Alyssa Gregory Senior foward of the men’s soccer team, Mark Gister, talks about his role on the team, academics and his social life off the field.
Gister currently leads WU in number of goals scored, with four.
Q: Washington University has always produced a competitive and exciting soccer team. How does this year’s team look thus far?
A: We have played great so far, we have three victories, two of them being 4-0 shutouts. We will have a test in our upcoming game, in which we will be playing against Principia College.
Q: How is your relationship with the coaches?
A: I am comfortable with the coaches. There is always joking around and the coach is a player’s coach. He gets along well with the players.
Q: I have heard from former players that WU’s men’s coach, Joe Clark, can be a bit hostile. Are those just rumors?
A: Clark is up-front and straight with the players. He lets people know when they will play and what roles they will have.
Q: What is your specific role on the soccer field?
A: I guess I have a bit of senior leadership. We all just depend on each other.
Q: What are the games you have already circled on your schedule as the ones that can make or break the season?
A: Carnegie-Mellon, University of Chicago and probably Emory. Those intra- conference games are always the most important.
Q: What is your favorite position on the soccer field?
A: I usually play forward, but I also enjoy outside middle-fielder. I did play “outside mid” a lot last season, but I play forward for the most part now.
Q: Do you have any favorite professional sports teams?
A: Cubs, definitely. I am from Naperville, just outside of Chicago, so I love the Cubs. I also am a Kansas City Chiefs fan and Chicago Blackhawks fan. As far as basketball goes I don’t really follow it too much.
Q: What is your major?
A: I am studying biomedical engineering.
Q: What plans do you have for after school?
A: I would like to do some work in Biomedical Engineering for a few years, if possible, and then pursue graduate studies.
Q: Do girls automatically fall for soccer guys?
A: Well, no one just automatically knows I am a soccer player. But I guess being an athlete does help a bit. It’s good to be in sports as far as getting girls is concerned.
Q: Where do you go to rest after grueling days in class and evenings on the soccer field?
A: I live on Kingsbury, off campus.
Q: I know that most students have athletic schedules that coincide with academic schedules. Are you a model student or do you often skip class?
A: Well, some weeks we have road trips, and I’ll miss all my classes. I do try to get to all the classes I can, but some I can’t help but skip, even if I don’t have a soccer commitment.
Q: School spirit at WU seems to be at an all time low. Attendance for sporting events is sparse. What is your view of the situation?
A: It seems that sports is just one activity at WU. At other schools people devote a lot more time to see their teams, but here people do acapella groups or student activities. Students are busy doing their own thing. They have their own mind-frame and sports takes a backseat.
Q: Is soccer your sole passion or do you play other sports?
A: I do play water polo and I dive. In fact, I played on the water polo team here as freshman but I needed to give it up. I just did not have the time.
Q: What type of preparation do you do in the off-season for soccer?
A: About 10 guys stayed here in St. Louis for the summer, so we were able to go out and play soccer for about two hours each day, five days per week. I also do a lot of running and some weightlifting to stay in shape.
Q: Settle the argument already, who can drink more? Football players or soccer players?
A: I would have to say football players. Soccer guys can hold their own, but based on sheer size, football players can drink more.
Q: What types of music do you listen to?
A: Pretty much everything: rap, country, hip-hop. The only music I’m not a big fan of is classical.
Q: Title IX has been a hot topic not just at WU but at all universities. I personally believe it has gone way too far, forcing the elimination of wrestling and golf teams. What do you think of Title IX?
A: Title IX has been great for many programs such as the women’s soccer team. It gives hope to lower-profile sports. But when Title IX acts to force colleges to cut already present programs I don’t think it is beneficial.
Stats:
Year: senior
Major: Biomed. Eng.
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 150
Position: forward
Number: 7
Goals: 4 in 2002
Fav. team: Chicago Cubs
Hometown: Naperville, IL