Sports Shorts

Athlete Of the Week

Senior Andre Street is a member of the track and field team who hails from Barberton, Ohio.

Street participated in the record-breaking men’s 4x400m relay last Friday during the season’s second Oberlin Invitational. The relay team set a new school record in the event and also made the best time for the event in the conference this year.

On top of that, Street won the 400m with his best time of the season, which was also the best time by anybody in the NCAC this year.

The track team will bring its season to a close today and tomorrow at the NCAC Championship Meet at Denison University.

Last year Street placed third in the 400m at the championship. In 2000 he won the 800m and was a member of the first-place 800m relay. He and his teammates will look to match Friday’s performance at the Championship.

Quote of the Week

“That’s a cherry on top of the ice cream.”

–Tom Mulligan
Track and Field Head Coach

On members of the track team potentially qualifying for nationals.

Marquee Event

Oberlin vs. Otterbein
Men’s and Women’s Tennis
Saturday, 1 p.m.
John Heisman Fieldhouse.

The women’s team is riding two impressive wins, while the men are looking for their first after a close loss last week in this week’s home action against Otterbein College.

In the Locker Room with. . .

Seated in Biggs computer lab, soft-spoken junior tennis player Laura Koehn fills me in on her artistic approach to her chosen game, her opinion that coaches can change the world and her favorite childhood television show.

So, you’re double-majoring in religion and biology. How do your majors help you in sport?

LK: Well, it’s mostly the study of religion that helps because it puts things into perspective.

Could you give an example?

LK: In an intense match or game, it helps you stop, reassess, and keep playing. You realize that it’s ultimately not the most important thing in the world.

How do you stay dedicated when you have the attitude that what you are working for is not that important?

LK: It’s important to play well. I just love tennis and I like to stay in shape. I try to work toward having a mind-body balance.

What has been your greatest inspiration?

LK: My family and the friends that I’ve had, empathizing with what they are going through, and trying to change society.

Do you think athletes have so strong an influence in society?

LK: I think that coaches especially are in a position to motivate people. My high school coach
constantly urged and motivated me to keep going. So I think that coaches have a strong influence.

What made you choose tennis?

LK: My parents played it, so I started playing it really young. Also, I just love everything about the game, though it sort of has a reputation as a snobby, country-club sport. There’s just a fluid aesthetic to it. I like the sounds of the game, the racket hitting the ball, the ball hitting the net. I try to play pretty. It’s more important to

me to play well than to win, which I think sometimes frustrates my coach.

Would you disagree with tennis’s reputation as a snobby, country-club sport?

LK: Somewhat. I really like this year’s team, though. Our personalities mesh well. Most tennis players are really nice. I’ve always been somewhat quiet and shy, and I’ve definitely met a lot of people through tennis.

So what happens to tennis after you finish college?

LK: It’s not like there’s an age limit, so I’ll probably always play tennis. I’ll play tournaments.

All right, random question now. Who is your favorite fictional character?

LK: I don’t really have one, but when I was little, I loved Trash Heap from Fraggle Rock.

Interesting. What was the most memorable thing you took from the Fraggles?

LK: “Trash Heap has spoken!”

And, Laura, my friend, so have you.