do you attribute that to?
JT: I can’t figure that out yet. I’ve been very impressed with the team doubles play. It’s just completely stepped up somehow, and I don’t know what to contribute it to. I know for me, I don’t have very much confidence in my doubles play, so I’ve really tried focusing on just being aware and working on specific little things to make me a better doubles player.
US: Who do you consider to be the team jokester and why?
JT: I think as a team, we’re a pretty funny team. I think it’s a combination of a lot of people. [Coach] Chris [Wright] and [coach] Steve [Peterson] being part of those nominations. Hannes is definitely up there because the foreigners always have the funny comments, whether they mean to or not. Everyone has their one-liners. I think on the girl’s team you can pinpoint one, but on the guy’s team there’s a variety, which makes for hilarious conversation.
US: What is your favorite thing to eat at Betos and why?
JT: I’ve actually only been there once (laughing). I enjoy Mexican food. Anything that is a lot of food and probably spicy, and will fill me is usually probably my favorite.
US: What are your plans for the summer?
JT: To work. I’m going to go back to St. George and teach a lot of tennis, and try and get an internship in some sort of business field. Maybe also translating [Spanish] at the hospital.
US: Do you watch reality TV shows, and if so, which one is your favorite?
JT: I would have to say, me personally, not a ton, but as an apartment, we do a lot. We were pretty big fans of “The Bachelorette.” Trista [Rehn] is amazing. And also, “American Idol,” just because [teammate] Andrew [Marsh] dated Carmen [Rasmusen] … and so we’re pretty avid watchers of “American Idol.”
-jasonwturner@cc.usu.edu