by Bob Hahn, class of 1981
(photos courtesy of Mr. Torpy)
The class Valedictorian inevitably talks about this somewhere in his speech during graduation. Only his friends and family really listen intently. All his fellow students are thinking of anything else. Graduation parties, summer fun, girls. They don’t want to think about “turning the page”, or “moving on to that next stage of life”. It just kind of happens. For four years your wearing blue and gold practically everyday…then suddenly your wearing red?? What’s up with that?
I attended the Michigan State Spartan Invitational recently to catch up with Eagle legends Sean Torpy, Chris Torpy and Max Lehnhardt to see how things were going on that next page. This was a massive meet on the golf course at MSU with thousands of athletes and fans roaming around. Yet it didn’t take me to long to find the boys. I just looked for two red headbands. Works every time.
I caught up with them after the race. The first 4 weeks on campus are a whirlwind, for sure. NCAA athletes have to deal with everything their fellow students deal with on campus and in classes. That is difficult enough. Then pile on training and travel and it gets really hectic. Chris was telling me he had to deal with a professor that wouldn’t let him re-take a quiz that he missed because of a recent cross meet. It’s so cool to see these guy’s grow up right before our eyes. Last year, he would have gone to his parents to complain, and asked them to call his teacher. Not anymore. He calmly negotiated with the prof and reminded him of the protocol for NCAA athletes on campus and that he didn’t want to have to get those authorities involved over a missed quiz. He reminded him that he was a good student, was fully prepared to take the quiz and just needed to coordinate a time that was convenient for both to do so. They worked it out. He took the quiz. I was witnessing his growth right before my eyes. It was every bit as awesome as his racing abilities. Chris is in the engineering program. Sean is studying Liberal Arts, and Max is undecided about his major, but leans toward finance and is currently working on the application process to get into the school of business. He is so excited about the college life. He loves the freedom of waking up everyday and making his own decisions. He is rooming with Sean on campus while Chris is rooming with another one of his Red Hawk teammates.