Over the summer, Pete Way joined the University’s Student Experience division as the director of the new Competitive Club Sports and Esports department. The Peel caught up with Pete to chat about his role in the brand-new department and so you could get to know him a bit better!
Q: What’s one of the first things you’d like to accomplish as the director of Competitive Club Sports and Esports?
A: One of the first things I would like to accomplish this semester is to create new and innovative web and media outlets, and to provide support and solutions for our clubs that already do great work in this area, to promote our talented and dedicated club sport student athletes and teams.
Q: What advice can you give students hoping to join a club sport but may be worried about paying for membership, equipment or travel expenses?
A: I do understand the worry for students and have a lot of thoughts on this one. One of our pillars for success is to remove fiscal barriers to participation, which comes with many layers, and my advice is for students to learn as much as they can about the potential costs, especially before choosing not to try out or join. I think we have some clubs where the individual expectations are really similar to experiences students would have had playing, and costs associated with, previously at the level that would put them in a position to be successful competing for Syracuse University in those club sports. I also think our clubs have done an incredible job fundraising to support annual costs and have really dedicated leadership that understand this component, which is why so many of our clubs have sustained themselves successfully for decades. We also have a lot of club sport opportunities that are really cost-effective for students that also match with an opportunity to try something new and meet new friends. To be completely honest, I think that for the amazing opportunities so many of our clubs offer to students and the dedication from the club leadership that comes with it, the cost of dues are probably lower than they possibly could be, or the personal expenses are much less than students may think. It’s really worth learning more about!
Q: Can you share your vision or some goals you have for the Competitive Club Sports and Esports department?
A: The vision is for Syracuse University to be viewed as a national model campus for competitive club sports and an integrated, competitive club, recreation and academic Esports program. All our goals, ultimately, are built around providing support, access and resources that strengthen individual club sport student athletes and teams.
Q: What would you say to motivate students to try out a club sport or esports?
A: We have a high school senior at home, and I tell him that he would love club sports! He plays football and baseball scholastically, but I see so many club sports that I think he would love to try and probably find success in based on his abilities and other interests. I always say that the best teams are made up by a group of athletes who really want to be there to learn, grow and compete together, and that the peer group, new friends and social opportunities, new skills and healthy outcomes are all the benefits that come from joining club sport teams.
Q: What’s your favorite spot on campus?
A: The JMA Wireless Dome is number one on my list. I have so many great memories with my dad going to watch games there, and as a parent, bringing my kids to the JMA Dome for the first time. For field sports, there isn’t a bad seat in the house, and the experience of being a part of the largest college basketball crowd in the country is so much fun.
Being relatively new to campus, I am expanding my list of favorite spots, but I have to give a shout out to the Women’s Building, where our Competitive Club Sports home base is. Not only do I have a soft spot for older athletic centers, but I also have met great colleagues in ‘Cuse Works and Career Services, just to name a few, who are over here as well. I also love college volleyball and was previously on an NCAA Regional Committee for the sport, so having the home of a D1 Women’s Volleyball team right here is a lot of fun, too.
I also really like the Tennity Ice Skating Pavilion, and the Barnes Center at The Arch is a really awesome facility. I also love visiting the campus bookstore, even though I never buy anything!
Q: What is the best book you’ve ever read and why did you enjoy it so much?
A: “Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen. This is a book that I really enjoyed reading; however, it ended up shaping my personal outlook on life and aging so much, and that’s why it’s my favorite. As the narrator and protagonist tells the story, the memories he had left behind for a while propel him to choose between spending his final years in a nursing home or running away with the circus! I think it’s a great habit to retell your story and spend time with your favorite memories, and so I often do, and I hope that helps me down the road.
Lightning Round: This or That?
Indoor or outdoor sports? Outdoor, but I want to say both!
Mets or Yankees? Yankees
Morning person or night owl? 100% night owl, but in a house with three kids and a wife who travels quite a bit for work, I try hard to be an effective morning person.
Physical sports (tennis, basketball, etc.) or mental sports (chess, esports, etc.)? Physical sports and esports!
Chipotle or Five Guys? Five Guys
Now that you know a little more about Pete as well as the Club Sports and Esports department, help him get to know you! Stop and say hello if you see him around campus.