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The senior squash captain, who also plays a good bit of tennis, was victorious in his final squash match of the season, beating his Navy opponent in a grueling five games at nationals. However, all of the excitement from that final win on the court would soon become bittersweet.
"I can't believe it's over already," said Weller. "It's hard to accept that I'll never put on that uniform again in college."
While Weller has the tennis season to look forward to this spring, his first passion is admittedly squash, a sport that not many people know much about and even fewer can play well. Rob plays it extremely well.
"Rob has exceptional racquet skills, and he plays an extremely aggressive 
style of squash, going for the kill and going for the nick every time," said coach Illig. "He plays a fast-paced game and loves to shoot the ball. ‑He has given his all in every match he has played for the past four years."
Weller never made his high school team, even though his older brother played squash at Williams. But he would go to his brother's matches and play in tournaments on his own. When he got to Bates, Weller started at the lower end of the ladder. He finished his college career playing fourth for a team that has been ranked as high as tenth in the country.
"Rob was determined to better his squash ability through practice and hard work," said teammate Brian Greenleaf.
Talking to Rob, one gets the sense that he is a typical Batesie. He is down to earth, majors in two seemingly incompatible subjects (music and economics) and managed to combine his study abroad experience in South Africa with his academics, looking at the economic effects of HIV and AIDS in that country for his thesis. Like most Bates students, however, Rob's impact on campus can be measured directly by the friends he has made.
"Rob is just the perfect teammate, captain, and friend," said Gary Kan. "He is very supportive to younger players and he has been great in helping them to get through some tough mental stages."
Greenleaf added a similar sentiment.
"When the team takes a huddle before the matches begin, he gets us fired up not by yelling or getting out of control, but by making sure we get the job done and by "pre-heating the oven," said Greenleaf. ‑"He confidently reminds the team to play our hardest and focus on the goal at hand."
While squash is an individual sport on the court, Weller stressed the importance of the team concept in motivating others to do well. He also acknowledged the prominent role that sports have played in his college career.
"I've spent a lot of time in sports here and it's been very worthwhile," said Weller. "My teammates are some of my best friends."
One of those friends, fellow captain Alex Wolff, revealed the lighter side of Rob Weller that some people don't get to see.
"At nationals, chants of "GO ROD" were heard loud and clear as he performed at an extremely high level. I believe that his play was impassioned by the long lasting memory of his girlfriend, who is abroad this semester," explained Wolff. "He has worked on his footwork on and off the court, most notably on the dance floor at Oasis."
He added, "I am honored to have captained the team with a man as big as Rod."
You would never know from talking to Weller that he is so popular with his teammates; he is humble, and it is evident that he is enjoying his last semester of college life before he moves to New York City to work in real estate.
"I'm really happy with my experience here," said Weller, whose favorite athletic moment came when Bates defeated Amherst at nationals last year. "I will continue playing the sports I love after I graduate, and I will always be a supporter of the Bates program for everything it has given me."