Whiz Kid: Nolan Gelman

Name: Nolan Gelman

Age: 19

Grade: Freshman

School: Bryant University

Accomplishment: It’s hard enough for any athlete to make it to the level where they can compete on a Division I college team, which makes it all the more impressive that Dix Hills resident Nolan Gelman is competing on two teams at Bryant University.

After a standout three-sport varsity career at , Gelman is now on the men’s varsity football and tennis teams at Bryant, where he has worked his way onto a starting position in the latter.

“Tennis has always been my biggest focus in terms of athletics,” Gelman said. “That being said, there weren’t many Division I schools that allowed for the opportunity to compete in more than one sport, which is why Bryant stood out in particular.”

Key to Awesomeness: Gelman was introduced to tennis at the age of five when his mother used him to bring him to the lessons that his two older brothers took part in. He started taking lessons soon afterward, competing against 11- and 12- year-old kids when he was still in first grade.

After winning several local tournaments, Gelman began to train at Eastern Athletic Club in Melville with coach Laurie Fehr, who he worked with up until departing for Bryant. During his high school tennis career at Hills West, he was an all-state player for all four years. 

However, Gelman said that he has had to work hard to catch up at the collegiate level.

“What was surprising to me was how intense college athletics is at this level,” he said. “I’m always either studying or practicing, and the competition is so much harder at this level. I played three sports all throughout high school, and now I’m going up against people who just played tennis for six hours a day all their lives.”

Despite the lack of match practice in comparison to some of his fellow teammates at Bryant, Gelman easily made the starting lineup. He plays No. 4 singles and No. 1 doubles on the team, and has won several critical matches that have led to victories for his team this season.

“There’s the possibility that I might be an all-conference player this year, which would be very exciting,” Gelman said. “Bryant University just became a Division I school last year and we’ll be eligible for the NCAA championships in two years, so our goal for the future is to make it there and also win our conference championships.”