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 Female Student-Athlete
Name : Jennifer Smith
School : University of Minnesota Duluth
Year : Junior
Hometown: Bloomington, Minn.
High School: Jefferson HS
Sport(s) : Women’s Soccer
Major(s) : Communication Sciences and Disorders; Hispanic Studies
1. Tell us how you first got involved in your sport?
I started playing soccer after I watched just about all of my older sisters’ games and practices while growing up. They were the ones who got me into the sport and encouraged me to continue to play it over the years.
2. How did you end up deciding to attend your university and participate in athletics?
I chose to attend UMD because of the location, and also the strong balance between academics and athletics. The Duluth area is breath-taking and I love living in such an adventurous city. The balance between academics and athletics was also evident from the moment I stepped on campus. Students and faculty care about academics, but also support the athletes in participating in the activities they love.
3. What have you learned from being a student-athlete?
I have learned that I am incredibly lucky to be a student-athlete here at UMD. I take pride in my academics and work in the classroom. But once I step onto the field with my teammates, we develop Bulldog pride. It is so rewarding to have the opportunity to study something I enjoy and also play a sport that I love.
4. What are your plans following graduation?
Following graduation, I plan to enter graduate school somewhere in the Midwest to complete my Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders.
5. What is it like competing in the NSIC?
Competing in the NSIC is tough - we play in one of the toughest conferences in the country and the standings show it. Every year, the race gets tighter and tighter. Points are vital in every 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 in the NSIC is at Winona. Their field is most similar to ours and we always seem to play well there, under any conditions. Our teams also match up well against one another, making it a good game every year.
7. What is your favorite memory so far in your collegiate career?
My favorite memory thus far would be scoring in the first few minutes in our home game against Mankato and holding them off for the remaining 80-some minutes to win.
8. Who has influenced you most in your life and how?
My family has had the biggest influence on my life. My parents have been the biggest supporters of me while I have competed over the years. The amount of time and effort they have spent attending almost all of my games is incredible. My older sisters have been my role models over the years. Watching and learning from them growing up has shaped me into the player and person I am today.
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 am incredibly honored to play for such encouraging and respectable coaches at UMD, Coach Cane and Wheeler.
NSIC Male Student-Athlete
Name : Billy Brockmueller
School : University of Sioux Falls
Year : Junior
Hometown : Brandon, SD
High School : Brandon Valley
Sport(s) : Cross Country, Track
Major(s) : Applied Mathematics, Professional Accounting & Business Administration
1. Tell us how you first got involved in your sport?
I have loved running ever since I can remember. I can definitely give credit to my family for getting me into the sport. My grandpa was a cross country runner when he was young, and he sparked a family tradition for generations to come. First, I started running some local road races in middle school with my dad and twin brother, and my older sister would bring me to the bike trails to run with her. I have always had a passion for running distance, and one specific time I volunteered at a marathon event. At the age of 14, I was inspired and talked my dad into running a marathon with me. During football season later that fall, I took a day off from practice, and my dad and I successfully went to Columbia, MO to run our first marathon. The next year of high school I switched to cross country and have enjoyed running ever since.
2. How did you end up deciding to attend your university and participate in athletics?
It was an easy decision to choose to run in college, but choosing where was a bit more challenging. I decided to run for the University of Sioux Falls for several reasons: the Christian aspect of the team and coaches, the potential for growth and success, and it was close to home. In addition, my twin brother Bobby also decided to run here. We decided we would be a package deal and run together in college. Now that I am in my forth year, I am very thankful that USF is where I chose to go.
3. What have you learned from being a student-athlete?
The biggest thing I have learned from being a student athlete is balance and time management. In order to do well in school, run fast on the course, and have a strong spiritual and social life, one must find a good balance among all of these. In addition, running has become a lifestyle for me. It encourages being a healthy person, and I have changed many habits to become a better runner, which transfers to my overall well-being. Being involved in cross country also teaches persistence and endurance. Finally, the team community that I have learned to be a part of is extremely valuable to me.
4. What are your plans following graduation?
Following graduation, I want to eventually go to graduate school for Physics and become a Physics professor at a university. I hope to do some traveling and missions work in between, and there is always talk between me and Bobby that we will start a business together. I have some options, and I’m excited to see where God will guide me.
5. What is it like competing in the NSIC?
Competing in the NSIC has been a new challenge. The competition is great and has given our team the opportunity to step up and run even faster.
6. Where is your favorite place to travel/play in the NSIC? (Besides your home arena) What makes it your favorite?
I haven’t been to very many of the other facilities in the NSIC yet, since we are fairly new (and cross country and track travels all over the place). Mankato is one that I am familiar with, and they have a very nice indoor facility. I’m excited to run the cross country conference meet at Yankton Trails Park hosted by Augustana this fall.
7. What is your favorite memory so far in your collegiate career?
My favorite memory so far in my college career was last fall in cross country at the regional meet down in Joplin, MO. I had a great race and qualified for nationals, which was definitely a goal coming into the meet. Other than that, my favorite part about cross country is being with my teammates and doing long runs together-and after all the hard work, enjoying a delicious meal together.
8. Who has influenced you most in your life and how?
My family has had a huge influence on me in my life. Among them, my twin brother Bobby has had the biggest impact. Bobby and I have always been competitive with each other, but we are also very supportive of each other. We keep each other accountable and challenge each other to be the best runners and people that we can be.
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.
One specific run I remember was one of the most thrilling training runs I have been on. The team was in some new territory on some winding dirt trails, with many offshoots and forks in the road. Our coach dropped us off and said in a few miles the trail will lead back to the road and he will pick us up. Well, half way through the run, the guys team runs into the girls team going the other way, and we all admit that we are completely lost! It took a great deal of teamwork and effort to get back on track and find our coach. We ended up running much farther than we were supposed to, but we were so thankful that everybody was okay and that we all made it back!
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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