ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The University of Northwestern baseball program has built its foundation on the pillars of faith, obedience, compassion, unity and selflessness (FOCUS). With this in mind, Head Coach Dave Hieb understands the importance of getting to know his student-athletes beyond the baseball field. Each day over the course of the next few weeks, we will be getting to know the Eagles.

Through faith, obedience, compassion, unity and selflessness (FOCUS) the baseball team lives and breathes. Get ready to check-in for different players' answers to questions asked by Coach Hieb. These will also be posted to the team's Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts.
 
Today's F.O.C.U.S. Feature - Sam Szymanski (Woodbury, Minn./Homeschool)

Sam Szymanski (Woodbury, Minn./Homeschool) always helps to lighten the mood in the dugout. The freshman engineering major from Woodbury, Minn. is a pitcher and infielder but was hurt for most of this season. He is very energetic and motivates others to be successful based on his persona and his own work ethic.

Let's find out more about Sam and his baseball journey -

Why did you decide to come to Northwestern?
I liked Coach Hieb and he asked me to play for him, and it had an engineering program.

What is your favorite part of being in the baseball program?
It is a great, Christian environment, and you get to see friends and play baseball at the same time.

Who are some of your favorite professors/staff at UNW?
I like Dr. Jacobson, who is an engineering professor, Professor Rask, and Mark Muska.

What does your day look like during the season and what does it look like during the off season?
Season: Team lift, breakfast at the Billy, classes, chapel, classes, lunch, possibly more classes, homework, baseball, dinner at the Eagle's Nest, hang out with friends, chill in my room, and go to bed.

Off season: Team lift, breakfast at the Billy, classes, chapel, classes, lunch, possibly more classes, homework, hang out with friends, dinner at the Billy, hang out with friends, chill in my room, and go to bed.

What is the funniest thing that has happened during your time at UNW?
Hanging out with my friend Daniel Larson, making the dumbest comments, and laughing at anything.

What is the best advice you would share with others?
Do not let anyone tell you that you cannot accomplish something.  If you fully commit to accomplishing something, your chances of accomplishing it are very high.

What is something people should know about you?
I am very often sarcastic.

What does FOCUS mean to you?
Faith: faith is very important to me, as I know that Jesus died on the cross to save us all from our sins, and we should serve him. Obedience: this stems from faith because God calls us to obey his commands. It is a part of believing in Him. Commitment: this means that you are going to do something on your own or with a team no matter what life throws at you. You will find a way to accomplish what you committed to accomplish. This also ties into faith and obedience, as God requires commitment to Him and Him only. Unity: unity is important in any team effort. If you are not all committed to one goal, then it will be hard to accomplish anything worthwhile. Selflessness: this means that you do what is better for other people at the expense of yourself. In a team setting this means that each member must be selfless in order to be unified.  If everyone is selfish, then everything will fall apart. It is a commitment to being selfless that makes a team unified in its fight for a common goal.

What is something an incoming student should know about our baseball program?
It is Christ oriented and the coaches care about you very much.

In a word or two, how would you sum up our baseball program?
Committed.


Thanks Sam, we appreciate your commitment to excellence! ~ Coach Hieb
 
To learn more about the UNW Baseball team visit www.unweagles or follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @unwbaseball.