TicketSmarter WCC Student-Athlete Spotlight: San Diego's Iiro Vasa

Families mean the world to so many student-athletes across the country. They shape them into the individuals they are today and serve as their greatest support system. From attending as many games as they can, to imparting wisdom and encouragement, student-athletes are constantly motivated by their families. Even when both compete in the same Conference but for different programs, it is all still love at the end of the day. 

Take the 2022 West Coast Conference Men’s Tennis Freshman of the Year, San Diego’s Iiro Vasa. The now sophomore is the youngest of three, with two older brothers. Both also compete at the collegiate level, with the eldest, Eero, being the first to pave the way to the United States from Finland to participate in collegiate athletics. 

Eero is a sixth-year senior, who graduated from Cornell before transferring to Pepperdine for his final two years of eligibility, given the COVID year and Ivy League rules. He was the first to decide to pursue collegiate athletics in the United States and he cites that as a potential motivator for his two younger brothers. “I guess I may have been the one they followed, but eventually they did their own thing,” he shared. “I think me going to college influenced them to go, as well.”

Iiro voiced a similar sentiment. It was watching his two brothers go to the U.S. that led him to decide to go, as well. As the youngest, he had the best idea of how recruiting went, so his decision to come to San Diego came about because of his admiration of the coaching staff.  “Our head coach, Ryan Keckley, reached out to me. It was right when COVID started, which was when I decided to come here,” Iiro explained, “My two brothers are also studying here and playing college sports so I knew how it was going to be, and I really wanted to come too. I chose San Diego because of the coaches.”

Eero took up tennis at the age of four, while Iiro began around the same age a few years later. While their parents did not have a tennis background, it was Eero that picked up the sport first. Their father took him to a miniature tennis tournament for a weekend and Eero found success there so he continued to pursue it. That left quite the impression because his two younger brothers also picked up tennis. “Both brothers, they basically just started playing tennis when they were little, so I also picked up a tennis racket,” Iiro shared.

With a shared connection to tennis, Eero and Iiro are each other's confidants. “It’s been nice to have my other brother who plays tennis [on the west coast],” Iiro shared, “We connect pretty well about tennis and how we are playing. It's nice to talk about tennis, but also a bunch of other stuff with him, as he is here. We stay connected and basically live the same life.”

Eero added, “If there is time, I try to watch him and he tries to watch me. We communicate after and give some tips and tricks. During the summer and winter, we always practice together. We live together [at home] and we are very close.” 

Iiro was the first to arrive to the WCC, joining San Diego in January of last year. Right away he found himself in season with a slew of work for school.  His adjustment to college life in a new country all in stride is something he is still proud of. “I am proud of how I am able to adjust to new places,” Iiro said. “When I was 16, I moved away from my home city and parents to the capital in Finland to play tennis in high school. I came here and tennis is a spring sport. You have the fall, when you come here to adjust to the environment, but I had to right away because we basically started to compete right away and play at a high level.”

But it is his mental game that he has found to have the greatest improvement through his two seasons now with the Toreros. Eero also praised his brother for his mental game, noticing the difference himself. “I’ve improved a lot mentally. I realized that tennis is not just about hitting balls, it is much more, it is tactical,” Iiro explained, “I feel like my tennis IQ has increased and my game has become more purposeful with me being here.”

Eero added, “I think I have seen that as well with my brother, just growing up in terms of mental toughness. I think that is what collegiate tennis really teaches you, as well as the tennis aspects.”

The bond they have has only grown with recognizing the competitiveness within each other. While they hope for their respective team's success, they celebrate each other first. Since a young age, it’s clear that having a supportive brother like Eero has left a lasting impression on Iiro. To this day, Eero is who Iiro looks up to. “One guy I always looked up to was my brother, and I look up to my brother because we are so connected,” Iiro said.

It was only fitting that Eero shared that his favorite memory of them growing up involved the two of them playing tennis together. “Our first title in doubles was one of the most memorable moments with my brother growing up,” Eero shared. 

Now both head off to the NCAA Tournament with their respective teams. The Toreros are chasing their first Sweet 16 appearance as a program, and Iiro believes they have the tools to make a run for it. “The USD program for tennis has never been to the Sweet 16, so that's our big goal,” he said, “We have a very young but very talented team, and I believe that we have the capabilities to do that.”

But both Vasas echo Eero’s sentiment, “If both of the brothers end up winning, that's good.”