Fitdog Blog: Off the Leash
"At Home with Carissa Moore"
Sea Together Magazine - Issue 01
The pressures of world title reign and the unrelenting spotlight are only faint distractions for professional surfer Carissa Moore when she is back at home in Oahu.
Spending most of the year globetrotting from one dreamy beach break to the next, the three-time World Surf League champion treasures the rare moments spent back at home with her family, husband Luke and their pup Tuffy.
While at her personal oasis that is tucked in the back valley and secluded from the commotion of downtown Waikiki, we had the chance to talk to Moore about all things family, love, and hometown roots.
For someone that spends most of the year traveling, how would you define home?
Home for me is really wherever the people you love are. I love my house, it’s awesome - it’s my little slice of heaven and my little sanctuary. I love that it’s in the back of the valley and there’s no other people around and it’s quite and I can really forget what’s going on in the rest of the world. You know, with all of the pressures and distractions going on around tour, it’s nice to get away. But really, when I am on the road I can make home wherever I am at if the people I love are with me.
What would your perfect day look like?
My perfect day would be waking up and eating breakfast with my husband, Luke, and then going back to bed till nine or so. And then it would be awesome to go to the beach with my dad, my sister and Luke, and hanging out there all day. There would be perfect waves, crystal clear water, and sandy bottom at the beach break. After a day at the beach, we would come home, take a nap and then meet up with my family for a good dinner.
What was your favorite part about growing up in Hawaii?
My favorite part was being so close to all of my family. I was really lucky that both of my grandparents lived really close by, so we spent a lot of time with both of them. Just the lifestyle is awesome – I had to so much fun growing up going to the beach and school. I have so many good friends from home. It’s a great environment to grow up in - a lot of aloha.
What does love mean to you?
Love is time spent, that is my love language. Like my dad taking the time to take me to the beach when I was young and spending so much time with me – I just felt enormous amounts of love through that. Even with my husband Luke, all I could ever want is time together. I don’t want anything more. I love hearing ‘I love you,’ but being around someone is more important to me.
What is one of the most defining moments in your life?
I’ve had a lot of little moments that have made huge differences in my path and journey. My parents divorce when I when I was 10 was a huge change in my life that led to so many different things and made me the person that I am today. Having to fight for my time in the water really taught me to fight for what I want and really appreciate the time I did have in the water because I didn’t really get to surf everyday when I was younger - I only got to surf half the time when I was with my dad. I think that taught me to manage my time wisely. I
How do you want to be remembered?
I would love to be remembered as someone who is genuine, true and authentic, as well as real and relatable. I’d love to make a positive impact in someway and be remembered for the smiles and love shared more than anything else.
What words of wisdom would you pass on to your childhood self?
The biggest piece of advice I would share is to be you and not worry so much about what other people think. Embrace yourself and your body and don’t try to be somebody your not. I struggled with my body image and I spent so much time fretting over how much I was eating and my calorie intake. It’s not worth it. As a teenage girl your body is changing so much, so to put that stress and negativity on yourself during those changes is not a good thing. Embrace it because your body will figure itself out at one point. You don’t have to look stick thin to be beautiful. Strong is beautiful and healthy is beautiful.
What are you most grateful for?
I am most grateful for my family, especially my sister. I couldn’t have asked for a better relationship - we’re best friends and she supports me unconditionally. I have a great dad and a great mom who have loved and supported me in different ways. And I’m really thankful for the love of my life. I am so lucky that I met him and he’s added so much goodness to my life since we met. He’s helped me through a lot of up and downs and has been my rock. To just be loved by someone like that is so special. There’s so much to be thankful for. My house, my health and that I get to do what I love every single day. The list can go on forever.
"Timeout. Replay. Commence. Athletes' Journey to the Final Game." Pursuit Magazine, Spring 2016
Associate Collegiate Press (ACP) Sports Story of the Year
Heavy-eyed and drowsy, I stare at the dullness of the concrete pool deck beneath my feet. My toes are frozen and all I can think about is the warmth and comfort of my bed. Practice is about to start as my coach begins the 10-second countdown to jump in the pool. Even with clouds of steam rising into the dark skies above, the water still echoes an unpleasant invitation. About to jump into a pool that will awaken my sore muscles and make my skin crawl, I question my decision to become an athlete as I envy the students still sleeping soundly in their cozy beds. After the initial shock of the cold water passes, I am whipped back into reality realizing life as a student-athlete is a privilege.
Growing up I played a variety of sports such as soccer, softball and basketball. However, it was the chlorinated community of water polo I became most fond of. Fast-forward 13 years, my time as a water polo player is dwindling down to numbers that can be tallied in my head.
Thirty-five games. Eight tournaments. Four months. These are the countdowns defining the last season of my water polo career. With one final semester as a Lancer at California Baptist University, the painfulness of reality begins to evoke emotions of uncertainty, nostalgia and fear.
As much as I have complained about the countless early morning alarms, grueling workouts, one-point losses and irrational referees, water polo is a pillar in my life and the vision of living without it is difficult to grasp. I have grown up with a tight-knit group of teammates always by my side and the thought of not always having a friend close by to vent to about practice or share endless laughs with makes the transition from a student-athlete to a graduate daunting.
My life has been absorbed by water polo. I have grown accustomed to a lifestyle routine consisting of eating, sleeping and practicing. With this type of schedule on repeat, I have been stuck in the “athlete bubble” for more than half my life – I have not experienced what life is like without the word “athlete” associated with my identity.
Right now my relationship between player and person is inseparable, reinforcing the fear I have for my future. Like most athletes, I have become a target of identity foreclosure – my sport has taken possession of who I am. My days have been measured by hours training in the pool, my needs have been focused around sleep and protein, my emotions have been controlled by wins and losses.
Investing most of their lives into a sport, some athletes may suffer from a loss of identity when they graduate and must say goodbye to athletics. They grow up with their sport as their brand – everyone who knows them associates them with the sport they play.
James Bogdanovich, senior kinesiology major on the CBU men’s soccer team, says soccer is engraved in his identity and it was not until he decided to take a break from the sport his freshman year of college that he noticed how much people associated him with soccer.
“Soccer was what I identified with; It was my brand growing up,” Bogdanovich says. “My freshman year (at CBU) I didn’t play and people thought of me as James, but when I started playing again, people thought of me as the soccer player.”
Although a sport consumes an athlete’s dedication, some student-athletes are able to break free from the fated identity and characterize themselves as more than just a name on a roster or a number on a jersey.
Jim Bossert, a kinesiology graduate student on the men’s swim team, says swimming plays an important role in his life, but he finds his identity in Christ.
With twenty hours of practice a week, daily trips to the athletic trainers and constant muscle soreness, life as a collegiate athlete is not very glamorous. Despite the rough patches an athlete may face, the love they have the sport is what drives them to commit their time and sacrifice their bodies for a chance to compete.
Bossert says swimming provides an outlet where he can escape the realities of life and serves as a unique way to show who he is as an athlete and servant of God.
“Swimming has taught me so much about life in general and it’s always been an escape from portions of my life I’ve wanted to get away from and distract myself from,” Bossert says. “It has taught me about who I am as a person, what God has to teach us, who God is and his love and grace for us.”
With the same training schedule on constant replay, an athlete’s life takes on a rhythmic pattern forming a devotion that becomes hard to break away from once the time to clean out their locker has come. Eric Carnohan, a 2015 CBU political science graduate and men’s water polo alumni, decided graduation was not going to be a pre-determined finish line to his athletic career.
Now as a professional water polo player in Spain, Carnohan says he will know the time to stop playing competitively will be near when his body can no longer withstand the impact of the sport and, even then, it will not stop him from being a part of the water polo community.
“That will be the most difficult part, knowing that my body cannot compete where my mind wants me to be,“ Carnohan says. “My career will never completely end as I plan to coach as a career and continue playing club for the rest of my life once I retire professionally.”
According to the National Collegiate Athletics Association, only one percent of collegiate athletes go on to play professional sports, making cases like Carnohan’s exceedingly rare. With this dose of reality, collegiate athletes need to accept the departure from competing is inevitable. Although athletes can no longer represent a school once they move on to the next phase of their lives, they are not stripped from their sport completely. Many athletes try to stay involved in sports through coaching or their career.
Chris Brown, a 2015 kinesiology graduate from CBU and men’s basketball alumni, is working at Adrenaline, a private athletic training facility in Corona, Calif. He has the opportunity to help kids reach their fullest potential through training and gets to stay in shape himself.
“I am still very involved with (basketball)," Brown says. "I workout almost everyday, play in adult leagues and I also train at my job. I get to help kids get the best (workouts) and I get to work on my cardio, strength and skills. I love it.”
Just like Brown, Kimberly Allard, kinesiology graduate from CBU and women’s soccer alumni, says her sport is still a part of her identity even though it does not play such a prominent role in her life and daily schedule as it did in college.
“My identity is still surrounded by the sport of soccer and fitness,” Allard says. “I have recently been hired to work at UFC Gym as a personal trainer and I play in coed leagues.”
A sport can always be a part of an athlete’s life, whether it be coaching, participating in adult leagues or simply playing a quick pick-up game with friends. However, once graduation comes, an athlete’s career is sidelined and they must figure out a new way of living without their schedule focusing around practice and school.
Jeff Couto, head CBU diving coach, says the transition from being a student-athlete to a graduate may be daunting at first, but rather than being intimidated by the change, athletes should focus on how being an athlete has trained them to make a statement in the work field.
“Knowing (athletes) have done something for so long and there is an abrupt end in sight is intimidating, but what athletics does is it really prepares (athletes) for the next season of life,” Couto says. “Athletics teaches (athletes) steps along the way on how to become a better employee and it builds time management because (athletes) have to balance a busy schedule of academics, athletics, extra curricular activities, personal life, church involvement and so many other things.”
Trophies may collect dust, wins and losses may fade into the seasons played, but the athlete within will never go away. Saying goodbye to a sport after graduation may bring confusion for athletes, but the life lessons gained and the passion for the sport will forever be a part of athletes and will create a smoother transition into life after being a Lancer. With only a few months remaining in my water polo career, I am learning to no longer look at early morning wake-up calls or two-a-day workouts as a chore, but something I should cherish before time slips away.
"Breaking Waves"
Angelos Yearbook, 2015-2016
With a surfboard, wetsuit and towel in hand, Steven Wolfe, senior engineering major, and Logan Richardson, sophomore kinesiology major, leave their apartment at California Baptist University to make a quick trip to the beach for an early-morning surf session.
Departing before the sun makes an appearance, Wolfe and Richardson say they always try to fit in one or two surf excursions a week to get away from the burdens of school and spend some time focusing on friendship in the ocean.
“When you are at school, everyone talks about school, but when you are in the (ocean), you are out having a good time with someone else and are able to spend more quality time with each other because you aren’t always stressed like at school," Richardson says.
Although they both attend to CBU, Richardson says he met Wolfe unexpectedly last summer while surfing with one of his buddies. After Richardson’s friend told him a surfer from CBU was out in the line-up, Richardson paddled over to Wolfe to introduce himself and they have been close ever since.
“I gave (Wolfe) my school email and then he emailed me on my Lancermail in the middle of the summer and asked when we were going to go surfing and ever since then we have been going steady,” Richardson says.
Since the beginning of the school year, Wolfe and Richardson say they have made an effort to make surfing a weekly routine, sometimes leaving as early as four in the morning in order to get back in time for afternoon classes.
“There would be times where we pushed it on time and 10-15 minutes before class we had to throw our boards in my apartment and run to class,” Richardson says.
Whether it is with friends, family or by himself, Wolfe says the beauty and unpredictability of surfing is what makes the 4 a.m. wake-up calls and long car rides to the beach worth it.
“Being out in God’s creation and the ocean is my favorite part about surfing,” Wolfe says. “I also love that you never know what to expect because you are out in nature so you are always trying to find the next wave that will be better.”
Although Wolfe and Richardson can often be seen out in the surf line-up together, they say they are always open to having more people join them on a surf outing, no matter the skill level.
“It would be fun to get a group to go down to the beach and even help some people from CBU learn how to surf,” Richardson says.
With their unexpected encounter in the ocean over the past summer, Wolfe and Richardson have since created their own little surf community on campus and say they hope to welcome more people who share the same love for the ocean and surfing that they do.
“All you really need is a surfboard, wetsuit and towel,” Wolfe says.
"Collegiate athletes should not be paid for talent"
The Banner. February 5, 2016.
http://www.cbubanner.com/2016/02/05/collegiate-athletes-should-not-be-paid-for-talent/
March Madness is just one collegiate sporting event that garners attention from fans all around the nation and grosses an insane amount of money for corporate sponsors, broadcasters and the NCAA itself, which makes about $6 billion annually.
With huge amounts of money being made off college sports, the athletes receive none of that money, sparking national debate on whether or not the players should be considered amateur any longer. Although the stars of the game are not seeing any of the revenue flowing into the NCAA, as a collegiate athlete, I believe athletes competing for the NCAA should not receive money because of pre-existing financial support, degradation of the purity of the game and difficulty of any compensation.
With the average national student debt reaching $28,400 per student, most collegiate athletes have it a lot easier than students at their school because most receive financial help in the form of scholarship, free room and board and stipends for books and/or other essential needs.
Although an actual paycheck may instill a sense of financial awareness into athletes, the help the players receive to represent a school competitively —especially those playing for schools who consistently bring home national championships —takes away most of the burden students who are not athletes shoulder when paying off their debts following graduation. With this said, if athletes were paid for their talent, the division between student and student-athlete will be further isolated, most likely creating unnecessary tension.
Passion is a fundamental influence on an athlete’s desire to play his or her sport. A majority of athletes hope to play as long as they can, but if a student-athlete is being paid for the efforts and contributions to his or her team, they might feel like they have already accomplished a goal they have worked so hard to reach.
With this type of achievement, collegiate athletes may lose that spark and enthusiasm they once had because they may feel like they have reached the highest level.
Because inequality exists within collegiate sports, the question of whether or not student-athletes deserve a source of income brings about multiple difficulties. As a collegiate water polo player, I have first-hand witnessed the discrimination that exists within universities and the NCAA.
The only sports that prove to be profitable for colleges are football and men’s basketball, raising the question on whether these players should be the only collegiate athletes paid. Other questions of money also arise, such as where the money should come from, how much the athletes get paid and how often. These unanswered questions reveal how challenging it would be to change the collegiate athletic system to pay athletes.
Although student-athletes put their body at risk for the sake of their sport, the difficulties that would arise if an athlete gets paid for playing would outweigh the benefits. Collegiate athletes already receive enough financial support to make it through school, and the passion they have for the sport will slowly fade once they lose focus on their goals.
Athletes, colleges and the NCAA would be better off if athletes were not fed incomes.
"Learning with a Porpoise"
Angelos Yearbook. 2015-2016.
Being tossed around by the current, a snorkeler navigates through a maze of seaweed in the deep blue ocean. With the sun streaming through the surface of the water, the swimmer searches for life under the seas through the hazy, shimmering water, until, from the corner of their eye, they spot a bright orange Garibaldi fish quickly maneuvering through the rocks and sea grass.
After traveling on a boat for an hour and half to Catalina Island, California Baptist University students have the opportunity to snorkel and kayak in class. Offered in both the fall and spring semesters, marine science is a course taught by Dr. Jacob Lanphere, assistant professor of environmental science, that allows students to apply what they have learned in the classroom through a 1-day field trip to Catalina.
“This class offers students an opportunity to go to into a marine environment and see sea animals thriving in their natural habitat,” Lanphere says. “It allows them to swim with Garibaldi fish, pick up sheep crabs, be immersed inside marine environment and have life changing experiences.”
Opposed to traditional science classes, students taking marine science do not have a lab every week. Instead, they get to enjoy a day full of activities in Catalina to receive a semester worth of lab credit. Tyler Morrison, senior applied theology major, says he decided to take the class because he felt the hands-on learning offered created more memorable experiences.
“I felt like it would be more fun than taking the traditional lab class,” Morrison says. “I liked the idea of going out and being hands on in lab and having fun and being entertained while doing it.”
Led by professional marine biologists working for the Long Beach Marine Institute, the Catalina trip offers many learning opportunities. On the way to the island, biologists go over a powerpoint presentation about the Catalina environment, collect sediment off the bottom of the ocean floor with a trawl and catch sea animals with a net that students can later observe and touch.
On the island, students break into groups to go snorkeling and kayaking. While kayaking, a marine biologist leads shares fun facts about marine life and the surrounding area.
For Jillian Grey, junior psychology major, snorkeling was her favorite part of the trip because she says she was able to be a part of the ocean habitat.
“Snorkeling was a fun way to observe all the marine life and see all the different types of animals in their natural environment,” Grey says.
After a full day of ocean activities, Lanphere says students gain a new appreciation for the marine environment.
“When students go snorkeling and get tossed by the waves or finally see a blue whale in its environment, it changes (their) viewpoint,” Lanphere says. “They have more compassion for the animals; their heart is more in line in terms of conservation because they have seen the beauty of God’s creation.”
Whether students swam with a California harbor seal, spotted an American bald eagle nesting on a rock while kayaking, or stroked a stingray caught by a marine biologist on the boat, the marine science class presents CBU students with a different kind of learning that extends beyond the classroom.
Other Work:
http://cbubanner.com/author/meghan-rowland/
- "Deadly Disease: Why Lepto Should be a Core Vaccine"
- "Beginner's Guide to Lure Coursing"
- "Dog-Friendly Events in LA" (updated monthly)
- "Guide to Common Dog Diseases & Parasites"
- "The 7 Best Podcasts for Dog Lovers"
- "Avoid These Grooming Mistakes with your Doodle"
- "5 Benefits of Teaching your Dog How to Swim"
- "5 Animal Non-Profits to Donate to this Holiday Season"
- "10 Best Dog Photography Tips"
- "Best Backyard Activities for your Dog"
"At Home with Carissa Moore"
Sea Together Magazine - Issue 01
The pressures of world title reign and the unrelenting spotlight are only faint distractions for professional surfer Carissa Moore when she is back at home in Oahu.
Spending most of the year globetrotting from one dreamy beach break to the next, the three-time World Surf League champion treasures the rare moments spent back at home with her family, husband Luke and their pup Tuffy.
While at her personal oasis that is tucked in the back valley and secluded from the commotion of downtown Waikiki, we had the chance to talk to Moore about all things family, love, and hometown roots.
For someone that spends most of the year traveling, how would you define home?
Home for me is really wherever the people you love are. I love my house, it’s awesome - it’s my little slice of heaven and my little sanctuary. I love that it’s in the back of the valley and there’s no other people around and it’s quite and I can really forget what’s going on in the rest of the world. You know, with all of the pressures and distractions going on around tour, it’s nice to get away. But really, when I am on the road I can make home wherever I am at if the people I love are with me.
What would your perfect day look like?
My perfect day would be waking up and eating breakfast with my husband, Luke, and then going back to bed till nine or so. And then it would be awesome to go to the beach with my dad, my sister and Luke, and hanging out there all day. There would be perfect waves, crystal clear water, and sandy bottom at the beach break. After a day at the beach, we would come home, take a nap and then meet up with my family for a good dinner.
What was your favorite part about growing up in Hawaii?
My favorite part was being so close to all of my family. I was really lucky that both of my grandparents lived really close by, so we spent a lot of time with both of them. Just the lifestyle is awesome – I had to so much fun growing up going to the beach and school. I have so many good friends from home. It’s a great environment to grow up in - a lot of aloha.
What does love mean to you?
Love is time spent, that is my love language. Like my dad taking the time to take me to the beach when I was young and spending so much time with me – I just felt enormous amounts of love through that. Even with my husband Luke, all I could ever want is time together. I don’t want anything more. I love hearing ‘I love you,’ but being around someone is more important to me.
What is one of the most defining moments in your life?
I’ve had a lot of little moments that have made huge differences in my path and journey. My parents divorce when I when I was 10 was a huge change in my life that led to so many different things and made me the person that I am today. Having to fight for my time in the water really taught me to fight for what I want and really appreciate the time I did have in the water because I didn’t really get to surf everyday when I was younger - I only got to surf half the time when I was with my dad. I think that taught me to manage my time wisely. I
How do you want to be remembered?
I would love to be remembered as someone who is genuine, true and authentic, as well as real and relatable. I’d love to make a positive impact in someway and be remembered for the smiles and love shared more than anything else.
What words of wisdom would you pass on to your childhood self?
The biggest piece of advice I would share is to be you and not worry so much about what other people think. Embrace yourself and your body and don’t try to be somebody your not. I struggled with my body image and I spent so much time fretting over how much I was eating and my calorie intake. It’s not worth it. As a teenage girl your body is changing so much, so to put that stress and negativity on yourself during those changes is not a good thing. Embrace it because your body will figure itself out at one point. You don’t have to look stick thin to be beautiful. Strong is beautiful and healthy is beautiful.
What are you most grateful for?
I am most grateful for my family, especially my sister. I couldn’t have asked for a better relationship - we’re best friends and she supports me unconditionally. I have a great dad and a great mom who have loved and supported me in different ways. And I’m really thankful for the love of my life. I am so lucky that I met him and he’s added so much goodness to my life since we met. He’s helped me through a lot of up and downs and has been my rock. To just be loved by someone like that is so special. There’s so much to be thankful for. My house, my health and that I get to do what I love every single day. The list can go on forever.
"Timeout. Replay. Commence. Athletes' Journey to the Final Game." Pursuit Magazine, Spring 2016
Associate Collegiate Press (ACP) Sports Story of the Year
Heavy-eyed and drowsy, I stare at the dullness of the concrete pool deck beneath my feet. My toes are frozen and all I can think about is the warmth and comfort of my bed. Practice is about to start as my coach begins the 10-second countdown to jump in the pool. Even with clouds of steam rising into the dark skies above, the water still echoes an unpleasant invitation. About to jump into a pool that will awaken my sore muscles and make my skin crawl, I question my decision to become an athlete as I envy the students still sleeping soundly in their cozy beds. After the initial shock of the cold water passes, I am whipped back into reality realizing life as a student-athlete is a privilege.
Growing up I played a variety of sports such as soccer, softball and basketball. However, it was the chlorinated community of water polo I became most fond of. Fast-forward 13 years, my time as a water polo player is dwindling down to numbers that can be tallied in my head.
Thirty-five games. Eight tournaments. Four months. These are the countdowns defining the last season of my water polo career. With one final semester as a Lancer at California Baptist University, the painfulness of reality begins to evoke emotions of uncertainty, nostalgia and fear.
As much as I have complained about the countless early morning alarms, grueling workouts, one-point losses and irrational referees, water polo is a pillar in my life and the vision of living without it is difficult to grasp. I have grown up with a tight-knit group of teammates always by my side and the thought of not always having a friend close by to vent to about practice or share endless laughs with makes the transition from a student-athlete to a graduate daunting.
My life has been absorbed by water polo. I have grown accustomed to a lifestyle routine consisting of eating, sleeping and practicing. With this type of schedule on repeat, I have been stuck in the “athlete bubble” for more than half my life – I have not experienced what life is like without the word “athlete” associated with my identity.
Right now my relationship between player and person is inseparable, reinforcing the fear I have for my future. Like most athletes, I have become a target of identity foreclosure – my sport has taken possession of who I am. My days have been measured by hours training in the pool, my needs have been focused around sleep and protein, my emotions have been controlled by wins and losses.
Investing most of their lives into a sport, some athletes may suffer from a loss of identity when they graduate and must say goodbye to athletics. They grow up with their sport as their brand – everyone who knows them associates them with the sport they play.
James Bogdanovich, senior kinesiology major on the CBU men’s soccer team, says soccer is engraved in his identity and it was not until he decided to take a break from the sport his freshman year of college that he noticed how much people associated him with soccer.
“Soccer was what I identified with; It was my brand growing up,” Bogdanovich says. “My freshman year (at CBU) I didn’t play and people thought of me as James, but when I started playing again, people thought of me as the soccer player.”
Although a sport consumes an athlete’s dedication, some student-athletes are able to break free from the fated identity and characterize themselves as more than just a name on a roster or a number on a jersey.
Jim Bossert, a kinesiology graduate student on the men’s swim team, says swimming plays an important role in his life, but he finds his identity in Christ.
With twenty hours of practice a week, daily trips to the athletic trainers and constant muscle soreness, life as a collegiate athlete is not very glamorous. Despite the rough patches an athlete may face, the love they have the sport is what drives them to commit their time and sacrifice their bodies for a chance to compete.
Bossert says swimming provides an outlet where he can escape the realities of life and serves as a unique way to show who he is as an athlete and servant of God.
“Swimming has taught me so much about life in general and it’s always been an escape from portions of my life I’ve wanted to get away from and distract myself from,” Bossert says. “It has taught me about who I am as a person, what God has to teach us, who God is and his love and grace for us.”
With the same training schedule on constant replay, an athlete’s life takes on a rhythmic pattern forming a devotion that becomes hard to break away from once the time to clean out their locker has come. Eric Carnohan, a 2015 CBU political science graduate and men’s water polo alumni, decided graduation was not going to be a pre-determined finish line to his athletic career.
Now as a professional water polo player in Spain, Carnohan says he will know the time to stop playing competitively will be near when his body can no longer withstand the impact of the sport and, even then, it will not stop him from being a part of the water polo community.
“That will be the most difficult part, knowing that my body cannot compete where my mind wants me to be,“ Carnohan says. “My career will never completely end as I plan to coach as a career and continue playing club for the rest of my life once I retire professionally.”
According to the National Collegiate Athletics Association, only one percent of collegiate athletes go on to play professional sports, making cases like Carnohan’s exceedingly rare. With this dose of reality, collegiate athletes need to accept the departure from competing is inevitable. Although athletes can no longer represent a school once they move on to the next phase of their lives, they are not stripped from their sport completely. Many athletes try to stay involved in sports through coaching or their career.
Chris Brown, a 2015 kinesiology graduate from CBU and men’s basketball alumni, is working at Adrenaline, a private athletic training facility in Corona, Calif. He has the opportunity to help kids reach their fullest potential through training and gets to stay in shape himself.
“I am still very involved with (basketball)," Brown says. "I workout almost everyday, play in adult leagues and I also train at my job. I get to help kids get the best (workouts) and I get to work on my cardio, strength and skills. I love it.”
Just like Brown, Kimberly Allard, kinesiology graduate from CBU and women’s soccer alumni, says her sport is still a part of her identity even though it does not play such a prominent role in her life and daily schedule as it did in college.
“My identity is still surrounded by the sport of soccer and fitness,” Allard says. “I have recently been hired to work at UFC Gym as a personal trainer and I play in coed leagues.”
A sport can always be a part of an athlete’s life, whether it be coaching, participating in adult leagues or simply playing a quick pick-up game with friends. However, once graduation comes, an athlete’s career is sidelined and they must figure out a new way of living without their schedule focusing around practice and school.
Jeff Couto, head CBU diving coach, says the transition from being a student-athlete to a graduate may be daunting at first, but rather than being intimidated by the change, athletes should focus on how being an athlete has trained them to make a statement in the work field.
“Knowing (athletes) have done something for so long and there is an abrupt end in sight is intimidating, but what athletics does is it really prepares (athletes) for the next season of life,” Couto says. “Athletics teaches (athletes) steps along the way on how to become a better employee and it builds time management because (athletes) have to balance a busy schedule of academics, athletics, extra curricular activities, personal life, church involvement and so many other things.”
Trophies may collect dust, wins and losses may fade into the seasons played, but the athlete within will never go away. Saying goodbye to a sport after graduation may bring confusion for athletes, but the life lessons gained and the passion for the sport will forever be a part of athletes and will create a smoother transition into life after being a Lancer. With only a few months remaining in my water polo career, I am learning to no longer look at early morning wake-up calls or two-a-day workouts as a chore, but something I should cherish before time slips away.
"Breaking Waves"
Angelos Yearbook, 2015-2016
With a surfboard, wetsuit and towel in hand, Steven Wolfe, senior engineering major, and Logan Richardson, sophomore kinesiology major, leave their apartment at California Baptist University to make a quick trip to the beach for an early-morning surf session.
Departing before the sun makes an appearance, Wolfe and Richardson say they always try to fit in one or two surf excursions a week to get away from the burdens of school and spend some time focusing on friendship in the ocean.
“When you are at school, everyone talks about school, but when you are in the (ocean), you are out having a good time with someone else and are able to spend more quality time with each other because you aren’t always stressed like at school," Richardson says.
Although they both attend to CBU, Richardson says he met Wolfe unexpectedly last summer while surfing with one of his buddies. After Richardson’s friend told him a surfer from CBU was out in the line-up, Richardson paddled over to Wolfe to introduce himself and they have been close ever since.
“I gave (Wolfe) my school email and then he emailed me on my Lancermail in the middle of the summer and asked when we were going to go surfing and ever since then we have been going steady,” Richardson says.
Since the beginning of the school year, Wolfe and Richardson say they have made an effort to make surfing a weekly routine, sometimes leaving as early as four in the morning in order to get back in time for afternoon classes.
“There would be times where we pushed it on time and 10-15 minutes before class we had to throw our boards in my apartment and run to class,” Richardson says.
Whether it is with friends, family or by himself, Wolfe says the beauty and unpredictability of surfing is what makes the 4 a.m. wake-up calls and long car rides to the beach worth it.
“Being out in God’s creation and the ocean is my favorite part about surfing,” Wolfe says. “I also love that you never know what to expect because you are out in nature so you are always trying to find the next wave that will be better.”
Although Wolfe and Richardson can often be seen out in the surf line-up together, they say they are always open to having more people join them on a surf outing, no matter the skill level.
“It would be fun to get a group to go down to the beach and even help some people from CBU learn how to surf,” Richardson says.
With their unexpected encounter in the ocean over the past summer, Wolfe and Richardson have since created their own little surf community on campus and say they hope to welcome more people who share the same love for the ocean and surfing that they do.
“All you really need is a surfboard, wetsuit and towel,” Wolfe says.
"Collegiate athletes should not be paid for talent"
The Banner. February 5, 2016.
http://www.cbubanner.com/2016/02/05/collegiate-athletes-should-not-be-paid-for-talent/
March Madness is just one collegiate sporting event that garners attention from fans all around the nation and grosses an insane amount of money for corporate sponsors, broadcasters and the NCAA itself, which makes about $6 billion annually.
With huge amounts of money being made off college sports, the athletes receive none of that money, sparking national debate on whether or not the players should be considered amateur any longer. Although the stars of the game are not seeing any of the revenue flowing into the NCAA, as a collegiate athlete, I believe athletes competing for the NCAA should not receive money because of pre-existing financial support, degradation of the purity of the game and difficulty of any compensation.
With the average national student debt reaching $28,400 per student, most collegiate athletes have it a lot easier than students at their school because most receive financial help in the form of scholarship, free room and board and stipends for books and/or other essential needs.
Although an actual paycheck may instill a sense of financial awareness into athletes, the help the players receive to represent a school competitively —especially those playing for schools who consistently bring home national championships —takes away most of the burden students who are not athletes shoulder when paying off their debts following graduation. With this said, if athletes were paid for their talent, the division between student and student-athlete will be further isolated, most likely creating unnecessary tension.
Passion is a fundamental influence on an athlete’s desire to play his or her sport. A majority of athletes hope to play as long as they can, but if a student-athlete is being paid for the efforts and contributions to his or her team, they might feel like they have already accomplished a goal they have worked so hard to reach.
With this type of achievement, collegiate athletes may lose that spark and enthusiasm they once had because they may feel like they have reached the highest level.
Because inequality exists within collegiate sports, the question of whether or not student-athletes deserve a source of income brings about multiple difficulties. As a collegiate water polo player, I have first-hand witnessed the discrimination that exists within universities and the NCAA.
The only sports that prove to be profitable for colleges are football and men’s basketball, raising the question on whether these players should be the only collegiate athletes paid. Other questions of money also arise, such as where the money should come from, how much the athletes get paid and how often. These unanswered questions reveal how challenging it would be to change the collegiate athletic system to pay athletes.
Although student-athletes put their body at risk for the sake of their sport, the difficulties that would arise if an athlete gets paid for playing would outweigh the benefits. Collegiate athletes already receive enough financial support to make it through school, and the passion they have for the sport will slowly fade once they lose focus on their goals.
Athletes, colleges and the NCAA would be better off if athletes were not fed incomes.
"Learning with a Porpoise"
Angelos Yearbook. 2015-2016.
Being tossed around by the current, a snorkeler navigates through a maze of seaweed in the deep blue ocean. With the sun streaming through the surface of the water, the swimmer searches for life under the seas through the hazy, shimmering water, until, from the corner of their eye, they spot a bright orange Garibaldi fish quickly maneuvering through the rocks and sea grass.
After traveling on a boat for an hour and half to Catalina Island, California Baptist University students have the opportunity to snorkel and kayak in class. Offered in both the fall and spring semesters, marine science is a course taught by Dr. Jacob Lanphere, assistant professor of environmental science, that allows students to apply what they have learned in the classroom through a 1-day field trip to Catalina.
“This class offers students an opportunity to go to into a marine environment and see sea animals thriving in their natural habitat,” Lanphere says. “It allows them to swim with Garibaldi fish, pick up sheep crabs, be immersed inside marine environment and have life changing experiences.”
Opposed to traditional science classes, students taking marine science do not have a lab every week. Instead, they get to enjoy a day full of activities in Catalina to receive a semester worth of lab credit. Tyler Morrison, senior applied theology major, says he decided to take the class because he felt the hands-on learning offered created more memorable experiences.
“I felt like it would be more fun than taking the traditional lab class,” Morrison says. “I liked the idea of going out and being hands on in lab and having fun and being entertained while doing it.”
Led by professional marine biologists working for the Long Beach Marine Institute, the Catalina trip offers many learning opportunities. On the way to the island, biologists go over a powerpoint presentation about the Catalina environment, collect sediment off the bottom of the ocean floor with a trawl and catch sea animals with a net that students can later observe and touch.
On the island, students break into groups to go snorkeling and kayaking. While kayaking, a marine biologist leads shares fun facts about marine life and the surrounding area.
For Jillian Grey, junior psychology major, snorkeling was her favorite part of the trip because she says she was able to be a part of the ocean habitat.
“Snorkeling was a fun way to observe all the marine life and see all the different types of animals in their natural environment,” Grey says.
After a full day of ocean activities, Lanphere says students gain a new appreciation for the marine environment.
“When students go snorkeling and get tossed by the waves or finally see a blue whale in its environment, it changes (their) viewpoint,” Lanphere says. “They have more compassion for the animals; their heart is more in line in terms of conservation because they have seen the beauty of God’s creation.”
Whether students swam with a California harbor seal, spotted an American bald eagle nesting on a rock while kayaking, or stroked a stingray caught by a marine biologist on the boat, the marine science class presents CBU students with a different kind of learning that extends beyond the classroom.
Other Work:
http://cbubanner.com/author/meghan-rowland/