Central College Athletics

Joel Collett
Walford, Iowa
Class of 2021

Why did you choose Central?

Central initially caught my attention because it offered a personalized education while still giving me the opportunity to play soccer. I was also interested in the opportunity to study abroad.
 
Favorite professor and why?

I’ve had a lot of great professors at Central, but I would say Dr. Lemke sticks out to me as one of the best. His teaching style challenges students to deeply understand the material rather than just memorize it, and he’s there to offer help every step of the way.
 
What are you majoring in and why?

I’m majoring in both accounting and business management. I’ve always liked numbers so in high school I took an accounting course and the teacher was great. She provided me with a solid foundation in accounting and made it fun. I recently decided to add business management as a second major because it will provide me with a deeper understanding of each sector in the business world.

Besides athletics, what else are you involved in on campus?

Other than soccer, I am involved in VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance), EAM club, and intramural basketball. I played basketball for over a decade when I was younger so I enjoy being able to revisit the sport.

Who is your go-to musical artists?

I like a variety of genres so the list of go-to artists is long, but if I had to choose two, I’d say Post Malone and Zac Brown Band.

How has attending Central and playing a sport impacted your life?

The most valuable thing that Central has provided me are the relationships.

What do you refuse to share?
 
My pens. I’ve let people (they know who they are) borrow some in the past and I seem to never get them back. So senior year I’m going to hold my ground and not share those.

If you had to be stranded on an island with one member from your team, who would it be and why?
 
Easy answer: Andrew Benhart. During our sophomore year we studied abroad in Europe together and there were several occasions when we were basically stranded. Whether it was in the Bulgarian Airport, or the Island of Gran Canaria, we always managed to make it out safely.

What words of wisdom would you pass on to your childhood self?
 
I would tell myself to join the high school cross country or track team so it wouldn’t feel like I’m going to die every summer when I need to train for the fitness tests we have for soccer.

Do you ever wish you were the one scoring goals?
 
Not really. I enjoy preventing other teams’ players from scoring. As long as our team is the one scoring more goals, I’m happy.

Favorite TV Show

It’s hard to say but it’s probably between The Office or The Blacklist.

What’s it like to play for Coach Laidlaw?

Playing for Coach Laidlaw is nice because he’s a competitive coach that has high expectations for his players, but he also knows how to have some fun when the time is right. That goes with the whole coaching staff. They provide an atmosphere that emphasizes a friendly yet successful program.

What’s your favorite part about being a member of the Central men’s soccer team?

My favorite part about being on the Central men’s soccer team would be the people I’ve met and the memories that come from bonding with them. Before freshman year preseason was even over, I had made over a dozen new friends, plenty of whom I still talk to on a daily basis.

What do you hope to be doing 10 years from now?

10 years from now I hope to be living in a place other than Cedar Rapids, raising a family (with dogs), and working at a job I enjoy.

Favorite food from Central Market

I’m going to opt out of choosing from any of Central’s food selections, but I will say that they have some excellent chocolate milk.

Bucket list

- Own a big dog
- Travel to Asia, Africa, Australia, and South America
- Attend a Champions League game
- Visit every state in the U.S.