Junior Andrew Ehlert is in the midst of his third season with the Drew Cross Country program.  The Team’s MVP in each of his first two seasons with the Rangers, Andrew is one of the few veterans on a young squad.  A German and Political Science major, Andrew took some time to answer a few questions for the Ranger Spotlight:

 

Ranger Spotlight: You've got a new coach this season.  How has your experience with Bob Koppenol been?

Andrew Ehlert: My experience with Coach Koppenol so far has been great.  He has really translated his personal athletic experience into an excellent coaching methodology, which helps us as a team to work harder on even the most difficult workouts.  I would also like to draw your attention to assistant coach Josh Clough, who has been a very inspiring figure and who always has some technical advice to help us improve as a team.

 

RS: As one of the few upperclassmen on the team, what has it been like working with all the newcomers?

 

AE: Due to the particular nature of college sports, where all the freshmen already have four years of experience at the high school level, and due to the new coaching staff, I feel as though most of us are on very similar levels in terms of experience.  So, while I may be able to lend some advice in areas that I have taken particular interest in, such as nutrition, overall it hardly seems as though we have any newcomers at all.  I think that attitude may also reflect the cohesive nature of a team of our size, where everyone gets to know everyone pretty quickly within the first few days of practice.

 

RS: Who is your favorite professor and why?  What has been your favorite class at Drew and why?

 

AE: Difficult questions both and I hope I don't alienate anyone in answering...

For favorite professor I would say Professor Joshua Kavaloski (director of German studies).  I would even go as far as to say that Professor Kavaloski has been a mentor to me.  In addition to having taught some great courses, which constantly challenged me to think in new analytical ways, Professor Kavaloski has helped me to navigate the Drew course catalog; he has helped me to find great opportunities over the summer and is still helping me to develop ideas for life post-Drew.

 

I think the nature of a liberal arts school like Drew makes it entirely impossible to pick a favorite class.  As students, we diversify ourselves by exploring different fields which help us to explore new ways of thinking; in my mind to try and compare these fields and declare one better than the rest would be to miss the point.  I believe they all supplement each other.  

 

However, if I was forced to pick, I would say that in terms of the most interesting subject matter within each field, studying the German fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm, Comparative Public Policy and a course I'm taking this semester Environment, Society and Sustainability have been the most interesting.

 

RS: Give me an idea of what your playlist is when you go on a long run:

AE: I have actually never been into the idea of listening to music while running and have never tried it.  For me running is either a social activity or a contemplative one.

 

If I were to bring my ipod along I would need the Beatles (any album, I like it all), the Who (Quadrophenia), the Shins (Chutes Too Narrow), the Strokes (First Impressions of Earth), Ok Go's Here it Goes Again and perhaps a few German artists: Die Toten Hosen, Rammstein, Farin Urlaub und Revolverheld

 

RS: Anything else you'd like to add?

AE: Sorry for the long windedness.  I think that's a symptom of writing right after running