Georgia Havlicek
Solon, Iowa
Class of 2027
Why did you choose Central?
Ever since I was little, I could see myself going to Central. My dad and my aunt both attended Central for their undergraduate degrees, so it had always been on my radar. When I finally came for a visit, I knew it was going to be the place for me. I love the small community because it reminds me of home, and the small class sizes allow me to get to know my classmates and my professors and build relationships with both. I love that my professors know me by name and that I’m not just another face in the crowd. My decision to attend Central was finalized when I found out I could play soccer here.
Favorite professor and why?
It’s hard to choose just one because I’ve had so many professors who have made an impact on me, but if I had to choose, I would say Dr. Valster. She has really challenged me both in and out of the classroom. She is my advisor and encouraged me to take classes that I initially thought would be too difficult, and I am glad she pushed me because many of those classes ended up being some of my favorites. She also helped me add biology as a second major my junior year. We both knew it would be a challenge to finish it with only around one year left, but she believed I could do it and pushed me to go for it. I’m really grateful she did!
I also have to give a shoutout to Dr. Vishnevskaya because she was the reason I decided to add my Religious Studies minor. She is an amazing teacher, and I really enjoyed the classes I’ve taken with her.
You’re majoring in Kinesiology and Biology with a minor in Religious Studies because?
I came to Central as a Kinesiology major because I plan to attend physical therapy school and become a physical therapist. I’ve always been fascinated by the human body, and I really enjoy working with and helping people. My freshman year, I decided to add a Religious Studies minor after taking several classes with Dr. Vishnevskaya. I really enjoyed the classes and found myself interested in the material, so I figured, why not? Then, during my junior year, I decided to add Biology as a second major. I had already taken several biology classes as electives and really enjoyed them. It was definitely a lot to take on with only one year left, but I’ve always been up for a good challenge, and I’m really glad I decided to do it.
Besides athletics, what else are you involved in on campus?
- I am also involved in research on campus with Dr. Shuger Fox. I just started working with her over the summer, and I’m excited to continue doing research with her throughout my senior year. It has been a really cool opportunity to get experience with research and apply what I’ve learned in my kinesiology and biology classes outside of the classroom.
- I also occasionally dabble in intramural sports. I’ve done volleyball and pickleball, and this year I want to give basketball a try.
Who are your go-to musical artists?
I would have to say Lady Gaga. I went to her Mayhem concert twice with my mom and sister (shout out Ella). Also no hate here, but I also like Josh Groban. My grandma put me on him.
How has attending Central and playing a sport impacted your life?
Attending Central and playing sports have helped me grow both as an athlete and as a person. I’ve made so many lifelong friends through my teams and have learned so many important skills, including self-discipline, responsibility, communication and time management. Being a dual-sport athlete has especially challenged me to learn how to balance athletics, academics and everything else that comes with college. Central has definitely pushed me outside of my comfort zone, and I’ve grown a lot because of it. I also want to give a shoutout to my coaches, Jennie and Koby, for being so supportive and helping make it possible for me to compete in both sports. I’m also grateful for my professors, who have been so understanding when I’ve had to miss class for competitions. They always make sure I know what I missed and are willing to answer any questions I have.
What’s the best practical joke you’ve ever pulled on someone?
Dang, the only thing I can think of right now is from elementary school. I used to put fake mice around the librarian’s desk because I knew she was afraid of them. She would always act scared in the moment, but it’s something we still laugh about to this day.
If you could master one skill you don’t currently have, what would it be?
I think if I had to master one skill, it would be golf. I am just terrible at the sport, but I really want to get better at it because it’s something I can enjoy for the rest of my life.
Would you time travel to the past or to the future?
I would choose the past. I think it would be really cool to go back and see some of the great civilizations throughout history. But I’d also love to go back more recently, during my grandparents’ or parents’ childhoods, just to see what it was like growing up during that time.
What’s the longest bike ride you’ve ever done?
Probably the Volksweg Trail, which is around 34 miles total. I am hoping to do RAGBRAI one day though.
Favorite TV show?
I have to go with the Vampire Diaries. #TeamDamon
What’s it like to compete for Coach Hedrick-Rozenberg?
Jennie is amazing! She really meets each of her athletes where they’re at and pushes us to be the best we can be. She is also incredibly organized, which I really appreciate. She has all of our workouts planned out in advance, and each workout has specific times and goals based on the individual athlete. She is also very goal-driven. At the beginning of the season, we fill out a fun sheet with things like our favorite foods, and somehow my favorite foods always end up appearing in the snack area! We also fill out a sheet with our goals for the season, and before every race we make pre-race plans and goals. Afterward, we do post-race reflections. I really appreciate how intentional she is about helping us set goals and reflect on our progress. She also always shows up with a smile
on her face, even for our 6:00 a.m. practices. Sometimes, though, she’s smiling a little too big, and then we all know it’s going to be a rough workout.
What’s your favorite part about being a member of Central’s triathlon team?
I would say my favorite part is definitely the group of girls and the atmosphere. We really are like a little family, and I just love being around my teammates. We push each other to be better, but we also have a lot of fun together. Through all the sweat, tears, and laughs, there are no other ladies I would rather do it with.
What do you hope to be doing 10 years from now?
Hopefully, 10 years from now I’ll be working as a physical therapist and really enjoying my job, preferably somewhere here in Iowa. I also hope to be settled into a house with a garden and a bunch of animals. Specifically, ducks, chickens, cats, maybe one turkey, and hopefully a few cows.
Favorite food from Central market?
100% fruit pizza. 10/10.
Bucket list?
- Visit all of the national parks
- Complete RAGBRAI
- Complete an Ironman 70.3
- Run a marathon
- Go to Georgia
- Start an at home bakery?
