Five Questions About Leadership and Legacies

1. What aspect of college dodgeball made you want to captain an NCDA team?
Moving from high school into college, I wanted to make sure that I kept a team atmosphere around me like in the team sports I played in high school, such as football, basketball, tennis, and cross country. In all of these sports there is an individual side that you can improve upon to help better your team, but none such as in dodgeball. The first time I played dodgeball, I learned ways that I could better myself and my team, such as improving my throw, my reflexes, my leadership and my strategy. Any player can improve their throw and their reflexes but it takes a true dodgeball master to become the strategist and leader of a team. Becoming a captain is just the next step on a never ending battle to bring better play to NCDA dodgeball.

2. What are the main principles that you emphasize to your team?
The main principles I preach to my team are principles that are very important to me.  Honor, strategy and persistence - this all means to play smart with your teammates and never quit (even if it is 15 versus 1 against GVSU) and play respectfully and honestly by the rules of the game.

3. How do you want your team to remember you after your captaincy is over?
I want them to remember me as the leader a young team needed to give them the drive and focus to become a top contender in the NCDA.

4. What characteristics will you look for in your successor?
I look for basic leadership qualities in my successor. I do not necessarily want the best player to be the captain. The captain needs to be the strategist for the team and directing them so that the team and the individual gets the most out of their time in playing dodgeball.

5. As a captain, what's your biggest priority for the league going forward?
My biggest priority for moving the league forward is to get more teams involved nationally. It is a little discouraging to tell my friends and family that my team came in 3rd at nationals and when they ask how many teams there were I always answer “around 15”.