Eastern Illinois University Athletics

HIGH SCHOOL: Justin graduated in 2009 from Eden Prairie High School in Minnesota where he and placed second in the state his senior season... earned five all-conference tennis awards… his team was three-time section champions… during his freshman year he placed third in the state in doubles… most recently, played for the PPI Flagship Academy…. 

PERSONAL: Planning to major in management or marketing & sales… favorite sports moment is serving and volleying match point in the semi-finals of the Minnesota 2009 state singles individual tournament… he credits his parents for “helping me get everywhere and supporting me in all my sporting and academic events... Robby Genepri is his most admired athlete because he “eats a whole pizza everyday and still plays on the ATP Tour”… both parents, Dan & Audrey Haag, played tennis at Oakland University.... 

FUN STUFF: “J” chose to come to EIU “because it’s a midsize school and has a good community feel to it”… EIU athlete he enjoyed watching perform most was Drew Grimaldi… his hidden talents include being able to belly dance and raise one eyebrow... is currently driving an “Ole Audi A4”… favorite foods are pizza, pasta and sushi… prefers to listen to Lil’ Wayne, Coldplay, Dave Matthews Band and Gucci Mane… favorite movie is ‘Stepbrothers’… favorite campus building is the Student Rec Center… has a golden retriever named ‘Summer’ and a mutt named ‘Boss’… in his spare time he enjoys music, weight lifting and playing the X-Box 360… some of his goals at EIU are, “meeting new people, gaining a lot from my education and setting up a good foundation for my future”…. 

BLACKBURN SAYS: “Justin has a lot of very nice tools to work with, along with being a very good competitor... he had some solid high school results in his senior year in Minnesota and has had a very good fall in our doubles lineup... I think he will only improve with each match he plays this spring.”