Athlete Spotlight

Matt Keller

Hometown Bothell, Wash.

High School Bothell

Year Senior

Major Political Science

After showing promise early in his Pacific Lutheran baseball career, Matt Keller suffered an arm injury that limited his ability to pitch for two seasons. Entering his senior year, Keller has taken on a strong leadership role for the defending conference champion Lutes, and he is hoping to finish his college years with a solid senior campaign.

Describe your family. How have they helped you in your athletic career?
I would not be where I am today without the support of my family. My parents, Carol and Bruce, have been extremely supportive of me my entire life, and that has continued at PLU. They make nearly every road trip with the team and I cannot thank them enough for their love and support over the years.

Describe any hardships or extenuation circumstances that you have faced to get to where you are today.
At the beginning of my sophomore year, I tore a tendon in my elbow that eventually required surgery. I missed the entire season, and when I came back for my junior year, I had to learn to pitch all over again. While I was injured, I learned the importance of being a good teammate and always putting the team ahead of myself. It was not an easy experience to endure, but I am better off for having gone through it.

What factors led to your decision to attend PLU?
When I spoke with Coach (Geoff) Loomis, I was very impressed with the vision that he had for the program. The coaches of the other schools I was recruited by seemed to be content with their programs, but Coach Loomis was really looking to take PLU to the next level. I was also impressed by the quality of the education I could receive at PLU, and I have enjoyed my time here immensely. Coming to PLU is the best decision that I have ever made.

What has been your favorite class at PLU?
Tough to say. I really enjoyed POLS401, Politics of the Iraq War with Dr. Sid Olufs. The class was truly eye opening, and Dr. Olufs is one of the most intelligent and genuine people I have ever come across. I have also loved every class I have taken from Dr. Maria Chavez in the Political Science department. She is an amazing teacher and she has really challenged me to grow as a person. Dr. Chavez has shaped my academic career more than anyone I have come across at PLU.

Have you had any trouble balancing athletics with academics?
I think that every athlete has some trouble, especially at a place like PLU. I think that if you stay on top of it it’s not that bad. Balancing baseball with academics has taught me an important lesson about time management, which I think will be beneficial in my professional life.

What are you plans after college?
After graduation in May, I will be attending law school. I haven’t heard from any schools yet, so I’m definitely keeping my fingers crossed as I try to plan the next stage of my life.

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 think that my teammates would say that they enjoyed playing with me. More than anything, I hope to be remembered as someone who was an important part of some very successful Lutes baseball teams, as well as someone who always put the needs of the team ahead of my own. I have been lucky enough to play with some guys who have had a lasting impact on me, guys like Dave Fox, Matt Serr, and Joe DiPietro. I would love to be remembered the same way that these guys are.

Describe your hometown and what you miss about it the most.
Bothell is about 60 miles north of PLU, and it is a great place to grow up, especially for an athlete. High school sports are very popular in Bothell, so we received a great deal of support from both the school and the community. I have a very close-knit group of friends from Bothell, and I miss being able to see them everyday. More than anything, I miss my family and my dog.

What's your favorite spot on campus?
Definitely the baseball field. No matter what else is on my mind on a given day, I know that once practice rolls around I will be able to block out all other distractions and just focus on the game that I love. Ever since I arrived at PLU, the baseball field has been my sanctuary.

What is your favorite restaurant in Tacoma?
Stanley & Seafort’s. Unfortunately, that is a bit pricey on a college student’s budget. Aside from that, I always enjoy outings to Mazatlan with my teammates.

What music is playing in your ipod right now?
A little bit of everything. Before practice and games, I like to get my adrenaline flowing with something like Buckcherry or Seether. After games, I try to relax, so I listen to artists like counting crows, third eye blind, sister hazel, and Phil Collins, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I had a fair amount of country on there.