Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/893293
26 WAC Magazine | wac.net Meet the athlete Jenn Van Dyke By Mae Jacobson, Associate Editor Jenn Van Dyke started playing soccer at age five. She played through grade school and high school in Hawaii and was part of a state championship team her junior year. Jenn accepted a Division I soccer scholarship to Idaho State University and played four seasons for the Bengals, winning two Big Sky Conference titles and twice competing in the NCAA champion- ships. We recently caught up with Jenn, who has since been selected to Idaho State's all-time soccer team and now plays for the WAC's coed team. Q. What first drew you to soccer? A. I enjoyed being part of a team while still having an individual impact. I liked the creativity and continuous movement of the game, too. Q. What was your favorite part of your college career? A. I loved being able to represent my school. It was great to see the women's soccer team on the front page of the paper and have the town rally behind us. I hope people remember me as having made a significant impact during my time at Idaho State. I want to be an inspiration and positive role model to those who follow in my footsteps. Q. What brought you to Seattle? A. I moved to Seattle to pursue a job offer at the University of Washington aer receiving my doctorate of pharmacy at Idaho State. I also wanted to be closer to my brother, who was attending UW at the time. e city captured my heart and I have been here ever since. Q. Tell us about Seattle's soccer community. A. Seattle has an active and diverse soccer community. It is very welcoming. ere are so many leagues that you could play a game every night of the week. Q. Do you have any advice for young athletes? A. Playing with others who are quicker, more skillful, and more knowledgeable will push you to be better and learn faster. Pursue other interests, too. When you try something different, it gives you a healthy break from the pressure of being an athlete. living fit meet the athlete / ask the trainer Q. How can I start a good workout routine and succeed in keeping it? A. Be consistent and don't feel like you have to be super intense right away. Make fitness a routine thing by doing something small every day. It takes 21 days to create a habit, so after three weeks, working out won't seem like such a task anymore. Work with a personal trainer to learn proper form. This will help you avoid injury. Finally, ask questions and learn from your mistakes. Ask the Trainer With Sara Moser A N I TA N O W A C K A