When Jeremy Sonkin arrived at Wisconsin four years ago to play tennis, he was facing high expectations and was immediately thrust into a high-pressure situation.

As a freshman, he was asked to play in the second singles position, a daunting task for a young player.

“I was kind of the youngster amongst a bunch of upperclassmen, and it was really kind of intimidating at first,” Sonkin said. “In such a short time I was asked to really be a person to follow and set an example.”

How did he respond to such a challenge? By posting 24 wins, the highest win total for any player on the team that season. In his second season, he was named one of the captains of the team, evidence of his ability as a leader and a player.

“By my sophomore year I really felt that I was of the ability to be in the captain position, just from already playing at such a high level my freshman year and kind of experiencing some of the country’s best talent,” Sonkin said. “I really felt ready to handle the leadership position and do a good job motivating my teammates.”

He followed up his freshman effort with a similar performance, posting a 25-11 record. However, he played solely at the No. 1 singles position throughout the season.

After the impressive opening seasons, Sonkin hit a rough spot in what appeared to be the beginning of a very promising career. He was the victim of an unfortunate accident where he was hit by a car while riding his moped. While he was recovering and unable to participate in matches, he struggled with the idea of not being able to travel and contribute to the team.

“It was really a different perspective for me considering a lot of my support was done from the sideline, and I could not travel with the team,” Sonkin said. “College tennis is all about the team and helping pull one another through tough matches and rough spots, so for me it was very, very hard not to be able to at least be there to support my team.”

With his injury and the addition of some new young players, Sonkin saw a decreased role on the team, fluctuating between the first and third singles positions. He finished the season with a sub-standard record of 9-12, and his position for his senior season was up in the air.

Now a senior, Sonkin has once again been named captain, but he finds himself as the No. 4 singles player for the team. Despite the difficulties in adjusting from first singles to fourth singles, he has been able to maintain a positive attitude and a team-first mentality.

“It was a very hard adjustment,” Sonkin said. “A lot of times it was really evident that it bothered me, and it’s been such a learning experience for me. I had to forget about the past, forget about where I was, even as a junior, and I just had to realize that at this point in time, its not about me. You’re on a team, and you’re all in this together, so no matter where you are in the lineup, it’s all about getting that point to help the team win.”

Head coach Greg Van Emburgh has been delighted with the way Sonkin has dealt with his changing role on the team.

“I think he’s grown tremendous amounts not only as a player but as a person,” Van Emburgh said. “He’s really starting to come into his full stride right now as we get into the real important part of our season. … He’s had a lot of setbacks with injuries, but Jeremy is the type of kid who really fights through those obstacles and adversities and keeps a positive look on everything.”

Though he started off the season playing poorly, losing six of his first eight matches, Sonkin has found himself with a renewed sense of confidence late in the season and is now playing better tennis, winning five of his last seven matches.

“Jeremy’s done whatever the team has asked of him. He’s won some big matches, and he hasn’t complained,” senior Nolan Polley said. “He’s been playing really well these past couple months, and I’m hoping that he can keep it up and we can finish out strong.”

Sonkin is also very excited about the way he has been playing of late, as he has come into his own in the fourth singles position.

“Maybe me being the four is a blessing,” Sonkin said. “Maybe that’s a spot now that we know we can always get a win at because I feel like now with my confidence back, I should not be losing to anybody in this country playing No. 4 in singles, given my experience, my talent and how much I want to win and how much I hate losing.”

Sonkin’s resurgence on the court has been accompanied by the success of the team as a whole. The team has gone 11-3 over its last 14 games and is now vying for second place in the Big Ten.

“Quite truthfully, we have players who do an incredible job at the 1-3 positions, who are really proving that they deserve to be in those spots, and they’ve been showing that match after match,” Sonkin said. “Knowing that, it takes more pressure off of me just because I’m so confident that they’re up there and they’ve been doing well.”

Even if he is no longer playing in first position, Sonkin knows what it takes to win and has welcomed his new role on the team with open arms. He has been a big contributor to the success of the team and he will continue to be a key factor in the teams’ success as they approach the culmination of this season.