Kalamazoo College Athletics

What is your favorite sports moment at K?
Beating Albion in front of all of the kids from Milwood Elementary. We had spent time helping out in their gym classes and it was amazing that so many came to the game. It was one of those games where everything went right for our team so it was a blast to play and then to get to hang out with the kids after.

What is your most memorable academic experience at K?
My sophomore year I took States, Bodies, and Epidemics with Dr. Garriga-Lopez and it was an amazing experience. I was terrified that I was in way over my head in a 300 level Anso class, but I ended up learning an incredible amount about the politics and history of bodies and medicine and what is really means to be healthy. The people in the class were brilliant and it was fun to just listen to the discussions in class. 

Why did you choose to attend Kalamazoo College?
I came to K because, after much persuading from my parents, I finally realized that the K experience is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Other universities will always be an option for grad or professional school, but the opportunity to continue to play sports, form relationships with my classmates and professors, and get an outstanding education was something I couldn't pass up.

What do you enjoy most about road trips during your season?
Playing super competitive and loud games of Catchphrase and watching our favorite movies over and over.

What is your least favorite thing about road trips during your season?
Pretending that we are going to get any homework or studying done on the bus.

Who is your all-time favorite athlete and why?
Abby Wambach because was unbelievably tough and she was a winner. She was willing to go around, over, and through anyone in her way and sweat, bleed, and cry on the field in order to win. Winning always seemed more important to her than any personal accolades and she has helped lead women's soccer, and women's sports in general, to national prominence. 

What is your favorite class and why?
My favorite class was Vertebrate Bio with Tim Kailing. The subject matter was interesting and the dissections in lab were really cool so even though it was a fair amount of work, it never felt like that. Tim was an a brilliant professor, passionate about the material, and a great lecturer so it was fun to go to class every day.

Who is your favorite professor and why?
There are too many to choose from, but Drs. Ann Fraser and Amanda Wollenberg in the biology department have always gone far out of their way to help me with classwork and planning for life after college, often generously offering time outside of class to help me figure things out. They are both professors who I would take their class just because they are the instructor.

Other than the sport you play, what other sports activity are you good at?
In my younger days, I played flag football and loved that.

Is there another game in which you dominate? (card games, lawn games, pool, darts, etc.)
I think I am pretty good at Bananagrams and four square.

Outside of sports, what is your favorite hobby?
I love to read, do crossword puzzles, and watch/talk about/read about any and all sports.

What is your favorite meal in the cafeteria?
Breakfast for sure. An omelet from Karen is hands down the best meal.

Who is your role model?
I have been blessed with a lot of role models in my life, but my aunt Molly comes to mind first because she loves more wholeheartedly than anyone else I know. Throughout my life, she has shown me how to serve and love others joyfully through her support of me, our family, and her church and school community. She is always giving of herself to others and I am lucky to have her in my life. 

What do you enjoy most about practice?
I love goalie camp and finishing drills with the team at soccer. Any sort of scrimmage, possessions, offense vs defense is fun at basketball.

What do you like least about practice?
I dislike technical drills at soccer (because I am terrible at them) and when the people on the other team make everything they throw at the basket and my team loses the whole practice at basketball.

What is the topic of your SIP?
Factors influencing the uptake and sustained use of ACL injury prevention programs. 

What are your plans/goals after graduation?
The plan is to take a year to do research or volunteer while applying to medical school and then hopefully pursue a medical degree. The goal is to be a sports medicine doctor and work with athletes in the future!