Athlete of the Week: Ken Rizvi

He sees the clouds in the sky, feels the gentle rain falling in the cool breeze, and listens to the familiar sounds of nature. Alone on the golf course with only his clubs, Ken Rizvi, DC '97, plays a quiet 18 holes as he basks in what he considers a perfect day.

Rizvi hails from Bellevue, Wash., where he was introduced to golf as a 16-year old at Interlake High School. He played on the team there, and continued his game when he arrived at Yale in 1993. As a freshman, he placed seventh at the Ivy Championships, and was the Elis' lone medalist at the Yale Invitational.

"He's a natural at the game," said men's golf coach Dave Paterson. "He's very skilled, has an excellent sense of balance and distance, and has all the ingredients of a top-class athlete."

Although Rizvi participates primarily for the sheer joy of playing the game, he also knows when and how to be competitive in the sport. As captain this year, he leads a highly talented Yale squaf. The team won the Ivy League championship last season, powered by Rizvi's first place finish. So far this season, the Bulldogs have shown no signs of backing off; they won three tournaments in a row this past fall, and also won this spring's Harvard-Yale-Princeton competition.

Rizvi admits, however, that it is very easy to lose focus during senior year. The numerous distractions and worries make it difficult to acheive the level concentration necessary for success. "Golf has been one of the biggest parts of my life ever since I started playing, and the thought of not being able to play as much after college gets to me sometimes. I'll always have a love for the game, though. That's part of the deal, once you're a golfer, you're always a golfer."

The lack of concentration that Rizvi speaks of does not manifest itself in his playing or his attitude. Rizvi's dedication and delivery are constant sources of inspiration for his teammates. Rookie Peter Schumacher, CC '00, said, "He's been a terrific role model for us because we know that if he has a bad round, he will bounce back the next day and play extremely well. He's by far our best player, and he gives us the confidence we need to go all the way."

This weekend's trip to Bethpage, NY, for the Ivy League Championship will be a formidable challenge. Rizvi is hoping for a win, which would provide the Bulldogs with another shot at the Regional tournament, and possibly a chance to make it all the way to the NCAAs. "We have a very young team this year with two freshman, two sophomores, and myself going to the Ivy League Championships. We may not have the experience, but we have the talent, and as long as we play the way we know we can, we'll do just fine."

--Peter Smith

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