With the school year winding down, it is once again time to say goodbye to a group of seniors who are wrapping up a college career that has seen numerous individual and team successes. Recently, the Badger Herald took some time to sit down with seniors Erin Barnharst of the softball team, Steve Jones of the men’s track team, and Tara Clack and Bethany Brewster of the women’s track team. They were quick to share their reflections on their time on campus as well as answering the proverbial question; “What are you going to do with the rest of your life?”
The Badger Herald: Overall, how would you rate your years as a student athlete?
Erin Barnharst: It was an experience that I’ll never forget. I’ve seen a lot of country, played a lot of good competition, and learned a lot from it.
Bethany Brewster: It’s been great, and I’ve been given so many opportunities to do amazing things and see so many places, but you also learn the politics of being a Division I athlete and what goes on behind the scenes and that there’s also a lot of rules that you have to follow.
BH: What are some of your fondest memories of UW and your time here?
Tara Clack: Fond memories of the Terrace and going there on Friday afternoons with my roommates, something I’ll definitely continue this summer. But I’ll definitely remember the trips with the girls. I’ll miss my team the most.
Brewster: Overall, just getting to know our coach, Peter Tegen, who’s really an amazing person. He’s done so many things and been so many places that he really makes you believe that you can do anything you want to do.
BH: Are there any things that you wish you had done differently?
Clack: Not too much. I try to balance academic, athletic and social aspects so that I was never too focused on just one thing or that I would lack in something else.
Steve Jones: I don’t think so; I’m happy with the way things have turned out.
Barnharst: I commute, so I probably would have liked to spend more time down here. I enjoy being at home, but then I miss out on all the fun stuff that happens on campus.
BH: What ‘mark’ do you hope to leave on your sport here at UW?
Jones: I hope that my work ethic carries on with the other high jumpers. I want them to look at me as someone who always gave his best effort and never did anything less than 100 percent.
Barnharst: Because I transferred here and was really a walk-on, I want to show people that your hard work does pay off. You don’t have to be a bit-time recruit to get out and play and make an impact.
BH: What would you say is your most “awkward” moment here on campus?
Jones: In hindsight, that would have to be running around in thongs on Halloween.
Barnharst: No comment.
Brewster: There’s a guy that does the mail in the McClain Center, and I asked him where an office was and he had no idea. I thought it was really funny because I see him all the time and I know that he knows who I am and I know who he is, but we’ve never talked since that day. Now it’s pretty awkward every time we walk past each other.
BH: What goals do you have for you future?
Clack: I want to have a career and a family — basically the same things that everyone else wants. I’m planning on going to medical school here and hopefully become a doctor.
Barnharst: I’ll have one more year of school after my eligibility runs out, so I’ll want to get a degree and find a job to pay off all my loans.
BH: Where do you see yourself five or 10 years down the road?
Clack: Hopefully, I’ll still be in school. I probably won’t do athletics that far down the road, but I may play around with vaulting for another year.
Jones: Definitely as a coach of middle-school kids.
Brewster: I’ll be married, because I’m getting married in September.
BH: Same question, but now how would your life look in an ideal world?
Clack: I’d have a great end of the season, maybe train for another year and do a little bit of traveling to see some places and compete at the same time.
Jones: I’d like to be “married with children” and hitting the real world. I don’t plan on going into my major. I’ll just put my resume out there and see where it takes me.
Brewster: Happily married with two or three kids, two dogs — one’s a Pug and one’s a Newfoundland — running, and thinking about doing a missionary trip.
BH: If Badger fans want to find you this summer, where should they look?
Clack: I’ll be here in Madison, probably at the Terrace. I’ll also come out and pole-vault with the underclassmen vaulters.
Barnharst: I’ll be in (my hometown) Poynette.
Jones: I’ll definitely stay around Madison because I love it here.
Brewster: Look for me at the track, because I’ll be there.
