Athlete Spotlight
|
Hometown
Fox Island, Wash. |
High
School
Gig Harbor |
Year
Senior |
Major
Computer Science and Computer Engineering |
Jeremy has an interesting story
in that, as a freshman, he was cut from the Pacific Lutheran baseball
team. After refining his game at Pierce College, he came to Pacific
Lutheran and has been lights out on opposing batters for the past
two seasons. With his sidearm delivery, Jeremy has yet to allow
an earned run in two seasons with the Lutes. Last year, he averaged
more than a strikeout per inning pitched.
1.
Describe your family. How have they helped you in your athletic
career?
If it wasn’t for my dad and
sister, I wouldn’t have an athletic career. I could never
match the number of sacrifices they made for me over the years.
Being that I grew up with a single father, I didn’t start
my baseball career until about 8th grade, at which point my dad
and sister started splitting the duty of driving me to and from
practice and games. On top of the time commitment, the amount
of physical pain I may have inflicted on my dad while learning
how to pitch did not go unnoticed and without thanks. His dedication,
even through all the bruises, definitely accelerated my learning
curve toward throwing strikes. Most importantly, however, is all
the emotional support and encouragement from both my dad and sister
that always kept me positive. Whether it was a bad game, a season-ending
injury, or a lack of support elsewhere, they were always there
to keep my confidence high. And in the end, they were always right;
I would perform better next time, I would continue to improve,
and I was good enough to accomplish anything I wanted.
Describe any hardships or
extenuation circumstances that you have faced to get to where
you are today.
Even though my baseball career got a late
start, everything seemed to come naturally for me. Throughout
high school, the first opportunity I was given to earn playing
time, I succeeded and never looked back. The same story couldn’t
be said the first time I came out for PLU baseball. By not making
the roster my freshman year, I was challenged with the situation
of quitting for good, or playing elsewhere and proving I could
make it. I knew PLU was eventually where I wanted to play and
could be successful, so I decided to spend the next two years
elsewhere, in order to develop my poise and mental toughness on
the field. Two years later, I came back, and the rest is history.
What factors led to your
decision to attend PLU?
Every aspect of PLU led to my desire to be here: friends, academics,
and, of course, baseball. Just in my first semester I spent here,
I developed the friendships I knew would last a lifetime. The
computer engineering department is one of best-regarded programs
in the area and the baseball program has become nationally recognized.
What more could someone want out of their college career?
 |
| The 2008 seniors: Jeff Danforth,
Matt Keller, Brett Brunner and Jeremy Ellison |
What has been your favorite
class at PLU?
The best class I have had at PLU would have
to be digital electronics (CSCE 346). There are very few classes
out there that grade you on how well you play with gadgets.
Have you had any trouble
balancing athletics with academics?
It’s definitely been a lot of work
the last few years balancing my student responsibilities with
my athletics. On top of athletics and academics, I’ve also
had to fit a job into my schedule. Social sacrifices were definitely
made throughout the years but in the end, it has only strengthened
my mental toughness for what my future working career may have
in store.
What are your plans after
college?
Although this is my final year of baseball,
I will still have one more year of academics to finish my CSCE
degree. After that, I will eagerly begin working and earning my
own money.
When your athletic career
is all said and done, what is it that you would want people to
say about you?
I would like to be remembered as a great
teammate, both on the field and off, as well as a teammate that
always gave everything I had. Like Jeff Danforth and Matt Keller
have said before me, I would always want my name associated with
the success of Lutes baseball.
Describe your hometown and
what you miss about it the most.
There really isn’t much to miss about
my hometown since Gig Harbor is only 30 minutes away. If I ever
were to move away, the water is what I would miss the most. Every
summer has been spent on a boat in front of my house water skiing,
wakeboarding, and just enjoying the sun.
What's your favorite spot
on campus?
Although it shouldn’t be hard to believe,
it’s the baseball field. Whether its practice, home games,
or away games, the baseball field brings freedom from life’s
burdens and troubles. For those hours that are spent on the field,
nothing else matters but the game.
What is your favorite restaurant
in Tacoma?
My favorite restaurant in Tacoma definitely
depends on the situation. If I actually have time to sit down
and enjoy a meal, it’s a toss-up between the Olive Garden
with their seafood alfredo or Indochine with their curry chicken.
Since that situation rarely occurs, late night Jack in the Box
drive-thru is usually where I end up.
What music is playing in
your ipod right now?
I’m a fan of nearly all the music
out there. My iPod has 10,000 songs that continuously play on
shuffle. My top artist choices would have to be Dave Matthews,
Jack Johnson, Maroon 5 and Garth Brooks.
