Reggie Tankard is a freshman from the Bronx who plays third baseman on AU’s club baseball team. The Eagles’ club baseball team went 1-1 against York College of Pennsylvania on October 6. The team is 1-1 overall and will play Howard at Montgomery Blair High School on Friday.
Reggie sat down with the Eagle this week to talk with about baseball, school and life. The Club Student-Athlete of the Week is determined by the leadership of the specific team
Alex Romero: Tell me about your teams performance in last week’s two games against York College of Pennsylvania.
Reggie Tankard: I think we played well for the first two games of the season. Our team chemistry will grow further on in the season, but for our first outing we fought hard. The defense played great and the offense got better throughout the day. We lost the first game 9-3 and won the second 7-6 in extra innings.
AR: How was your performance during last week’s games?
RT: In the first inning I hit a double and after that hit it just all came back to me. I felt like I was back into the baseball mode and it all felt natural from then on. Overall I scored two runs, had four RBI’s and went four for five hitting with a triple, two doubles and single.
AR: What are your personal goals for this season?
RT: Well, I heard we haven’t won many games in recent seasons. And coming from my background where my baseball team was the district champions I’m used to winning. I made a goal to get a few games under our belt. And I’m glad we started on a strong note with a win this weekend.
AR: Tell me about your coach.
RT: Our coach is Chris Grassano and he is a junior here at AU. He’s a great coach and is team captain too. He helps out the people who are less experienced, explains the game to everyone, and tries to get everyone playing time.
AR: What is the leadership presence on the team?
RT: The players who are more experienced take on a tougher role. Since I’ve been playing for a while I try to help teammates out, give them tips on how to track fly balls and get their glove down to a fielders triangle. When it comes to leadership there’s the head coach on the team then there are some peer mentors.
AR: How long have you been playing baseball?
RT: I’ve been playing since I was eight so about 10 years now, but it feels like all my life.
AR: So what’s your motivation to play at AU on a club team considering you don’t get the publicity or scholarships of the varsity sport athletes?
RT: I don’t mind the lack of publicity, I just do what I have to do for us to win games. And as long as there’s some sort of organized baseball I enjoy doing it.
AR: What can AU do to improve club sports?
RT: Help with funding because we have to do a lot of fundraising to pay for transportation, ref’s and umpires, so that’d be a first. Then they need to provide more field space and availability for us to practice on.
AR: How has the practice field situation affected you and your team?
RT: Since there’s not much practice fields available for us to use, we sometimes go to Massachusetts Avenue field. And often times there’s little league kids there so we have to use the sides and just throw and soft toss so we don’t get much of a practice in. For when we can’t get much practice in I just remember what I was taught when I was little and just go out there and do my best.
AR: Outside of baseball what do you do for fun at AU?
RT: I try to stay very active. I play basketball and football a lot and I enjoy hanging out with my friends.
AR: What’s your favorite class at AU?
RT: My business 1.0 class with Professor White. He’s a really great teacher and business is something that I’m passionate about. I want to be a businessman when I grow up, or perhaps a sports agent or sports manager.
AR: Why did you choose to come to American University?
RT: I love business and being in D.C gives me a great opportunity to be successful.
