Vol. 128, No. 129 Wednesday, May 1, 2019
NEWS
OPINION
ARTS & CULTURE
University Technology Fee provides students with benefits
Cultivating Social media can be good for mental health
FoCoMX crowd gets its groove on with Funky Business
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Jared Van Vark pitches during the game against the University of Northern Colorado March 31 at City Park Field. The Rams beat the Bears 9-4 and 17-2 in back-to-back games. PHOTO BY ASHLEY POTTS COLLEGIAN
Jared Van Vark develops friendships, strategy with Rams baseball By Tyler Meguire @TMeguire
From an early age, Jared Van Vark knew he loved baseball and that he would be playing it for a long time. Van Vark started his baseball career at age five when he signed up for his local t-ball team. From that point on, he had ambitious goals. “My high school program was pretty well respected around town so I knew from an early age that I wanted to play on my high school’s varsity team,” Van Vark said. After high school, Van Vark had no plans to stop playing baseball. He was also very serious about school, so he did not want baseball to overcome his academics.
The 21-year-old right-handed pitcher is studying business administration with a concentration in corporate finance and investment analysis. Van Vark also is minoring in sports management and has a certificate of entrepreneurship. “I just wasn’t ready to give up playing baseball so I came to club ball,” Van Vark said. “I wanted to keep playing baseball at a very competitive level but I didn’t want baseball to become like a job for me. I knew I wouldn’t enjoy the game anymore if I were dedicating every second of my free time to workouts and practice but I knew I was not done playing.” Colorado State was appealing to Van Vark for a few reasons. “I knew CSU had one of the
best club baseball teams historically,” Van Vark said. “When I came to visit CSU I fell in love with the campus and the atmosphere of Fort Collins.” While some view baseball as a drawn out, slow paced game that can get boring, Van Vark enjoys the mental chess match and focus the game requires. “(Baseball is) competitive and strategic,” Van Vark said. “It takes a combination of preparation, skill and luck to have success. I love the team aspect, and how not just one player can carry a whole team.” Van Vark has made many of his best friends through baseball. The bonds he forms with his teammates hold a deeper meaning for him than simply playing the game.
“It’s a lot more to me than just a game. It’s about a collective group of guys with similar interests all competing together and overcoming adversity along the way.” JARED VAN VARK SENIOR PITCHER
“I’ve played baseball nearly my whole life and my closest and strongest friends over time have all come from a baseball team,” Van Vark said. “It’s a lot more to me than just a game. It’s about a collective group of
guys with similar interests all competing together and overcoming adversity along the way.” Van Vark’s parents were the biggest influencers in his early career are still very supportive of him. “My parents have always been extremely supportive of all aspects of my life, especially baseball,” Van Vark said. “My mom has been the biggest supporter of my baseball career, she is happy that I am still playing baseball and loving every day of it. She loves supporting the team and will probably be as sad as I will be when my (playing) days are over.”
see VAN VARK on page 11 >>