Erik Barenwald Sophomore, Nursing
Bainbridge, Ohio/ Kenston HS
Track and Field, Football
I WILL push myself to be the best I can be
I WILL focus more on my studies this year
I WILL become a nurse and a firefighter
"Welcome to the 2012 Summer Olympic games. The big news today has occurred in the water, where Michael Phelps has been passed by none other than....Erik Barenwald?"
While he may never catch up to the incorporable Phelps, sophomore Erik Barenwald did spend his summer swimming in the local neighborhood lake in preparation for his upcoming year of playing football and throwing for the track team. Barenwald's conversation with sports information assistant Bryan DeArdo included discussing his unique training regiment, his career in nursing, and who should win the quarterback battle in Cleveland.
BD: How did you get prepare yourself this summer for football and track?
EB: I had a membership to a local gym and worked out there every day, then swam at a local lake with my buddies afterwards. I don't like to run a lot, and wanted a break from the constant pounding on my knees, especially after tearing my right ACL. I definitely feel great now because I've had a whole summer of non-contact, but was still about to work out with my legs.
BD: How did you tear your ACL and what has the journey back to recovering been like?
EB: I tore my right ACL at a wrestling camp after my junior year of high school. I still played football senior year, then had surgery the summer before I came to Capital, where I sat had to sit out last season. It stunk not being able to practice and play, but I was still around the team and got to travel to the away games, which was nice. This year has been great, being able to be at full strength. It's good to finally be back in the pads and hitting again.
BD: Did you gain any advantages to watching the practices and the games last year?
EB: I got used to the tempo of practice. Watching your position really helps because then you can visualize what you would do in that situation. I'm already really focused on making an impact this season.
BD: Has the atmosphere at training camp been different from last season?
EB: Yeah, is has been. Everyone is really motivated to get back to Capital football after having a disappointing year. We are going to be a lot more aggressive more on the defensive line. Our motto for camp has been "All we want is all you've got."
BD: How did you get into playing defensive tackle?
EB: I was always one of the bigger kids on the football team, and in sixth grade my coach just put me on the line and that's where I stayed. I'm better as the defensive linemen as opposed to playing on the offensive line.
BD: What NFL defensive linemen do you like watching now?
EB: Shaun Rogers from the Browns. He's the largest man I've ever seen (laughs). But he's very good at what he does.
BD: Who should be the Browns starting quarterback in 2009: Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson?
EB: Someone else (laughs). I think Derek and Brady are about the same in terms of ability. Either way, the Browns are not going to go wrong with whomever they pick.
BD: Will the Browns have over or under eight wins this season?
EB: Over, for sure. This is our year. We're going to be sweet this year. Optimism is all we have in Cleveland (laughs).
BD: While you weren't able to play football last year, you did have a very productive season as a shot put and discuss thrower for the track team. What was your experience with the team like last year?
EB: I loved the coaching staff and the atmosphere around the team. The coaches really know what they are talking about. They have a laid back attitude, but they're still out there to win and to make us better.
BD: Do you feel like you have improved in the shot put and discuss as opposed to where you were as a senior in high school?
EB: I feel like my shot put throw has really improved. We adjusted a lot of my technique. My discuss throw continued to improve as well. My technique has gotten lower and my throw is more explosive since my knee has gotten better.
BD: What was your favorite part of last season?
EB: When the team traveled to Roanoke, Virginia to compete over spring break. It was my first-ever outdoor meet and I took second place in the discuss throw, which was really neat. It's nice to go out and be on the road and having fun with teammates and coaches.
BD: Some runners have this vision of throwers just spending practice sitting around and eating Cheetos. Can you dispel this myth that throwers are lazy?
EB: We're defiantly not lazy (laughs). Running and throwing are two totally different positions. We spend a lot of time perfecting our technique, and everything has to be perfect. Runners spend more time running and training. I know they have some form involved with their performance, but it's not as precise as ours.
BD: What is your goal for track season?
EB: I want to get 10-15 more feet in discuss, and five feet in the shot put. Doing that would put me as a contender in the meets this year.
BD: What direction do you think the track team is heading in?
EB: I feel like we're going in the right direction. We'll be right there with the best two teams in the OAC within the next two years.
BD: Being a nursing major, do you get a lot of "Meet the Parents" male nurse jokes?
EB: A little bit, mainly from my friends from back home. It's a really good position and one's that really high in demand.
BD: How did you come to the decision to pursue this profession?
EB: The semester before I graduated from high school, I was planning on going to a fire academy and becoming a fire fighter and that was going to be my career. My mom and fire chief talked to me and said that I needed to go and get a college degree. My goal is to work with Life Flight, which is where you fly in a helicopter and assist on the most severe of accidents. My job will be to keep patients alive until they get to the hospital.
BD: What inspires you to work in such an intense field?
EB: I work really well under pressure, and I love helping people out all the time. I feel like this job would be a good place to utilize my strengths.
BD: What brought you to Capital?
EB: My roommate from last year who is also a friend from high school told me about Capital before I knew about it. I later found out they had a good Nursing program. After I graduated, I looked at Kent State and here. I chose Capital because of the small school atmosphere. I'm really happy with my decision. It's like a big Capital family here.
BD: Going back to what we talked about earlier, do you think you could out-swim Michael Phelps one day?
EB: No, I'll never be that good. I think he uses his ears as rudders (laughs).