Amy Parsons [00:00:04] Hi, I’m Amy Parsons, President of Colorado State University and host of “The Next 150” podcast. We have so many remarkable people in our community, and this is where we’re going to hear their stories, we’re going to get their perspectives on CSU’s next 150 years and gather their very best advice for today’s CSU students. Let’s get started. Rams. All right. Hello, everyone, and welcome back to another episode of CSU’s Next 150. We’re back here in my office because we’ve got a full house this morning. Thank you all for being here. We’re going to be talking about all things CSU throwing. So we’ve got Mya Lesnar, Michaela Hawkins over here, Gabi Morris and coach Brian Bedard. So I’m excited to talk with all of you about your journeys. Thanks for being here. Makes me really happy to see you and to have some time with you this morning to talk about your journey. So you guys ready to get started? Yes. Yes. All right. Okay. Well, let’s start with a little bit of an icebreaker, Coach Bedard will you pick a little chip out of that bowl right there, please.

 

Coach Bedard [00:01:05] Can I look at the number?

 

Amy Parsons [00:01:06] No, no.

 

Coach Bedard [00:01:07] Okay.

 

Amy Parsons [00:01:09] And then show it to me. Okay. So how we’re going to start as you’re all going to tell me one thing that you love about CSU. Start with you, Coach.

 

Coach Bedard [00:01:20] I’ve been here for over 40 years at Colorado State, both as an athlete and a coach. I love the location. I just love where we’re, you know, Colorado State is located up next to the front range with hiking, biking, fishing, camping and all the activities you can do. So I love the location.

 

Amy Parsons [00:01:36] All the things. What was your sport? What was your event?

 

Coach Bedard [00:01:39] I was a track and field athlete. Doug Max recruited me as a decathlete and I figured out it was going to be too much work. No, I love throwing the discus. And I literally told him, if I’m not good enough, you can cut me. But that’s what I want to do. I throw the discus. And he said, “Okay.” So, that’s kind of how I got started here.

 

Amy Parsons [00:01:59] That’s great history. I love Doug Max.

 

Coach Bedard [00:02:00] Yeah, yeah.

 

Amy Parsons [00:02:02] What about you, M ya?

 

Mya Lesnar [00:02:03] I’d have to say that  I would agree with him. The location is super pretty. There are tons of things to do. But also, I feel like the people here are really welcoming. I’ve made a lot of connections and yeah, people are really nice here.

 

Amy Parsons [00:02:16] Yeah, I agree. Gabi?

 

Gabi Morris [00:02:18] Yeah, I mean, kind of similar, but I grew up here and had a bunch of family go to CSU and yes, I feel really deeply connected to the community in Fort Collins and the community at CSU. So that’s my favorite part.

 

Amy Parsons [00:02:32] I didn’t know that about you.

 

Gabi Morris [00:02:33] Yeah, my grandfather was actually a professor here. And my parents met here, and then I met my husband here.

 

Amy Parsons [00:02:38] Oh my gosh.

 

Mya Lesnar [00:02:39] It’s the tradition.

 

Amy Parsons [00:02:41] That’s a different story. Yeah, I love that about you. And congratulations on getting married.

 

Gabi Morris [00:02:44] Oh thank you.

 

Amy Parsons [00:02:45] Michaela, how about you?

 

Michaela Hawkins [00:02:46] I would say for me, I love everyone’s passion. And like, my first few days here, like, even on my recruitment tour, I was so overwhelmed in the best way by, like, everyone’s passion. They were like such go-getters. Everybody wanted to go out and do things. I think it’s I’m kind of related to the location and all the mountains and stuff, but everyone here just like, has this passion for life. Yeah. And it’s very noticeable compared to other places I’ve lived.

 

Amy Parsons [00:03:10] I love that. Well, you definitely live that and I see that in all of you. It’s been a privilege for me to get to know you ladies over the last couple of years. To not just watch you compete but watch just what leaders you’ve been on campus and what such great role models you are for CSU, and you really embody to me I think all the things that you just said that we all love about CSU. So let’s talk a little bit about your amazing accomplishments athletically and in your field. Mya, I’ll start with you. And, you know, winning the Indoor Women’s Shotput National Championship last year and being the NCAA champ, you know, I just have to ask, what was that like for you to win and compete at that level last year?

 

Mya Lesnar [00:03:49] That was pretty incredible. Honestly, the year before it was a pretty frustrating year. Nothing really seemed to click. We had had a bunch of meetings about, you know, nothing’s going right and I don’t know what to do. Like kind of just on the, on the panic button. And then I took that summer to… But yeah, I took that summer to really like dial it in and take some time off and really, really, really dial like not just the physical part of it, but the mental side of the sport in and yeah, just brought in more and, and train really hard and you know work my butt off and it was really, really cool to see everything fall all together.

 

Amy Parsons [00:04:31] Yeah whatever you did, obviously it all fell into place at that moment. Can you share a little bit more about how you dialed that in mentally? Because I have to imagine that’s such a huge part of what you all do in your sport. It comes down to just a few seconds and all of that work. How do you go about training for that?

 

Mya Lesnar [00:04:50] I think for me it was really focusing on like, visualization and like putting myself in those positions. And I seeing myself do it and seeing myself win because I think like visualizing is so important for sports in general, but especially, you know, track and field. So yeah. And making and telling myself, you know, putting myself in those positions and making a dream a reality. So yeah.

 

Amy Parsons [00:05:17] What lessons? I mean, now that you’ve got some time between winning the national championship and now, what lessons did you learn from that that you’re putting forward into your training today as you look ahead?

 

Mya Lesnar [00:05:28] I think a big thing we always talk about is consistency and finding those consistent throws that are going to get you in, put you in position to win or to be in position to do really big things and PR or have a special, special day. So yeah.

 

Amy Parsons [00:05:48] Yeah, yeah. Well, congratulations again.

 

Mya Lesnar [00:05:50] Thank you.

 

Amy Parsons [00:05:50] Everyone was just so excited and so proud of you to win that. It’s it’s really a feather in your cap and Colorado State and coach and the program so thank you.

 

Mya Lesnar [00:05:59] Thank you.

 

Amy Parsons [00:06:00] Gabi, let’s talk about you. I mean you had an incredible run at the outdoor championships last year. Runner up in the shot put personal best record out there. Talk to us about that experience and what it was like to have the the biggest throw of your career on the biggest stage.

 

Gabi Morris [00:06:18] Yeah, I mean, I think similar to Maya and like a lot of people in track that have success stories, it starts with a sort of a struggle first and then you figure it out and learn how to move on through that and figure out what works for you mentally to prepare for your competitions. And right before some of the bigger meets of outdoor we started sort of started figuring out some cues and more technical cueing that works for me. And then because I had not had the indoor that I wanted beforehand, it was very freeing so that when I went to outdoor, like there was nothing to lose and there was no pressure and so it was really nice to go just be able to compete with freedom and no fear and just go after whatever it took. And so the PR there was really amazing and to get runner up to the NCAA record holder was really cool. Like it’s you know it’s not a national championship but it’s close and it feels really really cool anyways. And to have like I think a big thing is that Mya and I pushing each other like every day is really a huge part of our success. To have two of the best chapters in the country at the same university is is pretty special and creates, you know, sets us up for some pretty cool things.

 

Amy Parsons [00:07:35] Yeah, it’s really special. I mean, I’ll queue up for that and ask Coach Bedard what that’s like to have two of the best shot putters in the country. How you use that to make them both better at what they do.

 

Coach Bedard [00:07:50] They’re so competitive anyway. I don’t obviously I don’t pit them against each other or anything like that, they’re competitive enough. I don’t need to do that. But they help just kind of raise the level for everybody that trains with them, I think. You just see things go far and see things in the weight room that I think inspires the rest of the group. Okay. That’s how we do things here. That’s that’s what I needed, you know. So they’re just good modeling for the rest of the group. So I appreciate what they bring that way. Again, they hold themselves to such a high standard and they’re so tough on themselves. I oftentimes have to put things in perspective for them. Hey, you’re actually you’re doing a really good job. And, “Well, I’m just I’m not strong for I’m not too.” Yeah, but this is what you are doing. You know, these are the great things you are doing. So I have to remind them of that and pull a tape measure out once in a while, and that’s okay.

 

Gabi Morris [00:08:41] That feels like a daily conversation.

 

Coach Bedard [00:08:43] I’m doing better than I thought. So, you know, just have some really driven people that are really hard on themselves, too. So, you know, my role with them is not necessarily the motivation side of it, but give perspective and reassurance that, “Hey, you’re doing some really good things, our training is on track. You’re going to be just fine.” With some other people I may have to, you know, kick them in the bottom a little bit, get them going and motivate them. But these guys don’t have to do that.

 

Amy Parsons [00:09:06] They walk in with that every day.

 

Coach Bedard [00:09:08] Yeah, yeah.

 

Amy Parsons [00:09:10] Well, Michaela, as these two were doing their thing with the shotput, you were making waves out there in discus and you play six that Nationals earned First Team All-American honors for the first time in your career. Talk to us about your journey and what that meant to you.

 

Michaela Hawkins [00:09:23] It was quite the journey. I did my first two years of track at a different school and then transferred here, and I chose here because of Coach Bedard.

 

Gabi Morris [00:09:34] And me.

 

Michaela Hawkins [00:09:39] And it being, in my personal opinion, the best discus program in the country. That was what drew me. But coming here, I thought, “Okay, I’m just, you know, being at the best discus program in the country. It’s just going to happen to me. It’s just going to be I’m just going to be good. It’s just going to, you know.” And I learned the hard way that it doesn’t just happen to you. I was working through a lot of fear of failure. I was working through like, “What if I put in all this effort and nothing comes of it? It’s it’s going to be the most devastating thing. So maybe I’m just not going to put in my everything and see what happens.” That was my first two years here. And I had this awakening the year, the year before this past competition season, I watched my friends go to nationals without me, and that was that was a blow. That was, yeah, really hard. So on that same day, I was like, “No, I refuse to let that happen my last year.” And worked on committing myself and I had to work on that every single day. But that was the biggest part of the journey is like learning that I can let go of you know whatever happens and just worry about me, worry about the effort that I’m putting in and how I’m showing up every day. And was amazed to see that when you put the effort in things do good things to happen.

 

Amy Parsons [00:11:07] Yeah.

 

Michaela Hawkins [00:11:07] Yeah.

 

Amy Parsons [00:11:08] I mean, those are lessons that will carry you for the rest of your life or whatever you do. I mean, I have to imagine that you’re all learning lessons that are making you successful as students, as professionals going forward. I mean, talk to us a little bit about that. How do you see this translating your athletic success and that level of discipline to what you want to do in your professional careers after college?

 

Michaela Hawkins [00:11:29] I’m very. Sorry, you want to go? I mean, I very much feel that. I feel like in my first few years of track, I was just doing tracks separate and my life separate. They were very separate pieces. But once I started really thinking about how I want to approach the track season and competition and start thinking about all the time and committing myself, I realized just how much it translated in my life. Like now, when I do things, I don’t want to do things that are scary or things that I’m worried about getting rejected. I’m like, like I don’t want to walk away. Having any regrets or knowing that I didn’t put everything in. So I’d say the more open the track, the more I know those things come out in like my outside life, which is why I decided I want to continue this professionally.

 

Gabi Morris [00:12:12] Yeah. I mean, I think just that, like, being an athlete is more than doing a sport or doing something athletically. It’s a mindset that you take in your entire life and it’s the way you approach everything you do. And track and field is especially unique in that there’s a level of accountability, I think, because I also I also played soccer here and I was a goalkeeper and a goalkeeper has a level of accountability higher than, you know, like I was, you get scored on and it’s your fault, basically. But track and field, you still have in soccer at least ten players in front of you that you can, you know, blame or like help with accountability there. And track and field, it is a team sport and you still get to have that aspect of working with teammates on a daily basis and learn those lessons. But you also have a higher level of accountability that every meet and every throw you have is nothing but you. It is a direct reflection of the preparation you’ve put in and the work you’ve put in. And so to have that and then to also have the just repeated considered failure, like we know that any time you don’t throw near to your PR or a PR, most track athletes would would be disappointed on that day, which is a crazy concept that you have to be at your best and better at a new best every single time you compete. But that’s how we think of it. And so to face that sort of perceived failure on a regular basis and it helps, like Michela said, like help you lose that fear of failure and you have a a better mindset going forward and more bravery in what you do. And every day as well as, like I said, just emphasizing the accountability of your preparation and all those things so that there’s no like scapegoat in your regular life. And so, yeah.

 

Amy Parsons [00:13:50] That’s so insightful.

 

Mya Lesnar [00:13:50] No, no, to go off of that. I think I try to, to look at track and field is like, like, yes, I want to get all these awards. I want, I want to do all these great things for, for the school and to do it alongside like great athletes, like, you know, Michaela and Gabi. But I think I also know that there’s more to life than just track and field. And I try really, really hard to to not, like walk around and think of myself as just a mark or a national champion. Like I’m more than that. I’m a human. I’m not a robot. Like, I fail too. I have bad practices. I have bad meets. Things don’t line up for me to, like. So I think everyone likes to assume that I have it all together and I don’t, which is that’s the fun part about life, is that like, no one has it figured out, you know? And, and I think that’s cool. But I’ve learned so many life lessons that I’ll take with me forever. And and I’m grateful for that.

 

Amy Parsons [00:14:45] Let’s talk about last June when you all competed in the Olympic trials. I want to hear what that was like for you. It was so exciting for all of us to know that you’re there and to watch you in the trials. Just what was that experience like? We’ll start with you.

 

Mya Lesnar [00:14:59] Yeah, I think for me it was a very long season. I had hit the qualifying mark in. When did I hit it? Pretty early on in the season.

 

Coach Bedard [00:15:11] In the winter.

 

Gabi Morris [00:15:12] December.

 

Mya Lesnar [00:15:12] Yeah. Yeah. December

 

Gabi Morris [00:15:14] It was your first meet.

 

Mya Lesnar [00:15:18] Yes. So like months before and I didn’t really even comprehend what that even meant, right? Because I had had such a bad season before. Wasn’t throwing near as far as these any elite athletes in the world. And then suddenly I do. And everything was coming together and I was like, “What does this mean? I have no idea.” So to be put in that position was was pretty cool. But yes, it was a very long season. It was a cool experience for me. Didn’t do as well as I wanted to, but I don’t think that was what I took away from it. I think now I know what it’s like. I know what the atmosphere is like. Yeah, I think it was just it was just a complete learning experience for me. And now, now I know. Now I know to do for, you know, 2028.

 

Amy Parsons [00:16:04] Next time.

 

Mya Lesnar [00:16:05] Yeah.

 

Amy Parsons [00:16:06] Amazing, what was it like for you two?

 

Gabi Morris [00:16:08] You can start. Yeah.

 

Michaela Hawkins [00:16:10] One that was so cool to go with, like, two of my closest friends in life. I mean, surely, like, I don’t know all the. Just the odds of the three of us going together and then one of us getting left behind. And just it was that part was really cool. Also super cool. I felt like we really had the support of the school and I really appreciate it. Like everyone was backing us up here and people would stop and ask me, “Oh my gosh, how are you feeling about it? Like, are you excited?” And just all the hype was really, really cool. We really appreciated that. So thanks. Yeah, it was amazing. It was super inspiring to meet so many athletes from not just throwers, but I talked to so many athletes outside of throwing that were just so driven and it was really overwhelming in the best way.

 

Amy Parsons [00:16:56] Yeah.

 

Michaela Hawkins [00:16:56] And for me, I always walk the balance of like, I’m someone who likes to take in the little moments in life. So being there, I wanted to do the best I could, but I also didn’t want it to overshadow just being in the present moment and realizing I’ve made it here, you know, like enjoy it. I didn’t want to go by without, you know, thinking, “I haven’t even enjoyed this!” You know? So I work to do that. And I also wanted to do better. But I talked to so many of the athletes who was their second or third time around, and they were like, “Oh, like girl, like our first time. You know, it’s just a learning experience.” And we do plan on being back there. So it’s really just really good practice. It was a great time.

 

Amy Parsons [00:17:36] Yeah.

 

Gabi Morris [00:17:37] Yeah, I agree with that. I think like they both said, it’s it’s something that’s, you know, we all in college as a college athlete, you start in, like Mya said December, as if you’re when you’re a professional, like you won’t start your outdoor season until probably May or later. And so there’s months and months more of of training and trying to be at that peak longer than anybody else was. And so to extend it all the way through the end of July is really difficult. But I will say the biggest thing to me is like, I think that, as Michaela said, I love that we got to go as like three best friends. Not only is it unlikely that that one school will have three athletes or one school of three athletes in the same sort of event group, but just to have three athletes that are so close and like that made it incredibly special. And then it really embodied like we talk about it a lot within the three of us, and it’s something to take away in a life is like, Track is beautiful again and unique as a sport. Is that when, you know I always relate it back to soccer, I hate talking about soccer, but when I was a goalie, there was one goalie on the field. So my two friends who are goalies with me, they didn’t get to play when I played or I didn’t get to play when they played. The beautiful part about track is that like one of us doing well doesn’t take away an opportunity from someone else. And so it’s really amazing to be able to push ourselves and each other and have our success sort of drive one another constantly without bringing anybody down and having that sort of toxic aspect of the competition. And so I’ve always appreciated track for that, and I think that’s what sort of set us up, as well as the Coach Bedard, you know, coaching and culture on his team that he’s created and CSU culture added to the like the opportunity that we had to have, the three of us go and be supportive of one another. And like, unfortunately I wasn’t competing in the discus with Michaela, but we did support her there. But like, to throw with Mya in the finals at the Olympic trials and to be able to turn around and go talk to my teammate who I train with on a daily basis, that’s like incredibly special. You don’t feel quite so alone. It’s just amazing to have your best friends there with you and every time.

 

Amy Parsons [00:19:39] That’s amazing perspective. Are you all, all three looking forward to 2028?

 

Gabi Morris [00:19:45] Yeah, that’s the goals.

 

Amy Parsons [00:19:46] Yeah, that’s the goal at this point? How does that drive you now and sort of your day to day and your your training and whatever, knowing that that’s the next horizon for you?

 

Michaela Hawkins [00:19:55] It feels a little extra real since we both, since all three of us have been to the Olympic trials. I think before, it’s like, one day I dream of that. But it’s like, no, it’s really a goal is very tangible and I think that is really cool. Like, it’s like, no, this feels very real. It’s a little extra added pressure in a good way, but also just feels like it’s just within reach, you know?

 

Amy Parsons [00:20:14] Yeah, yeah, yeah.

 

Gabi Morris [00:20:16] Yeah. You think of where we were four years ago, you know, massively different. Like, they were at different schools. I was still playing soccer. I had a knee surgery. Like, we all have come so far in the last four years to think of what where we’ll be in the next four years and the incredible things we can do between now and then is is really exciting. And and then again, to be able to ideally do it together and have that, you know, camaraderie would be really cool.

 

Mya Lesnar [00:20:41] Like we were, me and Gabi were, you know, one of the youngest people in the final, in the shotput competition at trials. So, you know, the girl who won it was 30 years old. You know, I’m 22. So talk about experience, right? So come four years, you know, 2028, I can’t imagine the amount  of consistency and experience I’m going to gain in those four years. And also, you know, so I think I think we’re all looking forward to that. And like Micheala said, like, you know, first time there, now we know what it’s like. We got that out of the way. And yeah, I think 2028 it’ll be our year.

 

Gabi Morris [00:21:21] So Coach Bedard can look forward to four more years of coaching us.

 

Mya Lesnar [00:21:23] Incredibly happy about that.

 

Gabi Morris [00:21:25] It’s like we’re freshmen again.

 

Amy Parsons [00:21:29] Coach Bedard all these athletes talk about coming to work with you here and the culture that you’ve built here. How is it different or special with this particular group of throwers?

 

Coach Bedard [00:21:41] Well, they’re talented. That helps. I don’t coach a whole lot different than I have, you know, over the years. But a lot of it’s who you have in the program and what they bring and their commitment. So, I mean, I feel blessed to have these guys all in. And they’re talented. I mean, and then they uplift their teammates. So it just it makes it easy, I can just sit back and.

 

Amy Parsons [00:22:10] Yeah, I’m sure.

 

Coach Bedard [00:22:12] So, yeah, it’s pretty basic philosophy that we just stick with every day and you got to earn your opportunities and you got to, you know, serve the team and put the team first and check your ego at the door, you know, get to work. So pretty simple stuff. But we try to maintain that every day at practice.

 

Amy Parsons [00:22:33] Pretty simple stuff. But you’ve built a really remarkable program. I mean, you’ve, you know, built teams that consistently compete at the highest levels. You’ve led CSU to 22 Mountain West Team championships.

 

Coach Bedard [00:22:46] Is it that many?

 

Amy Parsons [00:22:46] Yep. Coached athletes to 194 individual conference titles, 85 All-American honors. So you’ve built a really remarkable program over a very long period of time. Talk about how you create that consistent winning culture over all those years.

 

Coach Bedard [00:23:05] Communicate our goals and our, you know, what’s important to us on the team our, our culture, our values, all that communicate the heck out of it. And that’s the recruiting process with the recruits we’re looking at and their parents. And this is how we do things here at CSU. It’s not going to be different when you get here. So I spell it all out. Our coaches do the same thing. Just very clear communication about that. We don’t put on a Vegas show when kids come on, on recruiting visits. This is this is who we are. This is Colorado State. This is how we do things. And if it feels like a good fit, then that’s how it’s going to be when you get here. And then hire great staff. You got to have staff that kind of believe in what we’re doing here to serve the team. Life coaches, student athletes are passionate about our student athletes and making them better.

 

Amy Parsons [00:23:56] Yeah.

 

Coach Bedard [00:23:56] So some coaches don’t want a life coach anymore. It’s too hard, but it’s part of it. And I hear coaches these days, “Well, we’re not in the life coach anymore. We don’t have time for that. We wouldn’t…” I’m like, that doesn’t make sense to me. So there’s still that element too.

 

Michaela Hawkins [00:24:13] I would say that made the biggest difference is like technically the coaching, I needed that, but it was really about the mental, you know, preparation for a competition is that’s what changed for my last year. And talking through that with him, I have some like key moments thinking back, like where we had some hard discussions and it wasn’t anything related to technical things with throwing.

 

Gabi Morris [00:24:35] But yeah, I was going to say that I think we’ve all had those moments and I think most of the successful athletes that you’ll talk to has had those moments too, and like, but our thing with the life coaching part of that stuff builds the trust with Coach Bedard so that when he is hard on you, you know it’s in your best interest and you know that he’s got your back. And it’s not just a coach being a jerk to you. And you know, so it, it’s the trust that really is built there in those moments that helps you. So where he’s hard on you later it you take it, you take it seriously and then you do get better.

 

Amy Parsons [00:25:07] Yeah.

 

Coach Bedard [00:25:11] Oh, I challenge ’em, I’m not… But I mean, I think you can have the biggest growth through your biggest failures, I mean. But if you’re not willing to look at that and humble yourself to look at those failures and you just, you want to kind of ignore it or not dig into why that happened, I don’t think you grow. So, they’re, we look at the failures and it’s, “Okay, now how do we get better? Otherwise, we’re going to repeat that.” So, they’ve got to be vulnerable to do that.

 

Amy Parsons [00:25:40] Well, in addition to being elite athletes and some of the best in the country, you’re also students right at CSU and have had your own academic journeys as students. Talk to us a little bit about your academic journey in addition to your athletic journey. What have you enjoyed studying? What do you see for your future outside of throwing?

 

Gabi Morris [00:26:00] So I’m on as what Bedard like to call it the seven year plan. I have a business degree concentrating on computer information systems, and then I am almost done with my computer science degree and I’m getting a masters certificate in business administration. So I have had a little bit of a taste of like, like at least two different colleges at CSU. Personally, I nothing against CS, CS is fun. It’s a passion of mine. But I love the College of Business here. We’re one of the top business schools in the country for a reason. Yeah, and I would like to take that on into life and go to hopefully some sort of sports analysis in a tech company or event management with, you know, something like on form or a similar company.

 

Amy Parsons [00:26:41] Yeah.

 

Gabi Morris [00:26:41] But yeah so it’s been a lot of school here as well as the sports.

 

Amy Parsons [00:26:45] Yeah that’s great.

 

Michaela Hawkins [00:26:48] I wasn’t sure I was even going to go to college and without track I wouldn’t have. But I’m really glad I did. I graduated with my degree in psychology and I hope to do an accelerated nursing program once a professional track is done. I’m very passionate about people and medical things, but I would say as much as I didn’t like college my first few years, I was just, you know, growing and learning how to be a student. My last two years, three years at CSU, I felt like, “Wow, I actually really like college!” Like, I’m so happy to walk away. Everyone walks away like, ” Oh, I have all these friends and this and the college experience.” And I never felt that until I came here. And just the people, everyone was so welcoming. And I like felt like, oh, this is a home to me. And it was I was so glad to walk away with that because I was like, “How am I like, not getting that?” So, yeah.

 

Gabi Morris [00:27:45] You cheeseball. That was cute.

 

Michaela Hawkins [00:27:46] And oh these crazy girls, they might have something to do with that.

 

Amy Parsons [00:27:51] They might, I think they do.

 

Mya Lesnar [00:27:52] And like Michaela, I did not really want to go to college. Wasn’t really something I had in mind. I actually wanted to join the military, but I was like, I think I want to do this track thing. I want to try it out, see where it goes. And I’m glad I did. But I like like Michaela, too, I’ve created so many relationships and networks with people in college and I don’t know, I think it’s it’s been really good for me. And I’m glad I chose this path, but I’m not sure what I want to do after with my degree. I’ll be graduating with a sociology degree. Yeah.

 

Coach Bedard [00:28:29] You don’t have your life all figured out?

 

Gabi Morris [00:28:31] At the ripe age of 22?

 

Mya Lesnar [00:28:32] I don’t, you know.

 

Coach Bedard [00:28:34] I still don’t either. I’m just trying out this coaching thing.

 

Mya Lesnar [00:28:38] For 30 plus year just trying it out.

 

Coach Bedard [00:28:43] Still trying to figure it out.

 

Amy Parsons [00:28:44] Still trying to figure out. Well, we’re so glad that you all chose CSU, first of all, and that you’ve had this great academic and athletic experience at CSU. I know CSU Ram Nation will be so excited to follow your careers over the next four years, we’ll all be cheering you on into the Olympic trials, and we’re just so proud of you. So proud of Coach Bedard and what you’ve built here at CSU. It’s, it’s really a point of pride for CSU. And that sustained success is really unusual. And that’s really a testament to your great coaching.

 

Coach Bedard [00:29:13] It’s been easy. You know, it’s it’s been a great journey. And again, it’s the staff you put in place and then the athletes you recruit. If you got everybody buying in, it makes things a lot easier. So it’s obviously not a one man show by any means. So.

 

Amy Parsons [00:29:29] Yeah, well, you all have gained so much wisdom in so many ways. You’ve shared a lot of that with us today, both athletically, what you’ve learned about yourselves, what you’ve learned about competition, working as a team and friendship and all of that. Think a little bit with us about what advice you would give to new students just coming into CSU or maybe young athletes just starting on their journey deciding whether or not this is for them? What advice would you have? You know I always end these talks with advice for CSU because student success ultimately is our number one priority at CSU. And, and students can really learn from your journeys. So anybody want to share what advice you might have for students who are just starting out?

 

Mya Lesnar [00:30:13] Sure. I’d say for me, I’m a pretty impatient person.

 

Gabi Morris [00:30:17] No.

 

Michaela Hawkins [00:30:19] What?

 

Mya Lesnar [00:30:19] And I think throughout the years, I wish I would have been more patient when I was a freshman and when I was younger and really, you know, took it all in and then just been patient and just let everything, you know, come together because it does if you if you let it happen and I don’t know just networking like really getting to know people, getting to know your professors getting really getting to know like your coaching staff, talking to people, not just being close minded and being like, I’m just going to get advice from this one person because they gave me really good advice. I mean, there are a lot of people here who care about you and want you to be successful. Yeah.

 

Amy Parsons [00:31:02] That’s good advice..

 

Michaela Hawkins [00:31:06] For me, It’s not stuff I already said earlier in the podcast, but I think not being afraid to fail for me was the biggest thing. And also not just thinking things are going to happen if things aren’t. If you don’t like the way your life is, if you don’t like the way certain things are, you can change that. You have the power to change that. And everyone tells you that. But I, it never clicked till I really thought about it until I hit the lows. I was like, “Wow, this is, you know, because of choices I made earlier. So yeah, I’m going to change this. I’m going to really work to change this.” And I don’t want to have any regrets. I don’t want to leave CSU being like, “I wish I would have done this. I wish I would’ve, you know, talk to these people. I wish I would have..” You know, so, yeah, being, you know, being willing to just let go of the future and let go of, you know, what you think you’re supposed path is and put your effort in the present. And I think the consistency of like waking up and every day choosing it’s not just like this one time, you make this one big decision and then you’re, you know, done. It’s every day in the little moments choosing how am I being a D1 athelete right now? How am I, you know, making choices that are going to lead to where I want to be would be. That, and then also, like Maya said, the relationships with people, I think like, I don’t know, I’m really driven by close connections with people. I wouldn’t, I would never want to be in a program where I don’t have a really close relationship with the coach where I don’t trust him and he trusts me. And then same with my teammates. I and even with my professors, like I want to get to know them. I want to have a personal relationship and that helps me, you know, get my drive. Yeah.

 

Gabi Morris [00:32:56] You guys. I shouldn’t have let you guys go first. There’s nothing left. No, I. I think step one is if you’re, because we’re talking to new students, right? So step one is you’ve made a great choice by coming to CSU. I’m biased because I’m from here, but I, yeah, I love Fort Collins, and I think I took it for granted a little bit growing up and like not going to all the stuff that Fort Collins has. But there’s so many things you can do and and opportunities to go have fun and like they said, make connections and all these things and and CSU especially puts on those and with you know I’ve been here a long time so I can say that the change that since you’ve been president has been in the right direction too. And so take advantage of that. Yeah, buy in. Like, I think basically you guys summed it up pretty well. But buy in, you know, go after it. Don’t be afraid to take chances and yeah, take every advantage or take full advantage of everything that CSU has to offer because it has to offer a lot, a lot for us.

 

Amy Parsons [00:33:50] That’s a lot of wise advice. Coach Bedard I want to give you the last word because you’ve been giving students advice for couple of decades now.

 

Coach Bedard [00:33:56] Yeah. And I was, I think Michaela kind of hit on some things, but and I’m I talked to the team about this quite a bit is a full commitment. You know, don’t don’t compartmentalize your commitment level. Well, I’m going to work really hard at this, but I don’t this is harder for me, so, I want to kind of skip out on that or I’m not going to do this very well. But go all in, you know, invest yourself completely. Have no regrets, you know. So that’s the big, and that’s not just with athletics, it’s anything you do.

 

Amy Parsons [00:34:28] Yeah.

 

Coach Bedard [00:34:28] I think my biggest regrets when I look back is, you know, I didn’t give my best there. I didn’t I didn’t go all in. You know, I’m better than that. And of course, I can’t go back and change that. But looking forward, you know, that’s that’s the mindset you want to have.

 

Gabi Morris [00:34:42] Second best chance, best second, best time to do it is now, right?

 

Michaela Hawkins [00:34:46] It’s all in for coaching. Yeah.

 

Amy Parsons [00:34:47] Yeah. All in.

 

Coach Bedard [00:34:48] Yeah.

 

Amy Parsons [00:34:50] Well, that’s great advice. And I just want all of you to know just how proud Ram nation is of you and how grateful we are that you’re part of our community and just can’t wait to continue to support you on your journeys. And thanks, Coach, for what you do and what you’ll continue to do it for CSU.

 

Coach Bedard [00:35:07] Appreciate it. Thanks for having us.

 

Amy Parsons [00:35:07] You represent the best of CSU, so.

 

Coach Bedard [00:35:10] Thank you.

 

Amy Parsons [00:35:10] Go Rams. Stalwart Rams, right? Thank you for listening. I’m Amy Parsons, president of Colorado State University. And you’re listening to CSU’s, “The Next 150,” where we explore what comes next for CSU by chatting with changemakers who are already leading the charge and shaping our next 150 years. I’m gathering their very best advice for today’s CSU students. Stay tuned to wherever you get podcasts for our next outstanding conversation. Go Rams.