Men's Indoor Track and Field

Student-Athlete Spotlight: Joe Stauffer, UW-River Falls

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:  Joe Stauffer
Institution:  UW-River Falls
Hometown (High School):  Isanti, Minn. (Cambridge-Isanti High School)
Year in school:  Graduate Student
Sports:  Men’s Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field
Major:  School counseling


Why did you choose UW-River Falls?
I originally applied for just my graduate program (school counseling) as I heard great things about the program. Also, I knew there was a track & field team at UW-River Falls and wanted to keep a door open for the possibility of being involved with a track & field team in some way.
 
What other clubs/organizations on campus are you involved in?
Student Group.
 
What causes do you care about?
Mental health, equal education.

What do you like most about competing in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and being a NCAA Division III student-athlete?
It is very competitive. For track & field, it is one of the most competitive conferences in the nation at the Division III level. I also love being a Division III athlete because there is such an emphasis on academics before athletics so I can succeed in my classes. One more reason why I love the Division III level so much is that my teammates (and most other athletes) participate in their sport just because they love it.
 
What is your favorite…
Menu item from Culver’s?  Chicken Tendies with Cheese Curds
Flavor of the Day from Culver’s?  Chocolate Oreo Volcano
Non-Athletic Spot on Campus?  The trails
Movie?  Inception
Holiday?  Thanksgiving
Food?  Ribs
Musical Group/Artist?  The White Stripes
Professional Sports Athlete/Team?  Sam Kendricks/ Team USA
Vacation Spot?  Boundary Waters
 
What is your greatest sports moment? 
My high school vault squad all getting PR’s going 1,2,3 at sections and all of us qualifying for the state meet.
 
What is your favorite thing to do off the court/field with your teammates?
Game nights, usually Catan or some other game. We also watch anime and anything else we come up with.
 
One word that describes your team?
Hungry.
 
One word that describes you?
Driven.
 
What is your dream job? 
Sports psychologist.
 
Three things on your "bucket list"?
---Own and run my own pole vault club.
---Go to every state in the US.
---Kayak down the Mississippi.
 
A non-athletic talent that you have is?
Juggling.

Do you have any pre-game/pre-event superstitions or rituals? If so, what are they?
Wearing my entire uniform under everything the whole day before I compete. And wearing my warmups until I get on the runway even if its hot out.
 
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