Tim Zeitvogel is a senior men's tennis player hailing from Baden-Baden, Germany. He was an All-WCC honorable mention selection in singles and doubles in 2021 and received the same honor in singles in 2019. Zeitvogel was an ITA Scholar-Athlete in 2020 and 2021 and was a WCC All-Academic first team selection in 2021 while making it on to the WCC Commissioner's Honor Roll in 2019, 2020 and 2021. He was also a Pepperdine Scholar-Athlete in both 2020 and 2021.
 
We caught up with Tim to discuss the upcoming season, his trip to Houston to represent Pepperdine at the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum and how his experience at Pepperdine has shaped who he is today:
 
Q: You are the president of the Waves Leadership Council for student-athletes at Pepperdine. How did you become involved with that?
 
A: At the beginning of my career at Pepperdine, I wasn't even aware of it. A teammate of mine my freshman year who was involved in it, Scotland Garapedian, introduced me to it and the first year I was a part of it. I got to experience how it felt to be in a group and community to be better leaders, and since then I've wanted to have an important role to help others become better leaders.
 
Q: You're also on the WCC's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Who are some of the other athletes you work with, and what is your goal with this organization?
 
A: Jayda (Ruffus-Milner) from Pepperdine women's basketball was also a part of the WCC SAAC and each member institution has two representatives on this committee, and they are from every sport. We have a lot of players from abroad on this committee so it's nice to experience how other institutions approach leadership and community service. My goal is to help others to make an impact in their community and to learn from them to personally become a better leader. In the bigger picture, our goal is to make the West Coast Conference a better conference for student-athletes.
 
Q: You were selected to go to Houston in November to participate in the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum. Can you talk about this experience and what you learned about yourself through it?
 
A: It turned out to be an incredible experience. Those four days I learned a lot about myself. Being there with 250 other student-athletes was a special space and everyone wanted to learn and get to know themselves better. There were student-athletes, administrators and staff from Divisions I, II and III so it was a great platform to interact with other divisions, because usually, we don't get to interact with them too much. I learned about my core values, my strengths and how I can reflect on myself to become a better leader. That's the first step to helping others.
 
Q: Were you able to connect with any other tennis athletes in Houston? Any athletes that you have competed against in the past?
 
A: There was one female student-athlete representative from UCLA who is on the tennis team, and we talked a little bit. It was more all around the spectrum – a lot of track and cross country athletes, a lot of Division II tennis players and also some from Europe which I could relate to. It was fun to share some personal stories with them and get to know them. Hopefully, those friendships will last a long time.
 
Q: What was your role and involvement in Houston, and what were you able to bring back with you to Pepperdine from that experience?
 
A: We spent a lot of time in smaller groups and being aware of our own backgrounds and stories that shape our leadership style. I brought my German and European perspectives to the table. That was my main position on those committees, to bring a different point of view. I always think of myself as a very subjective and objective perspective in the U.S. As far as what I can apply here at Pepperdine, I want to help others be aware of themselves as well, especially learning their core values and helping them to find their vocation and path. I'd like to be a mentor and coach. One thing I learned from this forum is that legacy is not about accomplishments. Legacy starts with your interactions on a personal level and making a legacy as a person is way more valuable than any accomplishment you can have.
 
Q: You just finished the fall tennis season of your senior year at Pepperdine. With this fall being a much more normal fall than the fall of 2020, what did you and your team learn about yourselves through the fall where you played in tournaments over three months?
 
A: It's great to be back in a more normal setup. The fall is always important to building good team culture and that was our main focus this year. We have a strong team and getting to know the incoming players and incorporating them into our culture, both transfers and freshmen, was a priority. I've been here from the start when Adam Schaechterle and Tassilo Schmid came here and I've seen where we started and where we are now. The results from the fall were pretty positive, so we can look forward to the spring. There is still a lot of work to be done and I'm looking forward to that.
 
Q: You were ranked #125 in singles by the ITA before the season started and following the fall you're now ranked #72. What adjustments did you make as the fall went on that you'll apply to the spring dual season?
 
A: I'm not really too concerned about the rankings. A lot of coaches say "trust the process" and I really believe in the progress. On a daily basis, I try to improve, get better and work on specific things. The results come from belief in them. That happened in both singles and doubles. There was a time where things clicked with Corrado (Summaria) in doubles. We had a good season in 2020 before it was cut short. Being together again and adjusting to each other once again was really successful at the end of the fall season. Those are some specifics, but I'm more looking at the bigger picture and the progress. Staying hungry is the way to go.
 
Q: You're originally from Germany. What was the recruiting process like, being from overseas, before you came to Malibu in 2018?
 
A: It was a rollercoaster. In Germany, we are not very familiar with college tennis or with the college environment. We just try to have a good school education – that's one thing I was particularly interested in. Since Tassilo Schmid is from Stuttgart, which is an hour from my hometown, we got in contact, and it was a really smooth recruiting process with him from there. I did my official visit here and then committed. I don't regret the decision at all. There are worse places to live than in Malibu and attend Pepperdine! This is a great place for combining my passion of tennis and my passion for math, which is my major. I can really strive and succeed in both here at Pepperdine.
 
Q: Coming to the United States for college, you've been able to experience two different cultures and live in two continents. What are some things that you've been able to experience while in the United States that you'll remember forever?
 
A: Since we have a pretty multicultural team, you're more aware of your own identity after interacting with multiple cultures, whether it be the American culture or the Spanish or Italian culture. From the American culture, I learned to dream big. It is such a supportive environment here. In Germany, we try to be more individual, but here, this team environment is pretty significant. It helps me drive in my future career, whatever that may be.
 
Q: Two spring tennis seasons have been affected by COVID-19, with your 2020 season being cut short and the 2021 season being played with strict protocols. What are you most looking forward to in this 2022 season, which is expected to be relatively "back to normal"?
 
A: I'm really excited for a more normal season. I've come a long way with the seniors on the team and have shared great memories with them. For me personally, I came in late last year because I had COVID at the beginning of 2021 and had to miss two months of college tennis. I'm excited to have a full season and aim high with the guys.
 
Q: You're a math major. What do you hope to do with this degree once you graduate, and what would be your dream job?
 
A: Math helps me on the court as well. Math is about problem solving and I try to find solutions in the classroom and on the tennis court. If you play against an opponent who challenges you with problems, you try to find an answer and problem solve. I'm currently doing research in math and combining my passion for tennis with my passion for math. After I'm done with tennis and after my education, I likely see myself in academia at the start, maybe getting my PhD in math. I always say "dig deep into the beauty of math" because it's something I like and want to continue working in. I can see myself aiming for a professional career in tennis, but I always like to have options available in both tennis and continuing my math education.
 
Q: What are some things that you enjoy doing outside of tennis?
 
A: I enjoy spending time with my family and with my friends, especially quality time when I'm back home in Germany. I love the nature in Germany and even here, going to the beach. I also enjoy reading and learning new things that allow me to continually improve.