Jakob Nielsen came to George Mason from Mississauga, Ontario, in the fall of 2016 and immediately made an impact for the Patriots. He was a major factor in the singles and doubles lineups as a freshman while capturing 10 dual singles victories.

He blossomed as a junior and caught fire at the end of 2019, winning 10 of his final 13 matches while leading Mason to A-10 records for league wins (4) and A-10 Tournament seed (No. 6). He was off to a solid start before 2020 was cut short, and captured victories in both singles and doubles in Mason's 4-0 A-10 opening win over Saint Louis in mid-March.

Nielsen sat down with GoMason.com to discuss the challenges and rewards of being an international student-athlete, what he'll remember most about his playing career and the lessons from his academic experience at Mason as he moves on to a career in exercise and wellness training.