Student Athlete Spotlight
Meet Some of Our Student Athletes:
Hannah Johnson, Class of 2022
Sports(s): Women’s Cross Country, Women’s Track & Field
Favorite athletic memory: Coach Huff (Huffaker) screaming everyday, at the top of his lungs, “It’s 4:15!”
What advice would you give an incoming first year student athlete: Do not see learning and athletics as an obligation and a list of “have to’s”, but rather view them as opportunities that enable you to be the strongest and best that you can possibly be.
What is your favorite aspect of being a student-athlete: Cross Country and Track both enable me to run off some stress, but also enable me to have a second family away from home – my teammates.
Favorite Junk Food: Oberweiss coffee-chip ice cream
Favorite Movie: “Murder on the Orient Express” because I love mystery/murder films, and in this particular movie,* spoiler alert all of the suspects are guilty.
Where do you hope to be 5 years from now: I hope to be in medical school.
Dream Job: Interventional Radiologist
I am a biology pre-med student, so I asked my advisor (Dr. Harper) if doing a sport in college would hinder me from being accepted into medical school. He said that participating in collegiate sports is a great opportunity to become a better student and also become a more well-rounded person, which was very encouraging to hear.
Katie Vogler, Class of 2022
Sport: Track and Field
Favorite athletic memory: I don’t think I could pick a favorite but many of them have the same theme of my entire team being together and cheering each other on. That is one of my favorite things about the team.
What advice would you give an incoming first year student athlete: I would say that sleep is not overrated and is what will keep you successful academically and athletically so always get enough of it!
What is your favorite aspect of being a student-athlete: I love being a student athlete because it lets me more easily have friends that are outside my major who still hold a common interest with me.
Favorite Junk Food: York Peppermint Patties
Favorite Music: I am a fan of Grandson, Jon Bellion, Sara Bareilles, and Willie Nelson
Last Book You Read: Lab Girl by Hope Jahren
Where do you hope to be 5 years from now: I hope to be happy for one thing, but I also hope that I am either in graduate school getting a PhD, in optometry school or in medical school for ophthalmology
Dream Job: Writing scientific articles for National Geographic
Raul Sustaita, Class of 2020
Sport(s): Cross Country and Track and Field
Favorite athletic memory: When I ran my first 8k cross country race my freshman year in the hardest course of my season, that was like a rite of passage from boy to man moment for me, it was also raining and windy so that makes it more fun.
What advice would you give an incoming first year student athlete : There will be days where you will be overwhelmed and feel like giving up, just remember your teammates and coaches can function as your family and support. Remember you are a student first, athlete second. Grades are most important above all else.
Favorite Music: Reggaeton, Mariachi, Ranchera, Classical, and 2000’s R&B.
Last Book You Read: The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee.
Favorite Movie: Something the Lord Made (2004). It brings to light the true state of racial bias from the 1920s-1930s, and how two diversely different medical researchers, a rich white doctor and a black research assistant, worked together toward a common goal.
Where do you hope to be 5 years from now: I hope to be working as an intern after medical school at a hospital in a different state.
Dream Job: Cardiologist or Otolaryngologist
A great thing about the biology faculty is that they support you in what you do outside the classroom. When I go for help in their offices, the professors ask what you did for practice or when you have another competition. The biology faculty know how rigorous it is to do both a sport and study for classes. They try to help you out in some way. Most of them are pretty flexible with assignments on days you miss because of competition.
