The Gustavus athletics department will hear from spring sport senior student-athletes throughout the remainder of the semester, honoring those who are unable to participate in their final season of college athletics.
Today’s Q&A with senior student-athletes include Caitlin Kammerer (Watertown) of softball, Elijah Fourre (Eden Prairie) of men’s track & field, and Gabriela Passmore (Mapleton) of women’s track & field.
Q: What are your thoughts about missing your final collegiate season?
CK: I’ll miss all the fun bus rides, the laughs, and of course the wins and tough loses. I’ll always think about the what if’s and what could have been. But I’ll never forget the experiences and memories I had the last 3 seasons before.
EF: I was really looking forward to the outdoor track season. We were supposed to hold the MIAC conference meet this year and there’s nothing better than being able to perform on your home-turf. I was in a good place and had made it through indoor season injury-free and was excited to run the 1500m and perform to my utmost potential.
GP: I’m sorrowful that I’m missing out on my final season because I had hoped to crush my PR in the 5K. I was hoping to run an 18:30 5K or faster, and it seemed like I was on track (pun intended) to do so. I had also hoped to score at outdoor conference, so that I could bookend my collegiate career with scoring in the 5K as I also did as a first-year.
Q: What is your favorite sports memory at Gustavus?
CK: A favorite memory of mine is our spring training trip last year to Arizona. We went 7-1 on the trip and just had a great time playing together as a young team and eager to win.
EF: My favorite memory that I participated in is probably my freshman conference race at Como Park. That course is easily one of my favorite courses and the atmosphere there was incredible. There’s a bridge approximately a quarter-mile away from the finish that once you pass through you give everything left in your body. My favorite spectating memory has got to be Sam Benson running the 10K at Carleton or Noah “Bouncy” Johnson running the 800m at St. Olaf.
GP: There are too many good memories to choose from. But one of my favorites was as a first-year when the distance ladies went to the U of M with Brenden to compete. We ran down the streets to warm up, and there were a ton of people having rowdy house parties. U of M students would yell, “Go Gusties!” at us as we ran by.
Q: What are your plans after graduation?
CK: I plan to work at a clinic and High School as an Athletic Trainer.
EF: I’m looking at hydrology and data modeling jobs in the Minneapolis area, with plans to backpack in Europe as soon as safely possible.
GP: My plans after graduation are to work to pay off my student loans and then possibly pursue a master’s degree.
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Previous “Senior Spotlight” features: