Ari Gerstein in action for Butler. Gerstein studied abroad in Hong Kong last fall. Jimmy Lafakis/Collegian file photo.
Ari Gerstein walked into the office of former men’s tennis coach Parker Ross with a nerve-racking question. He was nervous about Ross’s response to a request to study abroad, knowing that in many cases, athletes never get the opportunity.
Training schedules, team building, off-season preparations and other responsibilities that come with being a student athlete often eliminate any chance.
Yet, none of these things deterred Gerstein from at least attempting to ask. For him, there was something to gain by going abroad.