Men's Swimming and Diving

Student-Athlete Spotlight: Owen Powell, UW-Stevens Point

Each week during the 2022-23 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:  Owen Powell
Institution:  UW-Stevens Point
Hometown (High School):  Olney, Ill. (Richland County High School)
Year in school:  Senior
Sport:  Men’s Swimming & Diving
Major:  Physical Education
Minor:  Health Education


Why did you choose UW-Stevens Point?
I chose UWSP for the culture we have built within our swim & dive program and Pointer athletics as a whole, as well as the outstanding academics that comes with being a part of UWSP’s School of Education.

What other clubs/organizations on campus are you involved in?
SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee) and SHAPER (Students for Health Athletics Physical Education and Recreation).
 
What causes do you care about?
I care about Mental Health Awareness and supporting students with disabilities and their journey through K-12 schooling.

What do you like most about competing in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and being a NCAA Division III student-athlete?
I think my favorite part is the competition within the WIAC, along with the sense of respect between teams that I feel is a pretty awesome thing that a lot of places in the country may not feel.
 
What is your favorite…
Menu item from Culver’s?  Pretzel Bites
Flavor of the Day from Culver’s?  Raspberry Cheesecake
Non-Athletic Spot on Campus?  PE student study room
Movie?  Top Gun: Maverick
Holiday?  Christmas
Food?  Mom’s Chili
Musical Group/Artist?  Jake Owen
Professional Sports Athlete/Team?  Justin Fields / Chicago Bears
Vacation Spot?  Costa Rica
 
What is your greatest sports moment? 
Being a part of winning Point’s 23rd straight conference title in men’s swimming & diving.
 
What is your favorite thing to do off the court/field with your teammates?
Sand Volleyball or Ultimate.
 
One word that describes your team?
Family.
 
One word that describes you?
Enthusiastic.
 
What is your dream job? 
PE Teacher.
 
Three things on your "bucket list"?
---Buy a lake house.
---Scuba Diving at the Great Barrier Reef.
---Win 24 straight.
 
A non-athletic talent that you have is?
I make a mean hot ham n’ cheese.

Do you have any pre-game/pre-event superstitions or rituals? If so, what are they?
Before every race, I clap three times before getting on the blocks to start a race. Don’t know why, but it has stuck with me since I was little.
 
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