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Show WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014 BASKETBALL continued from Page 4 mates to get back into the game. The Storm fell behind right out of the gate and continued to struggle, 1 with falling behind seven minutes left in the half. Central Washington cooled down a little to end the half, but DSU could not capitalize on the op2 at portunity, trailing the half. DSU struggled offensively as it shot 31.9 percent from the field compared to Central Washingtons 54.3 percent. 'Defensively, DSU actually forced 19 turnovers and 13 steals compared to its 14 turnovers. We had a slow start, head coach Jenny Thigpin said. We struggled on the offensive end in the first half and talked about stepping up our defensive intensity at halftime so that we could create easy offense. .We were able to make the change but unable to close the gap. Both teams were cold offensively in the second half but the strong defense of DSU could not get a comeback started. Central Washington outscored in the second DSU 1 half. We have to learn how to create our own energy on the road and knock our shots down, Thigpin said. The team returns to action Dec. 4 against Pacific West Conference opponent Point Loma in San Diego. 16-- 4 014 32-1- 41-2- J ! . ' 35-3- SPORTS DIXIESUNNEWS.COM -- 5- Athletes talk about how characteristics of teams transfer to real world, life after sports BY HALEY HAZEN haleyhazen Whether staying in the game or pursuing new goals after graduation, Dixie State University student athletes say their experiences in sports will accompany them in their e pursuits. Dixie State University student athletes choose a variety of career paths after college, which include going overseas to pursue a professional career. Senior baseball player Gentry Hatch, an integrated studies major from Roosevelt, contemplates going into recreational management or coaching after he graduates. He said being a part of the Dixie baseball team is where his interest in coaching came from. Hatch said his involvement in sports is what influenced his decision in attending college. He said balancing baseball, his class schedule, and maintaining good grades is difficult. Maintaining balance can translate into the workforce, he said. I dont know if I would have went to college if it wasnt for baseball because I had scholarship opportunities, Hatch said. In playing sports, Ive always had after-colleg- to work hard and being a student athlete, I have had to balance both ... I have to get good grades so I can play. Tyler Slesk, DSU academic adviser, was a student athlete who played baseball at DSU. He said he had a lot of help from administration who kept him on track. In turn, he wants to help others athletes in the same way. I want to see other athletes do the same and try to reach their potential as far as an athlete goes and not just as an athlete, but in the academic field as well, Slesk said. I think a lot of that gets overlooked. A lot of student athletes tend to want to stay in athletic oriented fields, Slesk said, because of the positive experience in a team setting. Some career choices are based in exercise science, he said, while some student athletes choose to go into psychology because they have had to deal with motivation. Other student athletes choose to go into business because of their competitive nature, Slesk said. Almost any job that you apply for, at the bottom of the application they are going to ask Do you work well on teams? Slesk said. So, being able to be a leader, on the field or on the court, definitely translates to a career type setting. If youre a leader there, you are going to be a leader . . . in the profession of your choice. Golfer Skylar Schone, a junior accounting major from St. George, said he knows if he put in the time and effort into golf, he could be a professional. Schone said he has other goals and values in life that take time and dedication and he chooses to focus on these. All sports teach you so many life lessons, Schone said. Golf especially teaches you patience, how to work with other people, how to control yourself mentally and causes something . . good to come out of it. Being a student athlete has given him many chances to network, Schone said. College sports are its own little world, Schone said. If you . . . become a student athlete it opens up so many . opportunities. DSU Athletic Director Jason Boothe said in a phone interview student athletes who are in a team related environment develop teamwork skills that can translate into a career setting. I think teamwork teaches them leadership and how to work with diverse populations and to work with others that may or may not be on the same page with you, Boothe said. Most the time 1 Brittany a freshman general major from Cottonwood Heights, plans on going on to get a degree in aviation A t l, A A, I u ' it, 4 s J man- agement. She is on the Dixie State team. in athletics they probably are in agreement, but there are times when youll have issues with teammates that youve got to work through. You may not get that as a traditional student. Some student athletes do continue playing on, such as past DSU student and basketball player Maurice Cole. Cole, who played basketball for DSU in 20 11 to 2012, continues to play basketball in England, while obtaining his masters degree, Boothe said. Senior basketball player DeQuan Thompson, a communication major from Las Vegas, looks to follow Coles path by traveling overseas to play. Thompson said he is looking into play ing basketball professionally in Spain after he graduates. Even though past teammate Cole is gone, Thompson said he continues to keep an interest in the basketball team. Cole keeps an eye on how we do during the season, because he use to play here, Thompson said. I keep touch with him and see how he is doing. Thompson said he will be the first person in his family to graduate from college and this encourages him in his goals. Ever since I was young, Ive always had a ball in my hand, Thompson said. My mom always pushed me to go out and work harder, and to reach the next level. |