Seniors plan return for another year of play

The COVID-19 pandemic affected many things on our campuses, but some changes were for the better. While the pandemic came with many setbacks, some students have decided to embrace the opportunities that followed.

Due to the heavy impact the pandemic had on nearly every athletic team in the NCAA, student-athletes were given an extra year of eligibility that they could choose to use in wake of missing a season. Many CSB and SJU athletes are choosing to take this opportunity to have another year with their teammates and to have another chance at a MIAC or NCAA championship.

**CSB Track and Field**

CSB track and field thrower and record holder Maggie Beckmann will be returning for a fifth year.

Beckmann plans to use her fifth year of eligibility to apply to dental schools and do an internship with a dental clinic in the St. Cloud area.

She felt that taking a fifth year was an easy choice for her to make.

“I knew that I would need to find something to do with my gap year, and I love being on the track team, so it was an easy choice to come back,” Beckmann said.

**SJU Soccer**

SJU soccer players Drew Engel, Cavin Allen and Kevin Stark-Haws will all be returning for a fifth year.

“Midway through our soccer season last fall, I realized that I didn’t want to be done playing just yet. We only have a finite amount of time to be a part of a competitive collegiate sport, and I want to play for as long as I can. Being on a team and working together toward a common goal while competing amongst ourselves and against other teams is hard to replicate outside of sports,” Engel said.

The trio’s main goal is to win the MIAC Championship and make an appearance in the NCAA tournament.

“My hope for the season is to go to the national tournament in November, and honestly, I don’t have any expectations. I’m just glad that I am getting the chance to play with my teammates again,” Stark-Haws said.

Although Stark-Haws was planning to take an extra year anyway, he feels it was an easy decision to make.

“As soon as I heard about gaining another chance to play, I felt like I would take it,” Stark-Haws said.

**SJU Football**

SJU football players Cameron Murphy, Devin Vouk, Metoriah Faoliu, Carter Seymour, Ethan Stark, Brandon Sutton, Matthew Mohr, John Kohler, Darian Washington and Michael Wozniak all plan to return for a fifth year.

Making the decision to come back for a fifth year was easy, according to Seymour.

“I have always loved football, and I wanted to get one last shot at playing it,” Seymour said.

Academically, Seymour will be taking a four-credit course in addition to working his full- time job at Granite Logistics in Sartell during the season.

Murphy will be coming back for a fifth year as well.

“I think the biggest thing that inspired me [to come back] was to come and win the MIAC Championship and a National Championship. I expect to make a deep playoff push,” Murphy said.

Academically, Murphy will be completing a Global Business Leadership internship and will also be starting his time as a Benedictine Volunteer, which he will be doing full-time in January when he is sent abroad after the season ends.

“For me, I felt like returning was a pretty easy decision thanks to my coaches and teammates. This place and team are special and something I want to be a part of as long as I can,” Murphy said.

Vouk will be returning as well, but as a sixth-year senior.

Vouk transferred in the spring of 2020 from St. Cloud State after the football program there was cut in 2019, where he redshirted his first year. In his final year of eligibility, he hopes to win the MIAC and make another run at the national championship.

“One of my main goals this year is to be a better leader than last year. I learned a lot last year watching the older guys in our program who were leaders, and I feel like I can be one of those leaders this year and help this team reach our goals,” Vouk said.

Vouk will be completing an internship in the summer and will finish up one last core curriculum requirement in the fall.

Kohler chose to return after he missed the fall season with a torn ACL, coupled with his plan to take a gap year before medical school. Kohler will be completing an independent research project for his integrative science capstone, while also finishing his math minor.

“My only hope for this semester is to stay healthy for the season… As far as my expectations for the season, they will be very similar to the teams’ expectations every year: win the MIAC and compete for a national title,” Kohler said.

Much of the SJU football team’s starting lineup will be returning in the fall, according to Kohler.

Faoliu will be coming in with hopes of developing a professional career in football and going down as one of the best defensive linemen in SJU history.

“I had to return for a fifth year since we lost to Linfield University, and I didn’t want to conclude my final season at St. John’s on a down note,” Faoliu said.

Faoliu said deciding to come back for an additional season was not an easy choice.

“I had to change my school schedule and talk it over with my family… they play an important role in my athletics,” Faoliu said.

Mohr is also looking to redeem his potential and compete for a national championship.

“After a couple of injuries and the COVID year, my football career has been cut short. I think I still have more to prove… and besides, I can work the rest of my life, so why not enjoy one more year of college football,” Mohr said.

Wozniak aspires to earn a national title in his fifth year as well.

“Playing football at SJU is an unbelievable honor. I’ve loved every minute of my time here and I’m blessed to be able to extend my career just a little bit longer,” Wozniak said.

Academically, Wozniak will be finishing up his finance degree and working.

**SJU Track and Field**

SJU track and field distance runner Dillon Diekmannn and thrower Eli Mollet both plan to return for a fifth year as well.

“In my mind, the corporate world will always be there, but the opportunity to grind with a great group of guys is the chance of a lifetime,” Diekmann said.

In his fifth year, Diekmann will be taking courses to fulfill his 150-credit requirement for the CPA exams.

“I would be lying to say that this was an easy decision to make. However, after seeing that … [it] not only made athletic sense but was also financially plausible, I began to look deeper into the idea,” Diekmann said.

He will still be graduating with his undergraduate degree this spring, and hopes to help the Johnnie track and field and cross country teams compete for the MIAC Championship.

Mollet hopes to secure an All-American title in his final season, after coming up short last season.

“My hope is to finish in the top five in the country indoor and outdoor. My expectations are that I will build off this season and improve in the offseason as much as possible,” Mollet said.

Mollet contributes his decision to come back to his coach, Jeremy Karger-Gatzow.

“I love to compete, and due to COVID and an injury, I feel as though there is unfinished business for me. SJU is a special place, and I appreciate the opportunity to compete for the team and the university for another season,” Mollet said.

**CSB Softball**

CSB softball player Jordyn Swoboda will be returning for a fifth year as well.

“Coming back for a fifth year was driven by me wanting to get more experience with an internship before accepting a full-time job out of college. I then realized I could probably find one around here and take my extra COVID year of softball,” Swoboda said.

Enjoying an additional season with teammates and coaches is an additional bonus, according to Swoboda.

However, Swoboda said it was not an easy choice to make, although once the finances and internship worked out, the choice became clear.

“When your years of playing a sport in college are up, there will be nothing close to this experience. It’s crazy to think I’ve only had three full seasons of softball at CSB because of COVID,” Swoboda said. “I’m excited to get the fourth one back.”