Athlete Q and A: Men's Soccer: Elliot Morton

1. Why did you choose SPU?
It's a subtle miracle that I ended up at Seattle Pacific University. I chose SPU late in my senior year of high school after I met Mark Collings, head coach of the men's soccer team, after a soccer game in Tukwila, WA and discussed the possibility of suiting up as a Falcon. I decided to attend SPU for it's academic strength, christian teachings, location and of course soccer.

2. What does it mean to be a student athlete here at SPU?
Being a student athlete presents many challenges as well as rewards. There is a constant balancing act of prioritizing social events with schoolwork and athletics. One has to adjust to a demanding schedule but soon learns to cope with the busyness and instead enjoys the satisfying feeling when the day is through and everything has been achieved. I think the competitive nature of athletes allows them to strive through the tough times both on and off the field and realize their full potential. Most athletes here will agree, after going an hour with Tim Naussin, SPU's conditioning coach, many other tasks seem trivial in comparison.

3. What is your favorite moment at SPU (on the court and off)?
While at SPU I've seen some interesting things occur. Many of these memories were influenced by soccer. Once, while on a walk in California with the team, Jason Derocher, chased down a rabbit at full sprint for about thirty yards. To my and everyone's dismay the rabbit escaped. None the less, we were all shocked by our athletic trainers sheer acceleration and in the word's of Jordan Dettmer, "He blew our minds."
Back in season, one of my favorite memories was the victory over University of Mary. With two minutes left we were down by one goal 0:1. In the end, we ended up scoring two goals before time expired and won the game 2:1.

Elliot Morton is a sophomore defender for the Men's Soccer Team from Tacoma, WA.

Athlete Q and A: Women's Track and Field: Latasha Essien

1. What does it mean to be a student athlete here at SPU?
"To be a student athlete means to have a crazy schedule. Between class, practice, competitions, homework, eat, and sleeping, it doesn't leave much time for anything else. I think that athletes must be great time managers to be able to be effective both in the classroom and on the court/field."

2. What is your favorite moment at SPU?
"The best moment is freshman year when it snowed winter quarter and we had a huge snowball fight in front if Ashton hall!!! There was like 200 or so people."

Latasha Essien is a senior sprinter who is the current GNAC champion in the 60 Meter Sprint. She is an Accounting Major and from Portland, OR.

What's the Difference?

What is the difference between being an SPU student vs. being an SPU student athlete?
For some people, being a student in college is not enough. They want to take their sport to the next level: NCAA. It takes a certain type of person to be a student athlete. Obviously they have to be highly competitive in their sport, but they must also take on the challenge of juggling school with sport. Time is stretched thin in college, but I always say if you’re not busy, you’re bored.
Being an athlete at SPU is a privilege and it comes with perks. If you were recruited from high school, chances are that your coach gave you some athletic money. You get free SPU gear for your sport (For example: shoes, socks, shorts, shirts, sweats, backpack, etc.). Some teams have their own personal locker-room, but if they don’t they can use the Varsity Locker Rooms. Athletes also get to use the weight room during ‘Varsity Hours’, but the irony is that Varsity Hours are the busiest and worst time to work out. As athletes we get to avoid the waitlists of registering for classes because we get to register first. We also get to be excused from class due to traveling. Athletes get fully expenses paid trips to play GNAC competitions at Fairbanks, Anchorage, Billings, Nampa, and Monmouth along with day trips to Bellingham, Ellensburg, and Olympia. We have access to a fantastic training staff (Love you, Julie) that is fully equipped with every shaped band-aid known to man. Our Athletic Department Administration makes sure we are in line with NCAA rules and can get us free tutoring if needed.
Personally I think being on an athletic team sets up your social life. You grow close to those people you are around all the time and who understand where you are coming from: your teammates. My team (Volleyball) is very close. I do not have that many outside friends from SPU that are just students because I do not have a lot of time, I miss a lot of social events due to traveling, and they may or may not understand. I find that the athletic teams hang out with each other, there is some mixing, but for the most part we stick with the people we know, love, and trust.

Paige Hoffman

Undefeated Going into Homecoming Week

The SPU Falcons Mens Basketball team got a couple wins against #15 Western and Montana State Billings to stay Undefeated going into Homecoming week. Both Mens and Womens teams play two home games this week back to back on Thursday and Saturday. The SPU women suffered there first loss against Western on Saturday in a very close game. The Men are still undefeated in league with a two game lead on everyone in the division.

This Saturday is 2010 Homecoming games the Men play at 330 while the women play directly after. This year is a little bit different for homecoming because this is the first year that following the game there is going to be the first annual Homecoming Dance in the SPU Pavilion.

Get your tickets for the games early they are expected to sell out very quickly.

What its like to be a student at Seattle Pacific University

Seattle Pacific University is not just some ordinary four year university. It obtains a certain charm and atmosphere that attracts students from all over the United States. Its core Christian values are at the center of the curriculum and student life. At large universities, students go undetected and are lost in the sea of faces in class sizes of over five hundred. At this place, it personal. Small class sizes promote a more active learning environment where students can learn and get the attention we deserve. We have potential that is recognized and nurtured here at Seattle Pacific. Teachers take pride in helping each student that needs it and that is willing to learn. We are the future, so they instill in us knowledge, wisdom, and character to make us responsible Christian men and women.

Paige Hoffman

#12 Seattle Pacific @ #15 Western Washington

The biggest game of the year for the Top 2 teams in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference are going head to head Thursday the 21st in Carver Gym in Bellingham Washington. Seattle Pacific is led by Chris Banchero averaging 17.5 points per game and Rob D dishing out the assists with almost 6 per game. Western is led by Derrick Webb and Morris Anderson who are averaging 15.5. and 13.6 respectively.

This has been a long awaited game for both teams. This rivalry has been going on for at least the past ten years. The outcome of this game will either give SPU a 2 game lead over Western in the conference race or they will be tied for 1st place only about a quarter of the way through conference play.

If you are going to make it to a game this year this is the game.

7:00 pm Carver Gym Bellingham Washington

Ryan Sweet

Introductions

Hey all,
My name is Paige Hoffman and I play Volleyball at Seattle Pacific University. My partner in crime for this blog is Ryan Sweet, a Men's Basketball player at SPU. Our purpose for blogging is to tell other people what is it like to be an athlete at Seattle Pacific as well as write about our experiences going to other SPU Athletic Events. Feel free to comment any of the posts, videos, or email us at ryansandpaigeh@gmail.com if you have any questions or suggestions.
Thanks,
Paige