Five Minutes With ... Jon Cripe

DePauw senior Cross Country and Track & Field student-athlete Jon Cripe

Name: Jon Cripe

Hometown/High School: Belleville, IL/Belleville West

Institution: DePauw University

Majors: Physics and Math

Sports: Cross Country and Track & Field

I am originally from ... Belleville, IL, which is near St Louis.

Why did you choose to attend a NCAA Division III institution? I wanted to go to a school with good academics and have the opportunity to be involved in multiple activities. In addition to athletics, I am involved in music, a resident assistant (RA) and president of our SAAC.

How would you describe the philosophy of NCAA Div. III? Being a student first but still having the opportunity to compete and excel in athletics.

How has your experience been in balancing athletics and academics at DePauw? I actually think having the structure of daily practice helps my academics. I have improved my time management skills and know how to prioritize the things I need to get done. Also, exercise is part of a healthy lifestyle.

How would you best describe your normal day as a student-athlete at the NCAA Div. III level? I.e. What do you do all day? Wake up and go to class during the day. In between classes I get as much homework done as possible. Practice is from 4-7ish. Then I make dinner and start on my homework again. A few days a week I do supplementary training like lifting, core, bike, etc, so I have to fit that into my schedule too. I also have a few meetings each week for the clubs that I am involved in that I need to attend.

Favorite thing about DePauw? The people

Favorite thing about the NCAC? The competition, friendly nature and professionalism of the student athletes.

What do you want to be when you grow up? Not entirely sure yet. Next year I will be in Germany doing physics research at the Albert Einstein Institute. Then I return to the states and continue graduate school for my PhD in physics. I will be a professor one day, but not sure at what point in my life.

What has been your most memorable moment in athletics during your collegiate career? Making the regional cross country team this year after battling Achilles injuries for the past two years. There were a lot of days when it hurt a lot, and I would ask myself if it was worth it or not. I wasn’t able to train as much as I wanted to. It was really hard knowing that an injury was keeping me from reaching my potential. I had to change my training to be able to continue running, and it paid off in the end!

What would be your advice for someone that is considering enrolling as a student-athlete at a NCAA Div. III institution? Do it!

Are there any major obstacles that you’ve had to overcome when as a Div. III student-athlete? Just like any other activity, if you want to be good in athletics you have to sacrifice other things. I could not be in the band or orchestra or other clubs that I might have joined. You also have to give up part of your social life. But if I had to do it again I would still be a student-athlete. The memories last forever.

What's the most impressive meal you've ever cooked? I’m not sure what my single most impressive meal is, but I cook all of my own food, and I would say it’s all pretty good. So I tend to invite people on the team or other friends over for dinner a lot.

What’s your favorite sports team? St Louis Cardinals!

First job? Working on an orchard during the summers of high school. My friend and I worked in the fields all day. It was hot, but a lot of fun.

Best/worst summer job? Physics Research assistant

Five Minutes With ... Seri Retrum

DePauw sophomore cross country and track & field runner Siri Retrum

Name: Siri Retrum

Hometown/High School: Columbus, IN/ Columbus North

Institution: DePauw University

Major: Kinesiology

Sports: Cross Country and Track and Field


•    I am originally from ... Anderson, IN

•    Why did you choose to attend a NCAA Division III institution? I was looking for a school with a competitive sports program and challenging academics.

•    How would you describe the philosophy of NCAA Div. III? Being able to excel as a collegiate athlete while pursuing high academic goals.

•    How has your experience been in balancing athletics and academics at DePauw? Having practice nearly everyday of the year keeps me on a strict schedule. Fitting in running, lifting, classes and studying makes my schedule very regimented which helps me manage my time to accomplish everything.

•    How would you best describe your normal day as a student-athlete at the NCAA Div. III level? I.e. What do you do all day? Depending on the day I wake up at 7 a.m. and run a few miles, shower and go to class. After lunch I will go lift before I go to the rest of my classes. Then at 4 pm I go to practice until 6 pm. After dinner I will study until I get my work done then I go to bed.

•    Favorite thing about DePauw? The close- knit nature of campus. Walking to classes it is common to see at least 10 people I know that I can say hi to.

•    Favorite thing about the NCAC? The friendly and competitive spirit at all sporting events.

•    What do you want to be when you grow up? A nurse

•    People may be surprised to know that …… My name is Norwegian.

•    What’s currently playing on your I-Pod? Keith Urban

•    Who do you look up to? My sister Becky, she started her own business by herself.

•    if you could excel at any competitive sport (other than your own) which would you choose? Triathlons

•    What's the most impressive meal you've ever cooked? Grilled salmon, roasted rosemary sweet potatoes, salad, and grilled asparagus

•    What’s your favorite sports team? The Colts

•    Favorite hobbies outside work/school? Cooking, spending time with family and friends, biking, swimming, reading, and playing on the lake

•    First job? Life guard

•    Favorite ice cream? I love all ice cream!!

Five Minutes With ... Brian Casey

DePauw President Brian Casey

Name/Institution: Brian Casey, DePauw University

Title: President (official bio)

Education: B.A., University of Notre Dame; J.D., Stanford Law School; PhD (History and American Studies), Harvard University

I am originally from ... The Jersey Shore, really. And it’s nothing like that TV show. Trust me.

Why do you have an awesome job? I get to help shape and direct a wonderful old university and connect to its students, faculty and alumni. There has not been a single day in this position where I haven’t been amazed. I have never felt more engaged in anything in my life.

When did you know you wanted to be a college president? I don’t think anyone really plans on being a college president. But when I was in graduate school (getting my PHD in History) I do remember being interested in what the President was up to. I believe that leadership matters and I remember early interest in the leadership styles of presidents.

Favorite thing about DePauw? The energy of the students and the faculty – and the ways in which members of this community support and nurture each other. And, surprisingly, the wit of the members of the community. There are an incredible number of very smart, very witty and entertaining members of this community.

Favorite thing about the NCAC? The academic quality of the member institutions.

How would you describe the philosophy of NCAA Div. III? The classic model of the student-athlete engaged in sport for the love of the game and the pure thrill of the challenge. Div III athletes are as intense as any athletes I have ever seen, but they also have their eyes on other things.

How did your collegiate experience help to prepare you to be an administrator at the Div. III level? Well, I was captain of the varsity swimming team at Notre Dame and competed at a pretty high level all four years. I know how challenging it is for our student athletes to balance the demands of the classroom and the playing fields. I also know how emotionally taxing it is when you lose. I hope I am sympathetic about all they are addressing every day.

People may be surprised to know that ... I still swim every day, very often dropping in on the workouts of the DePauw swimmers. I still keep trying to get better at my sport.

What’s currently playing on your I-Pod? Lots of jazz. And a surprising number of musical “guilty pleasures” – those pop songs that you don’t want to admit you download.

Which historical sporting event would you have liked to witness? The two great McEnroe-Borg Wimbledon finals of 1980 and 1981. There is something so immediate and exciting about two athletes engaged in such a battle of contrasting styles and temperaments.

What’s your favorite sports team/Who’s your favorite athlete? I’m a huge fan of the New York Yankees. My favorite athlete right now is Ryan Lochte, Olympic swimmer, who dominated Michael Phelps at the last swimming world championships. The battles between Phelps and Lochte in London will be epic.

First job? Lifeguarding on the Jersey Shore. It’s remarkable how powerful you can feel to be 16 on a lifeguard stand with a whistle. (It’s also about the dumbest thing to do to a 16 year old!!)

Five Minutes With ...

Name: Bret Billhardt

Institution: North Coast Athletic Conference

Title: Assistant Director

Education: Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management, Otterbein University


• Why did you choose to work at the NCAA Division III level?

BB: After competing and earning my undergraduate education at an NCAA Div. III institution, I immediately knew that I wanted to pursue a career at that level. The purity of the athletic competition combined with the academic excellence that so many of the student-athletes possess at this level is what drives me to continue to be a part of the division in my professional career.


• If you could trade places with someone for a day, who would it be and why?

BB: Don Hunsinger… Is there really an explanation needed?


• How would you most accurately describe or define the ideals on which the NCAA Div. III was founded?

BB: The division provides student-athletes the ability to be just that, students first and athletes second. Often times the best stories connected to division III student-athletes have little to do with their achievements on the field, but rather their contributions and successes within the community and the academic world.


• People may be surprised to know that ……

BB: My favorite NFL team is the Miami Dolphins….Although born and raised in the Cleveland area, I have never been and will never be a fan of the Browns.


• Are there any major obstacles that you’ve had to overcome when dealing with Div. III athletics?

BB: I think one of the toughest challenges in working in division III athletics is educating the general public on how we are structured and operate. Instead of looking at Div. III as a well-balanced opportunity for recent high school graduates to continue their athletic and academic careers, many people view it as a “step down” from Div. I and II institutions.


• Do you have any hidden talents that very few people know about?

BB: If I had any unique talents, I surely wouldn’t keep them hidden. So, I guess the answer is NO.


• How did your collegiate experience help to prepare you to be an administrator at the Div. III level?

BB: Being a former Div. III student-athlete, I’m able to relate with the issues and concerns that many of our current student-athletes continue to face on a day-to-day basis.


• If you are stranded on an island, you would like to be with ……

BB: Don Hunsinger, Bear Grylls and Macgyver....I wouldn't have to do anything to contribute to the survival efforts.

• What has been your most memorable moment in your administrative career?

BB: Well it hasn’t been a very long administrative career, but it has been a rewarding experience to be accepted into an administrative role at the conference office at such a young age.


• What are the toughest issues facing Div. III athletes in today’s world?

BB: Athletic burnout. Children are being forced into competitive athletic environments at such a young age, and by the time they get to college they are burned out and have little desire to continue competing.


• What’s currently playing on your I-Pod?

BB: I have my “Walkman” tuned to country at all times!!!


• What are some of the life lessons that you believe student-athletes can learn by competing at the Div. III level?

BB: The ability to have balance in life is a valuable trait, and there is no doubt in my mind that Div. III student-athletes learn to develop this trait from the very first day they step foot on campus.


• What would be your advice for someone that is considering enrolling as a student-athlete at a NCAA Div. III institution?

BB: I would recommend that anyone with the opportunity to do so, DO IT.


• How would you best describe your normal day as an administrator at the Div. III level?

BB: I don’t think the word “normal day” and athletics administration really go hand-in-hand. Some days you can be staring at schedules for eight hours, while the very next day you're out at a field handing out a trophy at a championship game. The most normal part of my day-to-day work is that in some shape or form, no matter what I am doing, I am contributing to the numerous outstanding student-athletes that make up the NCAC.

Five Minutes With ...

Name: Keri Alexander Luchowski

Institution: North Coast Athletic Conference

Title: Executive Director

Education: Masters in Sport Management, Kent State University; Bachelors in Professional Writing, Wheeling Jesuit University


• Why did you choose to work in NCAA Division III?

KAL: I have worked in various levels of sport throughout my career, but have really chosen to make Division III my home because I identify with the ideas of balance and sportsmanship among others in the Division’s philosophy. I can relate to the passion our students bring to everything they fill their lives with, both academically and athletically.

• If you could trade places with someone for a day, who would it be and why?

KAL: Mark Recchi, so I could know what it feels like to hoist a Stanley Cup.


• People may be surprised to know that ……

KAL: A lot of people probably know I played soccer in college, but most would be surprised that I was a swimmer and a soccer player when I was in high school.


• How has your experience been in making sure that student-athletes have a proper balance among athletics and academics in the Conference?

KAL: The idea of balance is one that, while not expressly stated in our philosophy, guides our every decision. We continually look to the experience students have and strive to allow them the most space to explore and learn both in academics and athletics. For me, it is a wonderful experience to see when we succeed in reaching that goal.

• Do you have any hidden talents that very few people know about?

KAL: I am an excellent cook, if I do say so myself!


• How did your collegiate experience help to prepare you to be an administrator at the Div. III level?

KAL: Without my experience as a student-athlete, I would not be nearly as effective an administrator today. I learned so much during those years, both in the classroom and in all of the different roles I was encouraged to try on. I learned how to better manage my time, how to prioritize, how to work well with others. I was incredibly lucky that my sport led me to the place that was a perfect fit for me. I would wish my experience for anyone hoping to get the most out of college.


• What’s currently playing on your I-Pod?

KAL: A random mix: Pink, Rod Stewart, Rick Springfield, Pete Townshend, Maroon 5, Simple Plan, Foo Fighters

• What do you feel are the most rewarding aspects of being a college administrator at the Div. III level, and what may be some of the least rewarding aspects of the job?

KAL: The absolute most rewarding thing about being at the NCAC is working with our student-athletes. Seeing how hard they work; seeing how gracefully they deal when things don’t quite go according to plan; seeing what they accomplish. It’s inspiring.


• What are some of the life lessons that you believe student athletes can learn by competing at the Div. III level?

KAL: How to prioritize, time management, teamwork, how to set goals and then how to plan to reach those goals successfully


• How would you best describe your normal day as an administrator at the Div. III level?

KAL: What I like best is that there is no “normal” day. As part of a conference office, I have different opportunities every day. I can work on a future schedule, help someone navigate NCAA legislation and hand out a trophy all in the same day! I spoke at a career day recently and some students were disappointed in how much of my job is done behind a desk. But what we do is so different every day that the “desk” part of the job is just as interesting and challenging as the “games” part of my job is fun.

NCAC Welcomes DePauw University.avi