Student-Athlete Spotlight: Michael Austin Bates, UW-La Crosse

Student-Athlete Spotlight: Michael Austin Bates, UW-La Crosse

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Each week during the 2018-19 academic year, the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) will feature two student-athletes (one male and one female) from one of its eight institutions for a “Student-Athlete Spotlight” Q & A segment. The segments will be posted every Thursday and individuals are selected by the institution. The WIAC Student-Athlete Spotlights are presented by Culver's.


Name:  Michael Austin Bates
Institution:  UW-La Crosse
Hometown (High School):  Wausau, Wis. (Wausau West High School)
Year in School:  Senior
Sport:  Men’s Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field
Major:  Physics
Minor:  Mathematics


Why did you choose UW-La Crosse?
The great track and physics programs.

What do you like most about competing in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference? 
The support from fellow competitors in the WIAC.

What is your favorite…
Menu item from Culver’s?  Buffalo Chicken Strips
Flavor of the Day from Culver’s?  Bonfire S’more
Spot on Campus?  Cowley Hall
Movie?  Interstellar
TV Show?  House M.D
Food?  Chicken Wings
Musical Group/Artist?  T-Pain
Professional Sports Athlete?  Michael Vick
Hobby?  Spikeball
Vacation Spot?  Cabin in Minocqua
Quote/motto?  “They say nothing in impossible, but I do nothing everyday” – Winnie the Pooh
 
What is your greatest sports moment? 
Winning the indoor conference 60-meter high hurdles in 2018.

What is your favorite thing to do off the court/field with your teammates?
Play Spikeball.

If you could change one rule about your sport, what would it be?
Lower the hurdles.
 
The best thing about your hometown is?
Noodles & Company.
 
When you surf the web, the site you most often go to?
TFRRS.
 
What is your greatest fear?
Water dams.
 
What do you plan to do after graduation? 
Become a civil engineer.
 
Three things on your "bucket list"?
---Travel out of the country.
---Skydive.
---Watch the Packers win another Super Bowl.

Do you have any pre-game/pre-event rituals? If so, what are they?
Listening to music.
 
What is your biggest “pet-peeve”?
People talking over someone.
 
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