Five Questions About Leadership and Legacies

1. What aspect of college dodgeball made you want to captain an NCDA team?
Within my first few months as a freshman at DePaul, dodgeball became part of my identity as a student here. DePaul is a extraordinarily diverse unveristy, and coming from a highly diverse high school the vast array of personalities within DePaul Dodgeball and the camaraderie between them was very welcoming. It didn't take long for me to become a regular at dodgeball nights on Monday's and Thursday's, due to the fun-loving and carefree nature of the DePaul style of play. Once I experienced the National Tournament that year, I knew becoming a team leader was in the cards. Tournament and match competition makes DePaul Dodgeball even more fun to be part of, and I wanted to be at front and center, supporting my team and representing our club in the best way.

2. What are the main principles that you emphasize to your team?
F. U. N. Any squad in the NCDA will tell you that our primary focus when we play is simply having a good time. When played the right way, there are few sports more fun to play than dodgeball. DePaul Dodgeball was founded on the idea of getting back to the roots of what the sport was created for; kids releasing energy in gym class and getting out their aggressive energy over a ridiculous athletic activity. Whether on regular practice nights or in a league match, that's how DePaul plays. And I remind my team of that as often as I can. We have an image to uphold as the most fun team to play, and we honestly covet that as much as we would covet a championship.

3. How do you want your team to remember you after your captaincy is over?
As not only a leader who stayed true to the fundamentals our club was based, but more over just a good dude. Only a small percentage of the fun of DePaul Dodgeball takes place on the court. We're a very cohesive group, and just simply being remembered as a good friend to all the members of the club is all I really hope for. I've made lifelong friends throudh DePaul Dodgeball, and all I really hope for is that I can keep those friends for a long, long time.

4. What characteristics will you look for in your successor?
Managing DePaul Dodgeball can be very tough, since you have to be cognizant of all the different personalities on the court and be able to difuse volatile situations when they come up. We operate our "practices" as simple pickup games, so there are often new people who aren't used to the dynamic and get picked on by regulars looking for headshots, so you need to be able to calm down high tempers. Also, high enthusiasm and extroversion is a must, since those two words are synonymous with our club. And of course, some one who can handle cub managing tasks, paper work and the like.

5. As a captain, what's your biggest priority for the league going forward?
I'd like to see the league grow all across the nation, while growing to a more fun oriented theory of play. While the league has recently seen remarkable success and growth into a legitimate association, many teams seem to be straying away from the roots of dodgeball. I'd like to see a focus on fun first being instilled in every team. Hopefully, if DePaul hosts Nationals in 2010, our theories will find there way to other clubs.