Athlete Spotlight
Hometown
Puyallup, Wash. |
High
School
Emerald Ridge |
Year
Senior |
Major
Physical Education |
Megan Kosel, a two-time All-Northwest
Conference honorable mention selection, looks to go out on top
in her senior year. Last season, Kosel led PLU in digs as the
Lutes claimed the conference co-championship and a trip to the
NCAA tournament.
Describe
any hardships or extenuating circumstances that you have faced
to get to where you are today.
When I was in elementary school I was very active in gymnastics.
It was a lot of hard work, including six practices a week and
each practice was four hours long. When I was in sixth grade I
started having major problems with one of my ankles. I was diagnosed
with a partial Achilles tendon tear. I nearly whacked the doctor
in the face with my leg when he just barely squeezed the back
of my ankle. After being a gymnast for seven years, I had to put
my love for gymnastics aside and begin rehab. I was in physical
therapy for six months and did not fully recover from the partial
tear for two years. I could have easily given up and not participated
in any athletics, but I was determined. During the fall of my
eighth grade year my best friend convinced me to try out for the
volleyball team. I gave it a shot, fell in love with the game,
and nine years later here I am, playing collegiate volleyball!
Going through such a debilitating experience at such a young age
taught me to never give up, and that all things are possible,
some people just have to work harder. I spent hours in physical
therapy and two years recovering just to be able to run again,
but the hard work and my never-give-up attitude paid off. Anyone
who knows me today knows that I will never quit, and I will bust
my butt on the court and in the training room no matter what the
sacrifice.
How has your family helped
to get you where you are athletically?
My mother and father have always been there for me no matter when
or where. Through my high school volleyball career I played for
an elite club team. We traveled two weekends out of every month,
sometimes three. And by traveling I mean the whole sha-bang -
flying to places like California, Reno, Vegas, Arizona, Texas,
Minnesota, etc. My mother and father were always there for me,
every tournament in every state. We have been to a lot of places
together! Playing at this high of a level was a very expensive
hobby. My parents did everything they could for me to be able
to be part of such a wonderful experience. Not only being there
at matches for club, they were always at my high school matches,
too. I must say, my mother and father have never missed a volleyball
match and I am very blessed to have such amazing parents that
care so much about me. As long as it was helping me improve athletically
and mentally my parents were ready to sign the bill. Besides the
financial part of being an athlete, they were always there for
me, win or lose, ready to give me hugs and kisses. It is a blessing
to have two smiling parents come at you with arms open, even if
you did just lose in the national tournament!
What were the major contributing
factors toward your decision to attend PLU?
I was actually supposed to attend Seattle University. About two
weeks before I was supposed to leave for preseason practice I
changed my mind. I had decided that I was burned out from playing
club and school. PLU was one of the other universities I had applied
to and been accepted at, therefore my mother and father pretty
much said, "You are going to PLU." It wasn't even a
few days after I had told PLU that I was planning on attending
that I heard a voice mail message on my cell phone from Kevin
Aoki, the PLU volleyball coach. He had found out I was going to
PLU and was determined to get me to play volleyball. I ended up
meeting with Kevin and decided to give volleyball a try. And here
I am, in my fourth season of PLU volleyball and planning on graduating
this coming spring. Life sure throws some twists and turns at
ya. Choosing to not attend Seattle University and coming to Pacific
Lutheran University was one of the best decisions I have ever
made!
What
has been your favorite class at PLU?
The most interesting class I have taken at PLU would be Motor
Learning
taught by Dr. Colleen Hacker. I am taking it this fall and I have
been in
class three times to this date and I have learned more in those
three class days
about real life application of motor learning than I have in any
other
class I have taken. Not only that, but I feel that I have learned
more
information in those class days that will truly be beneficial
to me than
any other class. What Dr. Hacker has to offer is amazing and I
wish that
I could hook up a computer to her brain and get all of her knowledge
on
hard copy! That is how smart she is and shows how learning this
stuff is
not something that I dread, it is the most interesting stuff out
there!
I realized how blessed I am to be learning such amazing
concepts, and I literally had goosebumps in class today because
the topics really hit home. I am so excited for this class and
I have
only had it for this semester, and I would recommend it to anyone!
It may
be hard, but it WILL be the best and most beneficial class I will
have taken at PLU come graduation day!
What are your plans after
college?
I may try to pursue a career or continue my education and earn
amaster's degree. In what, and where, I have no idea. All I know
is I love working with people and after recently spending my summer
in eastern Washington, I love the country.
Has it been difficult to
balance athletics with academics?
Yes, it has been very difficult. I have found that it
is hardest for me to get my studying in when we are on the road.
Not because I don't have time to study, but because I get car
sick. So studying on bus rides is out the door for me. Other than
that, PLU is very challenging academically. During the season
it is all about time management and making the right decisions.
When your athletic career
is all said and done what is it that you would want people to
say about you?
When people think of me, I want them to say, "That Megan
Kosel, she just never quit! She never gave up, and that girl sure
did work her butt off!" Ever since I started playing volleyball,
I have been know for spending countless hours in the weight room
and gym to become a better athlete for myself and my teammates.
I have earned myself hundreds of floor burns and bruises because
I refuse to let the ball hit the floor. I say 'earned' because
I am proud of them! There are only so many things in your control,
and one of the biggest things is your effort. Besides that, I
would also love for people to think of me and say, “She
sure had fire in her. She was always pushing her team to go that
much further.” I would like people to think that I was an
inspiration and that my fire and enthusiasm was contagious. And
one thing is for sure, I hope people think back and say, "She
was one hell of a libero! She picked everything up!"
Describe your hometown and
what do you miss most about it?
Well, I lived in Thousand Oaks, Calif., up until I was
in third grade, but my hometown is right around the corner in
Puyallup where I spent most of my years growing up. There is not
much to miss, considering it is a 10-minute drive away. Mostly,
I miss all the benefits you get from living at home: free food,
no rent - slightly kidding :) Most of all, I just miss getting
to see my parents everyday. I am very close with my mother and
miss the time that we used to get to spend together. I also miss
watching the most random movies with my Dad.
What is your favorite place
on campus?
The gym/volleyball court. It is my second home and always
will be. The new UC is pretty sweet though!
What is your favorite restaurant
in Tacoma?
Oh there are so many! I love Sakura's Japanese Steak
House. They cook the food right in front of you and do all kinds
of fancy tricks and light things on fire! And the orange sauce
is to die for!
What song is playing on your
ipod before a game or event?
"Bring em' Out" by TI, it just gets me pumped and ready
to play! Also, Korn - "Coming Undone" - you can't go
wrong with a little hard core rock!
Read
more about senior setter Gina Di Maggio
