Luke Kostreva
Baseball
1. What is your favorite professional baseball team and who is your favorite professional athlete?
Since I was born and raised in Wisconsin, it is no doubt the Milwaukee Brewers. Even through all the hard times I have always cheered for the Crew. My favorite professional athlete would have to be Aaron Kampman, former defensive end and linebacker for the Green Bay Packers. He is still my favorite professional athlete even though he signed for the Jacksonville Jaguars this past winter. His work ethic and love for the game is something that I truly respect.
2. What are your plans for after graduation?
After graduation, my ultimate goal would have to be becoming a history teacher and a baseball coach. I love helping and working with other people and to teach and coach I can do both of these things. Being a coach I can help kids become better baseball players, but even more importantly help them become better people.
3. What has been your best memory during the past four years playing baseball?
My best memory during the past four years would have to be all the friendships I have made with former and current teammates and coaches. The friendships that were made are something that can never be taken away, and is cherished your whole life. And simply, have the opportunity and privilege to play college baseball. It is something many dream of doing but so few get to experience. At the Division III level, you don’t get the fame and glory; you just go out, play and work hard every day because you love of the game.
4. What is your goal for your senior season?
For my senior season, I just want to go out and give it all I got and play the game the way it’s meant to be played. If I do that and keep working hard only good things will happen. In the end, when it’s all said and done, and I look back at all the baseball I played I will know, I did not cheat myself and left it all on the field.
5. What has been the hardest part about this season?
With the 18 rookies on the team this year we have worked hard to adjust to college baseball. Especially with playing in Wisconsin our season is only a month and a half long. We have to deal with playing a lot of games in a short period of time. With the season, we have 39 games in 49 days; we have to be physically and mentally prepared to play well the whole season. A big thing we focused on is dealing with adversity both on and off the field. During the game if things don’t go our way, how will we respond? I believe that the rookies as well as the rest of the team have done a tremendous job with overcoming difficulties we faced while still competing at a high level. Lastly, staying positive, even though our record doesn’t show it. The hard work the guys put in every day is something that can’t be overlooked. They have stepped up to the challenge of playing some very good ball teams, and if they keep working hard the sky’s the limit for future LU baseball teams.Alex Goodson
Softball
1. What is your favorite part of being a member of the LU softball team?
That’s a tough one, but if I had to choose, the best part of being a member of the LU softball team is definitely my teammates. Florida was an especially great trip because we were able to do things outside of softball, which made us a lot closer as a team.
2. What are the team’s goals for the rest of the season?
This season our goal has been to play clean, fundamental softball and continue to improve each game. As a team we are holding each other accountable and pushing each other to continue to work harder. But a more concrete goal for the season is winning the conference tournament.
3. How long have you been playing softball and what got you started?
I have been playing softball since I was four… so a long, long time. I started off in dance and gymnastics but my dad played baseball and softball his whole life and guilted me into trying it. He told me that it would make him sad if I didn’t and after a few years I quit dance and gymnastics to focus on softball.
4. How is the team chemistry this year and what is different about the team this year in comparison to last year?
This year the team chemistry has been phenomenal because we’re friends as well as teammates. We all have common goals and are constantly pushing each other. I think one difference this year has been the Broeniman family. The softball team is involved in an organization called FOJ – Friends of Jaclyn – which pairs kids who have serious illnesses with college teams. We adopted a girl named Emma Broeniman and I think having her has given us another thing to rally around. We do crafts together, have pizza parties, and the Broeniman family comes to games to support us. The other difference is that we do work.
5. If you could play any other position on the field, what would it be and why?
I love playing first base, but if I could play anywhere else I think I would like to catch. It’s a lot of responsibility but the thrill of blocking the plate and tagging a runner out – or throwing out a runner stealing a base – would be pretty exciting!
Athletes of the week
