SPORTS STORIES:
SPORTS INFORMATION—2009
jurcak jumps out of gate athletically and socially...
CLEVELAND, OH (March 31, 2009) - Freshman Matt Jurcak (Olmsted Falls, OH) is no stranger to standing on podiums. He was nominated class president back in September and earlier this month he became a University Athletic Association [UAA] Indoor Champion in the hurdles. With his drive to succeed, there really is no telling where his campaign trail may pass through next.
Jurcak has always been a go-getter, so when he came to Case Western Reserve University last fall he had no problems getting acquainted with his classmates and making friends. But he had no idea that those friends would soon become his campaign partners. Jurcak decided to make an impact early in college by running for president for the class of 2012. Then several hundred posters and one great speech later he was voted into office.
“It was pretty awesome, really,” said Jurcak. “I hit it off with my classmates right away and they helped me get going with the campaign. I’m pretty sure almost 600 people in my class voted so the turnout was really strong. It has been time consuming being president, but it’s worth it.”
In order to fulfill his presidential duties, Jurcak attends several meetings a week where he meets with committee members to come up with ideas to unite his class. His goal is to help promote the traditions and spirit that Case Western Reserve already has, while coming up with new ways to enhance the class experience as well.
He has already been involved in the planning of homecoming, the snowball dance, the powder puff football game and the upcoming Hudson Relays which kicks off Spring Fest. And while he continues getting his name out around campus as class president, he has also become a vocal leader on the track and field team despite only being a freshman.
“Even though I’m new to the team, I still try to push people,” said Jurcak. “I’m always saying things to try and get my teammates to work harder and try and get better. The other day our coach yelled out that practice was over, but I said wait, I want to do one more run through the hurdles because I knew I could do better. That’s just the way I am.”
On Mar. 7, Jurcak became a UAA Champion when he finished in first place in the 55-meter hurdles at the indoor conference championships in 7.84 seconds – his third first place finish in the event this season. The only difference was that this time he beat fellow Spartan standout Obinna Nwanna (Maumee, OH-also pictured) by one-hundredth of a second. Nwanna is an All-American and is arguably the most respected athlete on the Case Western Reserve track and field team, so Jurcak did not necessarily anticipate a victory.
“Obinna is a great influence for me because he can really do anything,” said Jurcak. “I look up to him and everyone on the team looks up to him. He pushes me at meets when we are running against each other because we both know it’s going to be a great battle every time. But there are never any hard feelings; we congratulate each other as soon as we hear the times.”
Now the chemistry major is getting ready for the outdoor season where his new goal will be to qualify for nationals in the 110-meter hurdles. While the weather will continue heating up as summer approaches, Jurcak will still be wearing warm wool socks at practice – something he has been doing since high school.
“My shins give me problems sometimes, so I always wear wool socks to practice and to meets so they stay warm,” explained Jurcak. “At the state finals in high school it was like 85 degrees outside and people were wondering what I was doing, but you got to do what you got to do.”
The Spartan track and field team heads to DePauw University this Saturday for its annual invite. Click here for meet info.
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