Senior Salute - Matt Bye
The Cobber "Senior Salute" series is a way to honor all the Concordia spring sports athletes who had their senior season come to an abrupt halt. We want to highlight one senior each day to thank them for all their hard work, dedication and Cobber spirit they have show over their careers in maroon and gold.
Cobber Senior Salute - Matt Bye - Track and Field
What is one of the things you were looking forward to most for this year’s season?
I was looking forward to having another year to grow in each of the 10 events I compete in. I'm competitive with others, but track is really unique because most days consist of competing with yourself and finding new ways to improve. I was hoping to find my limits in events and see what I am truly capable of. More so than this though, I was really exciting to see our younger multi-event athletes learn the new events that come with the outdoor season. They have such a steep learning curve so it is fun to watch them come into their own as athletes. Relationships really drive me forward now as I've gotten older and I will miss all the teammates I was able to practice with every day.
What is one of the top things you will miss about being a Cobber athlete?
One thing I will miss about being a Cobber athlete is how tight the athletic department was across different sports. I was always being encouraged and cheered on by other coaches from different sports. It was a community that knew how the other sports were doing. All athletes supported other athletes. I was lucky enough to play football and many of the sports teams came to those games and I had friends in other sports and I was able to support them during their games, as well. We were one big family.
What is something you are going to miss about Concordia College – away from athletics?
The academic experience is something I will miss from Concordia. The classes were difficult, but the professors cared so much for each student and wanted all of us to flourish. They cared about what was going on in our lives outside of school. I was able to develop some great relationships with other students in my classes, too. The biology department has given me so many opportunities to learn and grow as a person and has helped me become who I am today.
What is one of your favorite highlights/memories from your time playing athletics/being with your team?
I've been fortunate to have so many memories with my teammates at Concordia. Beating St. John's this past fall in football was a really cool moment. Making the catch to beat then in overtime was the cherry on top of a great game. Being able to watch my friends compete all game against a team that was supposed to beat us easily and not give in was really what I will remember. It filled me with so much joy to be able to watch our guys fly around and send the game into overtime and then block another extra point in OT. I am just lucky to have been given the opportunity to make a play in overtime and thankfully it worked out the way it did. My other memories are all of the national track meets I was fortunate enough to qualify for. The meets were fun, but the time off the track spent exploring new parts of the country is what I will remember the most.
What is one of your favorite memories from Concordia away from athletics?
My best memory apart from sports at Concordia would be all the time spent in our Dining Service. DS is the best place on campus to go grab a bite to eat and relax. DS on a Friday after classes are done is one of the best feelings in the world. I have had some of the best conversations with people that I met at Concordia in DS. I will miss it when I graduate.
What are your post-graduation plans?
My post-graduate plans are to attend graduate school and receive my MPH (Masters in Public Health) in Epidemiology (Study of the spread of disease). After graduate school, I hope to help communities reduce the spread of infectious disease and mental disease. Most of the classes I took at Concordia were in the Biology and Chemistry department with some in the Math and Psychology department. All of these professors were crucial in helping me develop as a student and a person. I am so thankful for all of the classes I took and professors that pushed me in the process. I couldn't thank them enough for everything they have done for me. I wouldn't be where I am without them.