Tim Kurtt's journey around the tennis world began with a short walk into the gymnasium at Wartburg.

His father, John, played many parts at the college - athletic director and coach, to name two. John Kurtt also taught activities for Wartburg. Years ago, a young Tim often went to the gymnasium and did a little exploring.

"Basically, I was a gym rat," said Tim Kurtt.

Laughing, he added, "I could do about anything. I'd walk over to the closet and get everything out. Bowling, archery - whatever it was. But tennis kind of stuck with me."

The sport had a grip on Kurtt and never let go. A kid thus began an adventure that led to his life as a tennis official at the sport's highest level.

Kurtt, a 1983 Wartburg graduate, now works the tennis palaces. He's been a line judge at Wimbledon four times, the Australian Open twice and at seven U.S. Opens. He was there in Australia during one of the legendary matches between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Just over a year ago, Kurtt was a member of the officiating team at the Beijing Olympics.

Last weekend, Kurtt brought his life full circle, in a sense. He's come back to Waverly occasionally over the years to see his parents, for example. This time, he also spoke to a group of Wartburg students about his life in tennis and sports management.

People talk to students all the time. Not many of the presentations also include parents and relatives. Maybe it really is a small world.

"It went really well," said Tim Kurtt. "It's something where, if you have a passion for tennis, it's pretty easy."

The funny thing is, Kurtt can't really explain why he chose the tennis racquet over the bowling ball or the bow and arrow. But tennis won, and the journey commenced.

At Waverly-Shell Rock High School, Kurtt played tennis, among other things. He also competed at Wartburg. Along the way, the sport offered other avenues to Tim Kurtt.

For instance, he organized a local tennis tournament at the age of 17. Kurtt also gave lessons.

A few years after graduating from Wartburg, Kurtt moved to St. Paul, Minn. Still interested in tennis, he began taking officiating classes.

Eventually, Kurtt called lines at junior tournaments, then some of the smaller professional events. It was the turn of the decade, the beginning of the 21st century.

A few years later, Tim Kurtt was a line judge at the U.S. Open.

"You go out like baseball or any other sport - you work the minor leagues," said Kurtt, who's a businessman in the Twin Cities. "You have to pay your dues."

As the years progressed, the world tour began in earnest - to Wimbledon, Beijing and Australia.

Earlier this year, he had a line judge's view of another classic battle between Federer and Nadal. The tennis itself, of course, was great. Nadal won the men's singles title in five sets.

"You couldn't have had much more drama going on," said Kurtt.

What's striking though, is Kurtt's sense of personal responsibility. He wasn't just a line judge. He was an American, a traveler on someone else's turf.

"I'm halfway around the world," said Kurtt. "I was the only American on that officiating team. That's a huge, huge honor. I didn't want to disappoint any of my fellow officials or my own country. Obviously, I don't want to mess up and I also want to represent my country well."

Kurtt would like to be an American in Paris. He's applied to officiate at the French Open, the only Grand Slam not on his resume.

Kurtt is still taking classes and has been a chair umpire at some smaller events.

Soon, he'll be off to Illinois for a tournament. After that, Australia. Then, maybe, Paris. And other points on the tennis map.

Not bad for a little boy who walked into a college gymasium and found more than a game. He grabbed a lifetime passion.

"It just kind of grew on me," said Tim Kurtt.