Senior Spotlight: Graduating athletes reflect on their final season for the Vikings
Sierra Barkus - Soccer
Barkus is a senior midfielder, majoring in management and marketing. After graduation, she plans to stay at Augustana for an MBA in business administration.
Do you have a favorite memory on the team?
“I have so many memories with the team, but one of my favorite memories is traveling to Bemidji. It was the beginning of November my junior year, and we practiced Saturday mornings and usually had the rest of the day to study or hang with the team. My team decided to jump into the Bemidji lake which was right by our hotel. Most everyone was running into the freezing water together and taking pictures.”
What are you going to miss most from Augustana?
“I think what I am going to miss most is the constant friendship made each year. It was one of the best things for me to join a new team. No matter what age or grade you were in, everyone was friends and so easy to talk to. I think that is going to be hard to leave behind. Also, for me, I will miss playing for my dad. A lot of people thought it was going to be hard to play for my dad, but I would not change it for the world. I think playing for him has taught me a lot, and he has taught me a lot during my four years!”
What is your biggest motivation?
“I think my biggest motivation is that my team’s success is also my success. This phrase was said a lot throughout my years because it’s more than yourself. My team always says to play for someone else on the team and put everything out there. This motivates me the most because we are all playing together and for something more.”
What has Augustana meant to you?
“Augustana University has meant so much to me. I have learned about adversity through my classes, professors and on a team. Augustana has taught me the importance of relationships and success within yourself and how one grows. This will stick with me for the rest of my life and in my career as well.”
Ryan Hartman - Men’s Cross Country
Hartman is a fifth-year runner, pursuing a master’s degree in sports administration and leadership. After graduation, Hartman plans to pursue a physical therapy graduate degree at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Do you have a favorite memory on the team?
“When I was a sophomore, we got 4th as a team at the Cross Country National meet in Tampa Bay, Florida. It was a really great group of guys, and there was a special team that kind of achieved that. We were in Tampa, so then being able to go celebrate afterward and be so close to the water was fun too.”
What are you going to miss most from Augustana?
“Definitely the family atmosphere of the team and just the close friends I’ve developed over the years. I mean as much I like keeping my apartment and stuff clean, I’ll miss living with the guys and all that good stuff.”
What has been the highlight of your time on the team?
“Personally, just kind of being able to see self-improvement over the years is a big highlight. It always feels good to kind of see that improvement over the years and not kind of go backwards or something and just slowly getting better. I mean that’s been a lot of fun to kind of be in the process of just putting in the effort every day.”
What has it meant to you to represent your school’s colors?
“It meant a lot. I think the culture of Augustana in general runs throughout the athletic department, also academics, to be able to wear the Augie colors and represent everything that embodies, that has really meant a lot and kind of being able to carry on the tradition of creating that family atmosphere but also really working hard and showing up every day to practice, doing the little things to make better whatever it is, whether it’s in the classroom or outside of the classroom.”
Ella Bakken - Women’s Cross Country
Bakken is a senior cross-country runner and biology major. She plans to work as a medical assistant while she applies to physician assistant school.
Do you have a favorite memory on the team?
“My favorite memories from this team have all come from team camp, in which we travel to the Black Hills for a week every August. We play basketball, cook meals and run a bunch of miles together. It’s always a blast spending time together and hanging out.”
What are you going to miss most from Augustana?
“By far, I will miss being on this team. This group of women is so special to me and I rely on them on a daily basis. It will be a difficult adjustment from running with them every day to only seeing them on occasion, but I know we will stay in touch and hopefully continue the tradition of traveling to championship races to cheer on Augie.”
What has been the highlight of your time on the team?
“One highlight of the year so far has been winning the NCAA DII central regional title this past weekend. We were not guaranteed the win, and it took a strong team effort to secure it. It is so special to achieve these goals together, and I am so proud of how everyone competed.”
What is your biggest motivation?
“My coach always says, ‘The most important person on the team is the person next to you.’ I find that saying so powerful and motivating because it reminds me that I need to be the best version of myself to support my teammates. When we support each other, we win together.”
Haden Wallace - Football
Wallace is a fifth-year linebacker earning an MBA in mathematic who plans to pursue a career in insurance
Do you have a favorite memory on the team?
“It is hard to pick just one memory from my career, but I have a couple that stick out. Some of the best memories I have from my career at Augustana have been from beating USF, Mankato and Duluth. Those victories have allowed us to capture three conference titles in the last four years. Winning a home playoff game last season is also up there.”
What has been the highlight of your time on the team?
“A highlight of my time at Augustana was getting the Key to the City back this past weekend after beating the USF for the first time at home and back-to-back since the rivalry got renewed in 2012.”
What has Augustana meant to you?
“Augustana will always have a special place in my heart for giving me the opportunity to continue to play the game of football after high school. It has given me even more than just being able to play football, as I am leaving with two college degrees that will mean something in the workforce. The friendships I have made will be something I will cherish forever.”
What has it meant to you to represent your school’s colors?
“It means a lot to carry on the tradition that the alumni have created here at Augustana. My goal since I arrived on campus has been to be a part of the best era that Augustana Football has ever had, and I feel that my teammates and I have done that so far and look to continue it this season.”