The NSIC Student-Athlete Thursday Focus is a weekly update on a male and female student-athlete from around the NSIC. 

Are you a NSIC Student-Athlete that wants to be featured  on the NSIC Student-Athlete Thursday Focus: Fill out the NSIC Student-Athlete Questionnaire

NSIC Male Student-Athlete University: Bemidji State
Year: Senior
Hometown: Kaukauna, Wis.
High School: Kaukauna
Sport(s): Men’s Basketball
Major(s): Physical Education
 


1. Tell us how you first got involved in your sport?
Ever since I was very young, I was playing basketball mainly because of my father. He has been the head mens basketball coach at Kaukauna now since 1995 and with him being around the game it really got me involved at such a young age. Getting to go to practice and be in the gym whenever I wanted really developed a love of the game from the get go.
 
2. How did you end up deciding to attend your university and participate in athletics?
I decided to commit to Bemidji State because they were showing a lot of interest leading up to my senior year. I had really developed a good relationship with all of the coaches throughout the recruitment time, and was very comfortable. The final selling point was when a couple of the coaches were heading to go to a different recruiting event, and took a detour and drove all the way to Kaukauna to come and watch one of my workouts, and then drove back. It really showed how much of an interest I was.
 
3. What have you learned from being a student-athlete?
Priorities have been the biggest thing that I have learned. Being able to figure out what I need done and when it needs to be done. Communicating with professors and getting all of the homework done ahead of time before going on a road trip is always takes some work.
 
4. What are your plans following graduation?
I will be student teaching in the fall of 2014, and also want to get into coaching at the college level.
 
5. What is it like competing in the NSIC?
It is an awesome experience. I think that it is one of the best conferences in the nation, and it shows by how there is always a couple teams in the Top 25. The league is very competitive and you need to have intensity and focus every night, because anyone can beat anyone each game.
 
6. Where is your favorite place to travel/play in the NSIC? (Besides your home arena) What makes it your favorite?
My favorite place to play is at Northern State. They always have a packed crowd and it is a great environment to play in.
 
7. What is your favorite memory so far in your collegiate career?
Winning the conference in 2012. Beating Winona on the final night of the regular season to seal it was an amazing feeling. The student section stormed the court and we cut down the nets. It will be a night I never forget.
 
8. Who has influenced you most in your life and how?
My parents have by far. I am very blessed to have two great, supportive parents. They made numerous sacrifices to help me get to where I am today and would be the person I am without them.
 
Any additional information you would like to add, unique stories or situations, etc. Something people don’t know about you that you would like to share.
I really like learning about history, especially wars and battles. It was a tough choice deciding to become either a Physical Education teacher, or a Social Studies teacher.


Name: Lindsay Carroll
University: Upper Iowa University
Year: Junior
Hometown: Roscoe, Ill.
High School: Hononegah HS
Sport(s): Women’s Basketball
Major(s): Elementary Education
 


1. Tell us how you first got involved in your sport?
I got started with basketball because of my sister and dad. I was five years old and saw my sister shooting with my dad in the driveway, and I asked my dad, “Why can’t I do that.” Ever since then I have always had a basketball in my hands. I know this has been a sport that both my dad and I have shared together since I was five years old.
 
2. How did you end up deciding to attend your university and participate in athletics?
I was originally started my freshman career at Western Illinois University, but due to limited playing minutes wanted to transfer to a school where I would play. I got the call from Upper Iowa University that they wanted me to come for a visit. I loved the visit with the tour, people, and the basketball program. I decided Upper Iowa because it felt right and I felt I could see myself graduating from this school. Also, I felt I could be a great asset to their basketball program.
 
3. What have you learned from being a student-athlete?
I have learned that you must be very dedicated and committed to your academics and sport. It is important you balance your time in order to accomplish your school work and to focus on your sport. I believe it is a key essential to work hard and to understand it is worth it in the end to graduate from a school being a student athlete.
 
4. What are your plans following graduation?
My plans for after graduation are to return to my hometown and to find a teaching job within the area. I would like to teach middle school math, but will take any job opportunity that comes my way.
 
5. What is it like competing in the NSIC?
I love competing in the NSIC. I believe it is one of the most competitive conferences I have ever competed in. In our women’s basketball conference the NSIC always ensures that no team is ever going to be an easy game. Every game we have to compete in order to get the end result we really want to earn. The NSIC is not an easy conference, but very rewarding in the end when you win.
 
6. Where is your favorite place to travel/play in the NSIC? (Besides your home arena) What makes it your favorite?
I think my favorite place to play in the NSIC is Winona State. The reason this place is my favorite because I love the gym and because the atmosphere is one of the more exciting places I have played in. Also, I love playing this team because whenever we play Winona the games are always a challenge, but very exciting to compete in.
 
7. What is your favorite memory so far in your collegiate career?
I think my favorite memory in college so far is when our team traveled to University of Alaska Fairbanks. I really enjoyed traveling to another state and not many people say they have traveled to Alaska. Also, the very first game we had in Alaska I scored twenty points against Alaska, Fairbanks. I believed it was of the best games of my career.
 
8. Who has influenced you most in your life and how?
I believe my parents have influenced me the most in my life. The reason I think this is because my parents have been such a big part of my life. My mom has influenced me to always strive to do my best and has always been my biggest supporter. My dad who has always pushed me even when there were times I struggled. My parents have just influenced me to make the right decisions, have a strong work ethic, and to love the game you play. My parents are very inspiring and I am very grateful to have them in my life. They are the people who will be at every game, and if they can’t make it they will be watching it on the computer.
 
Any additional information you would like to add, unique stories or situations, etc. Something people don’t know about you that you would like to share.
A quote I live by is: “Never let your head hang down. Never give up and sit down and grieve. Find another way.” I follow this quote because it pushes me every day to never give up and to always give my best effort. I will fight from the start of the game until the very end.
 

Past Thursday Focus

11/21/13	2013-14 NSIC Student-Athlete Thursday Focus No. 9	Damarius Cruz, SCSU Marisa Toivonen, Augie
11/14/13	2013-14 NSIC Student-Athlete Thursday Focus No. 8	Mary Mikutowski, UMC Peter Crawford, UMD
11/7/13	2013-14 NSIC Student-Athlete Thursday Focus No. 7	Maddy Siroin, UMD Jack Derham, SMSU
10/31/13	2013-14 NSIC Student-Athlete Thursday Focus No. 6	Ryan Gerts, WSU Kaitlyn Emanual, UIU
10/24/13	2013-14 NSIC Student-Athlete Thursday Focus No. 5	Kara Dahmen, SCSU Alex Brown, UMD
10/17/13	2013-14 NSIC Student-Athlete Thursday Focus No. 4	Buckley Wright, BSU McKenzie Smith, MSUM
10/10/13	2013-14 NSIC Student-Athlete Thursday Focus No. 3	Maggie Leland, Augie Cole Jaeschke, UIU
10/3/2013	2013-14 NSIC Student-Athlete Thursday Focus No. 2	Tyler Tonderum, SMSU Kayla Konecke, CU
9/25/2013	2013-14 NSIC Student-Athlete Thursday Focus No. 1	Billy Brockmuller, USF Jennifer Smith, UMD

Are you a NSIC Student-Athlete that wants to be featured  on the NSIC Student-Athlete Thursday Focus: Fill out the NSIC Student-Athlete Questionnaire

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