CHICAGO, Ill. - Scarlet Hawk fans, it's NCAA Division III week! This year, we will be profiling different Illinois Tech student-athletes all week. Each one will give us insights on their time at Illinois Tech, some of their favorite memories, and more!

Today's spotlight is with Franklin Zhong of men's tennis. Check out what he had to say below!

Q: What is the best part about being a Division III athlete?

A: Participating as a Division III athlete allows me to compete at a much higher level against players that I otherwise would not have had a chance to play as a club member. It's a much more rewarding experience to play against someone with great skill that allows for a greater challenge.

Q: What is your major and what are your plans and ambitions in your area of study after graduation?

A: I am studying biomedical engineering and I hope to attend medical school after I graduate from Illinois Tech. I am interested in trauma surgery as a future profession, but I'd like to experience more fields before I commit myself to a specific area.

Q: What other clubs, positions, or activities do you have or are apart of at Illinois Tech?

A: I am a member of both BMES, tennis club, and AMSA.

Q: Do you have any pre-game rituals or superstitions you must do before every game or match?

A: Other than getting a decent amount of sleep the night before, I do not really have any!

Q: Who are some of your role models?

A: My dad played semi-professional tennis in China and in the US – playing for the St. Louis Aces in World Team Tennis. He also started me on tennis when I was two years old. He cut a racket handle in half and tied a ball to the ceiling for me to hit with – so he was definitely the greatest influence for me in tennis.

Q: What advice would you give to an incoming freshman student-athlete at Illinois Tech?

A: Realize that other people's time and your time aren't for granted. It's so easy to blow off obligations/responsibilities or stiff somebody because you've got other things going on or prefer to do other things. Everyone's busy, especially in college, and being noncommittal can definitely damage your relationships with others.

Q: What is your favorite Illinois Tech memory thus far?

A: Becoming the top ranked college club team in the Midwest one year after participating in our first Tennis On Campus (TOC) tournament and qualifying for TOC nationals was very exciting.