14th in a series of stories highlighting the academic and community achievements of Rocket student-athletes

 By Brian DeBenedictis, UToledo Associate Director of Athletic Communications

TOLEDO, Ohio – Balance, discipline and stability. Those are just a few attributes junior Cole Shoults has exhibited on the court for the Toledo men's tennis team. Those same skills also helped Shoults become a third-degree black belt in Taekwondo while growing up.

"I owe a great deal of my physical and mental attributes in tennis to Taekwondo," said Shoults, whose father owns a martial arts school. "Tennis is as much a mental sport as it is a physical one, and the discipline I learned in Taekwondo has definitely helped me on the court. Skills like balance and stability certainly don't hurt either when it comes to tennis, both of which are major focuses in martial arts."

A native of Carmel., Ind., Shoults has effectively used the aforementioned skills to become a leader for the Rockets on the court.

"Cole has developed into one of the best leaders I've ever coached," said Head Coach Al Wermer, who is in his 25th year at UToledo. "I believe Cole's background in Taekwondo has played a big part in that. It is extremely rare to see him get flustered or discouraged, even for a second. That trait of resilience sets the right pace for his teammates."

This past spring before the Coronavirus abruptly ended Toledo's season, Shoults won 14 singles matches playing near the top of the Rockets' lineup, the third-highest total on the team. He also ended the year as one of the squad's hottest players, registering victories in seven of his final eight matches.

"I was really starting to hit my stride when our season was canceled," said Shoults, who trained in Taekwondo between the ages of 3-14 years old. "It was a huge bummer to hear that we were done because of the way my teammates and I were playing, as well as the fact that we were getting ready to start league play."

With his sophomore season on the court over, Shoults did not let that affect his efforts in the classroom. Instead, he once again exhibited the skills that made him a team leader and posted a posted a perfect 4.0 GPA in Spring 2020, giving him a spot on the Dean's List for a fourth-straight semester.

"I take a great amount of pride in my academics," said Shoults, a biochemistry major with a 3.9 cumulative grade-point average. "I'm honored to have made the Dean's List every semester at UToledo. The 4.0 this past spring was something that I had been shooting for since arriving on campus, and I was really happy to see that come together."

Shoults attributes much of his success on the court and in the classroom at UToledo to finding the right balance, much the same as when he used to do Taekwondo.

"Balancing athletics and academics is so important," said Shouts, who began doing Taekwondo when he was three years old. "I find that once I get into the rhythm of a semester, the balance becomes less of a problem. The satisfaction of succeeding in the classroom and on the court helps pull me through the more strenuous times, because in the end, all of the studying and practice is worth it. Honestly, I have come to really enjoy the highly structured nature of my schedule and find that I'm far more productive when each day is filled up."

Shoults' dedication and strong work ethic to his sport has not gone unnoticed. As a freshman, he was named the program's first recipient of the "Toughness Award," given to him in a vote by his teammates.

"Receiving that award is one of the things I'm most proud of during my first two years here," Shoults said. "I think every student-athlete comes into their freshman year looking to prove themselves, and I was no exception. Our team motto is "Toughest Team in the MAC," so I was really honored to receive that award."

Despite keeping a busy schedule between tennis and class, Shoults finds time to work community service into the equation. It is just another way he balances his day.

"Giving back is not only a good way to do our part in the community, but it is also quite fun," said Shoults, who has participated in such community projects as Cancer Awareness, UT Relay for Life and the 13ABC Toy Drive. "It is also something Coach Wermer puts a big emphasis on, and I'm happy to do it."

At the halfway point of his time at UToledo, Shoults has thought about his future after his time on the court ends.

"My hope is to attend medical school and become an orthopedic surgeon," Shoults said. "I'd love to work with collegiate student-athletes. That would be a dream come true. Until then, I have a lot of MCAT studying to do. I also need to continue being disciplined and committed both on court and in the classroom, much the same as when I did Taekwondo."

Previous Stories About Academic and Community Achievements of Rocket Student-Athletes
Oct. 5 - Yana Khabina Looks to End Her Career as a Champion
Sept. 30 - Golf Brings a World of Experience to David Amm
Sept. 24 - Erin Hunt Expanding Her Future Options in Medical Field
Sept. 22 - Emma Sampson Making the Most of Her Time at Toledo
Sept. 17 - Alex Kelker Follows Fast Track to Graduate School
Sept. 15 - Spencer Littleson Using Business Classes to Prepare for Coaching Career
Sept. 10 - Ashton Cassel and Betsy Lueck Perfecting Nursing Craft with Rockets            
Sept. 4 - Chloee Kleespies is Driven to Help Other Diabetic Athletes
Sept. 1 - Stephanie Sherman Follows New Course to Surprising Career Path
Aug. 27 - Amelia Lee Programming Herself for Future Success
Aug. 25 - Competition Breeds Success for Mariah Copeland
Aug. 21 - Eileen Carney Gets Her Teeth into Student-Athlete Experience
Aug. 18 - Bryce Harris Followed His Heart to Find a Career Path