Throughout all athletics at Ferris, only nine athletes hail from Big Rapids. Of the nine, seven of the athletes answered these two questions:
Bradley Marek, Hockey
Q: What does it mean to you to represent your hometown in college athletics?
It’s a great honor to be able to play in front of people I grew up with. My family and friends get to come and support us at every home game. Very grateful for my opportunity here so far and excited for more.
Q: Why did you choose Ferris and Ferris athletics?
Growing up here and watching the team play and make it to the national championship was something I took into consideration. I know people from the BR area that have played at Ferris in other sports and they have nothing but good things to say about everything and everyone involved.
Casey Bouman, Cross Country & Track and Field
Q: What does it mean to you to represent your hometown in college athletics?
I’ve always enjoyed watching my hometown college team perform well in athletics and as I improved in my sport, I found opportunities to perform collegiately. I like not only representing Ferris State as an athlete but being part of the town also gives an extra incentive to perform since the town has been where I have been my entire life.
Q: Why did you choose Ferris and Ferris athletics?
I chose Ferris because I wanted to accelerate my career into the engineering field but also because of the “tradition of excellence” in athletics. I wanted to continue my athletic career in a good environment where I would improve to the best of what I can be. I certainly see now that going here has made me a better athlete by the training and atmosphere brought by the university.
Madison Hammer, Cross Country & Track and Field
Q: What does it mean to you to represent your hometown in college athletics?
Representing Big Rapids and competing at a D2 university was a great opportunity. Big Rapids athletics contributed a lot to their athletes and helped push us to be where we are today, so being able to represent in our hometown is really amazing.
Q: Why did you choose Ferris and Ferris athletics?
My brother, Logan Hammer, ran for Coach Kelsh on the cross country and track team so I had known of Ferris through him. Ferris athletics seemed like a great choice for me because it was close to home and the training didn’t seem like too big of a leap from what we were used to. Ferris also offered my program and I had the opportunity of being offered a scholarship.
Hanna Brock, Cross Country & Track and Field
Q: What does it mean to you to represent your hometown in college athletics?
Being able to represent my hometown in college athletics is a great honor. Being able to continue doing what I love at the collegiate level was a huge opportunity, and being able to do that in my hometown is great because I’m able to stay close to my friends and family here in Big Rapids.
Q: Why did you choose Ferris and Ferris athletics?
I chose Ferris because It feels like home. Literally and figuratively. Growing up in Big Rapids, I have always been a Ferris State fan and was intrigued with the attention Ferris Athletics got for excelling in sports. When I went on my visit with the Cross Country/ Track team they were so fun and welcoming unlike the other schools I visited so I knew it would be the right fit for me!
Dan Hardesty, Cross Country & Track and Field
Q: What does it mean to you to represent your hometown in college athletics?
It is really cool to represent Big Rapids in Ferris athletics, especially because I have been watching Ferris compete since I was a little kid, and always wanted to race where my family and friends could watch me compete for my hometown school.
Q: Why did you choose Ferris and Ferris athletics?
I chose Ferris for its affordability and because it has the degree that I was looking for as well as because I could come race at the collegiate level.
Grace Fath, Volleyball
Q: What does it mean to you to represent your hometown in college athletics?
It means a lot to be able to represent my hometown. I grew up going to Ferris games so being able to now be on a team here is awesome and my biggest accomplishment. All of the support from the community means a lot.
Q: Why did you choose Ferris and Ferris athletics?
I chose Ferris and Ferris athletics because growing up here I am familiar with the school and I knew the volleyball program has a strong tradition and culture.
Hope Thebo, Golf
Q: What does it mean to you to represent your hometown in college athletics?
I feel honored that I get to represent my small hometown because there haven’t been many golfers from Big Rapids that have
played at Ferris. It gives me a great deal of joy to be able to play here on my home course. I grew up playing some of my first rounds of golf here and have made some of my favorite memories here so to be back as a collegiate athlete is incredibly special.
Q: Why did you choose Ferris and Ferris athletics?
I chose Ferris because I like the community around Ferris and the community feeling on campus. I chose it because I have those memories and I knew it would be special to represent Big Rapids at Ferris.