ST. PAUL, Minn. – Throughout the duration of the spring semester, cspbears.com will feature its spring senior student-athletes who had their careers cut short due to the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), providing a glimpse into their past, present and future to our followers who were unable to see them compete in 2020.
Due to the ongoing changing legislation with college athletics related to the COVID-19 pandemic, spring student-athletes are expected to retain a year of eligibility. Some of the CSP seniors have expressed interest in returning for the 2020-21 academic year with the goal of competing for their full senior year. Since it's early in the process, cspbears.com will not differentiate between seniors who will and won't return and instead will profile each senior consistently.
Today's feature is Green Bay, Wisconsin native,
Marshall Jeppeson, a four-year pole vaulter on the Golden Bear track and field team. A well-rounded athlete, Jeppeson also competed in the javelin throw and the 60-meter dash at various times throughout his career at CSP. He will graduate this spring with a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science and has plans of earning his master's in the subject in the future.
Jeppeson's college career began with four top-ten finishes during indoor and four more during the outdoor season in 2017. He has since collected 33 top-ten finishes and improved his personal record countless times. From freshman to senior year, the vaulter's personal record evolved by 1'8.5". He set a career best at the Minnesota Cold Classic earlier this year (Feb 21) where he cleared 14'3.5" and took ninth place. Across the nine meets Jeppeson was able to compete in this season, he earned six top-ten finishes in the pole vault.
Known for his energy and motivation, Jeppeson also represented the Golden Bears in the javelin and 60-meter dash. His best performance in the javelin was at the Central College Dutch Invitational in 2018 where he placed 15
th with a toss of 128'1" (39.05m). Two weeks later during the same season, he had the top finish of his javelin career when he placed third at the MSU Spring Winter Invitational with a mark of 123'7" (37.66m). Jeppeson had his hand at the 60m for the first time this year, racing at the Minnesota Open (Jan 11) and placing 16
th with a personal best time of 7.77 seconds.
Head Coach Sam Johnson on Marshall Jeppeson:
"Marshall always provided an infectious spirit of excitement and love for the sport of track and field, and more specifically the pole vault. He has the kind of personality that could find a way to support teammates, whether it be through general encouragement or direct counsel. His desire to help the team in any way possible shined throughout his career as a Golden Bear."
MARSHALL JEPPESEON – IN HIS OWN WORDS
CSP: At what age did you start playing your sport?
MJ: I started running track and field competitively when I was in first grade. So I've been running for 16 years!
CSP: Why did you choose to attend Concordia?
MJ: I chose to attend Concordia because it was a division II school that had a great exercise science program and a well-known track and field program.
CSP: What will you miss most about CSP?
MJ: I will miss my teammates the most. After four years my teammates have become family to me.
CSP: What are your plans after graduation?
MJ: After graduation I will be searching for a company who is in need of a motivated Cardio and Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Specialist!
CSP: Where do you see yourself in ten years?
MJ: In ten years I see myself receiving my masters in exercise science and becoming a college professor and a track and field coach!
CSP: Who is a staff member or faculty member at Concordia that left an imprint on your experience?
MJ: Coach Sam Johnson made a forever lasting impact on me. He has always believed in me more than anyone including myself at time. He has always had my back and I'm thankful for him.
CSP: Who is your role model?
MJ: My role model is my father. He is the hardest worker I have ever seen in my life and he is super intelligent and wise. His lessons have taught me so much over my lifetime and his lessons are still continuing!
CSP: What life lessons did you learn as an athlete on your CSP team?
MJ: The life lessons I learned as a CSP athlete are to bet on yourself. Coaches can create programs and try to motivate you externally but to get better you have to bet on yourself and motivation has to come from within! If you set a goal, bet on yourself, and motivate yourself to achieve it!
CSP: What advice would you give to an incoming freshman about their time at CSP?
MJ: To all incoming freshman, surround yourself by your teammates that have similar goals as you. A good set of friends who care about improving on the track, improving in the classroom, improving in their diet, and improving in their faith will help you improve in all of those categories as you do the same for them.
CSP: What CSP athlete from a different program do you admire and why?
MJ: Most of all I think I admire Max Keefe from the men's basketball team! He is a very motivated individual in both the classroom and on the court. He also has an amazing support system in his family, and he makes sure that they are very well thanked! Mas has also been an amazing friend of mine since I met him day one at freshman orientation.
CSP: Do you have a final personalized message you'd like to share with cspbears.com readers?
MJ: My final message for any CSP Bears fans is simply to thank everyone for their support over the last four years. As a freshman in high school I can remember dreaming about pole vaulting 13'1" (4 meters) and getting a college scholarship. As a senior in college my starting bar was 13'6" and my lifetime best was 14'4" (4.36 meters). My time here truly was a dream come true and if I could do it all over again, I would, and I wouldn't change anything!
