Winter Senior Spotlight: Seniors reminisce on their time as Viking athletes
Mary Holthe
Mary Holthe is a swimmer on the women's swimming team and is an exercise science major with a minor in coaching on the masters track with athletic training.
Do you have a favorite memory on the team?
“Sophomore year, with the dorm situation, we would just watch movies and just sit. I don’t even know, just the vibes were so correct our sophomore year dorm ... I think sophomore year was one of my standout years at Augustana because of all the events that happened. Nothing was great, we weren’t doing well mentally, but god, we got some good memories.”
What are you going to miss most from Augustana?
“I’m for sure just going to miss the friends I’ve made here. The swim team especially is just like a family and that is definitely going to be different not being around all these people every single day.”
What do you expect for the future of your team?
“I see so much success for this team in the future. Last year was only the start of it, and our girls are just going to get bigger, stronger, faster with our guys. Our guys have grown so much in the last few years, and I hope they just all remember to have fun.”
What advice would you give to underclassman swimmers?
“Take time to remember why you do this. Remember you’re doing this because you love it, and if you fall out, just know you can find the love for it again.”
Nicholle Miller
Nicholle Miller is a swimmer on the women's swimming team and is a major in sports management and a minor in biology.
What has been the highlight of your time on the swimming team?
“Individually, my sophomore year was my favorite year. I went with some of my fastest times that I’ve ever been and just kind of after sophomore season especially, I have more feeling of being proud of myself for being there and still trying my best.”
What advice would you give to underclassman swimmers?
“Keep pushing through it. Swimming is hard and keeping the motivation throughout college, especially towards the end, because you can feel your body kind of start to wear a bit. You’re like, ‘Oh, wow, I am definitely not 18 anymore,’ but just keep pushing through it. Keep going. If things don’t go your way, there’s always the rest of your life. You’re not going to have swimming forever.”
What is your biggest motivation?
“The want to finish school just to be able to feel proud of myself and get that degree. It’s just like I accomplished something that maybe not everybody does or not everyone can say that they have.”
Do you have a favorite memory on the team?
“Mary [Holthe] and I are bus buddies and one time we had a bus ride from Colorado. On our way back home, we stopped at a gas station in Nebraska, and we had no idea we were still in Nebraska. When we walked to the bathroom there were Nebraska shirts around, and the realization that we were not even out of Nebraska and still stuck was crazy.”
Tyler Wagener
Tyler Wagener is on the wrestling team and is a marketing major on the MBA track for business administration.
Do you have a favorite memory on the team?
“When we sent eight guys to nationals. It was pretty incredible because we probably were only expected to send like three guys and we just kind of wrestled out of our minds that day. Just having all of our teammates there and being able to cherish that one was pretty special.”
What do you expect for the future of your team?
“I think it’s pretty bright. I think every year we’ve got brought in strong individuals that represent our culture we’ve built. A culture here that is going to stick for a while and I think that the guys are not only talented wrestlers but they’re also hard workers. I think that’s going to reflect out on the mat.
What is your biggest motivation?
“Getting ourselves a team and individual trophy. My coaches are kind of the ones that keep us on the line and motivated. We have an awesome staff and they do a good job of getting the best out of us.”
Bennett Otto
Bennett Otto is a guard on the men's basketball team and is majoring in physical education.
Do you have a favorite memory on the team?
“My favorite basketball memory here at Augie was when we won the conference championship and went 26-4. The feeling of the confetti coming down at the pentagon was a feeling I’ll never forget.”
What has Augustana meant to you?
“This university means a lot to me and I can’t thank my coaches, teammates, professors, and everyone else who has supported me through my five years here at Augustana, enough. The culture here at Augustana is what you look for in a university and more.”
What lessons has college basketball taught you that will stick with you?
“Some lessons that college basketball has taught me are dealing with the highs and lows of life and basketball and learning how to overcome adversity. In basketball you have to have a strong mentality and be able to overcome different challenges that the game throws at you. I believe that’s the same for life and overcoming those obstacles shape you into the person you are.”
Jack Huffman
Jack Huffman is on the wrestling team and is a major in finance and business administration on the MBA track.
What has been the highlight of your time on the wrestling team?
“This year, beating Lander [University] in the semi-final national duals and placing nationals two years ago.”
What advice would you give to underclassman wrestlers?
“Stay as consistent as possible. Trust your coaches and your training. They know it’s best for you and if you stay on that course, be consistent with that.”
What is your biggest motivation?
“Doing whatever I can to help my team be the best they can be and to hopefully finally bring back a team trophy this year.”
What do you expect for the future of your team?
“I think we’ve progressively become better and better every year as a team. We’re finally starting to get more respect nationally than we have in previous years and I think that’s going to continue to build. We have some good lower classmen too that have bright futures, and I think we’ll continue to get to get better.”
