S.A.A.C Senior Spotlight: Denis Kalamar
10/23/2018 11:00:00 AM | Student-Athlete Support Services
Get to know Gonzaga senior Denis Kalamar
The SAAC Student-Athlete Spotlight is a weekly series that will highlight and promote senior Zag student-athletes on and off the playing field. This week's student-athlete is Denis Kalamar from the Men's Soccer team.
Denis is a Mathematics major with a minor in Business and is involved in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee as a representative from his team.
On the field, Denis has played in 29 career games and has scored a pair of goals and notched an assist with 19 total shots.
We caught up with the senior forward from Shoreline, Washington, to gain some insight on his experience as a student-athlete at Gonzaga.
What is your favorite memory as a Zag?
It would definitely be scoring a goal and an assist against Seattle U in a 4-2 win our sophomore year.
What does it mean to be a Zag?
Being a Zag is learning what it means to live a life of service, and how to be a well-rounded individual and leader in the community
Favorite Sports Team:
Barça
Favorite Musical Artist:
Quinn XCII
What attracted you to Gonzaga?
The community and the support from the academic/athletic staff, the awesome facilities, and the Jesuit education is second to none.
What do you enjoy most about playing this sport?
If I have an exam I am stressed for, or something else is bugging me, I know that during the whole practice or training I am only going to be thinking about soccer. It's therapeutic for me, it keeps me sane.
Do you have any pre-game/match rituals? If so, give an example:
I write three positive, first-person POV affirmations on a sticky note and I throw it into my sock. If something goes wrong in the game, I can feel the sticky note in my sock and it snaps me back into the flow.
What were your first thoughts/feelings/emotions when competing as a Division 1 athlete for your first time?
I was nervous. Everything was faster and everything was new. But like any obstacle, it's how you approach it that defines how successful you are going to be.
What are some of your team or personal goals?
Team goals: Win conference and make it to the NCAA playoffs. Personal goal: stay positive, stay healthy, and stay motivated throughout the season.
How has being an athlete helped you in the classroom?
It has helped me to prioritize and expect more out of myself. My motivation on the field has kept me motivated in the classroom.
Why is community service important to your role as a student-athlete at Gonzaga?
Community service helps shape your perspective. You become more grateful and more understanding to the community's circumstances while making a positive impact.
Denis is a Mathematics major with a minor in Business and is involved in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee as a representative from his team.
On the field, Denis has played in 29 career games and has scored a pair of goals and notched an assist with 19 total shots.
We caught up with the senior forward from Shoreline, Washington, to gain some insight on his experience as a student-athlete at Gonzaga.
What is your favorite memory as a Zag?
It would definitely be scoring a goal and an assist against Seattle U in a 4-2 win our sophomore year.
What does it mean to be a Zag?
Being a Zag is learning what it means to live a life of service, and how to be a well-rounded individual and leader in the community
Favorite Sports Team:
Barça
Favorite Musical Artist:
Quinn XCII
What attracted you to Gonzaga?
The community and the support from the academic/athletic staff, the awesome facilities, and the Jesuit education is second to none.
What do you enjoy most about playing this sport?
If I have an exam I am stressed for, or something else is bugging me, I know that during the whole practice or training I am only going to be thinking about soccer. It's therapeutic for me, it keeps me sane.
Do you have any pre-game/match rituals? If so, give an example:
I write three positive, first-person POV affirmations on a sticky note and I throw it into my sock. If something goes wrong in the game, I can feel the sticky note in my sock and it snaps me back into the flow.
What were your first thoughts/feelings/emotions when competing as a Division 1 athlete for your first time?
I was nervous. Everything was faster and everything was new. But like any obstacle, it's how you approach it that defines how successful you are going to be.
What are some of your team or personal goals?
Team goals: Win conference and make it to the NCAA playoffs. Personal goal: stay positive, stay healthy, and stay motivated throughout the season.
How has being an athlete helped you in the classroom?
It has helped me to prioritize and expect more out of myself. My motivation on the field has kept me motivated in the classroom.
Why is community service important to your role as a student-athlete at Gonzaga?
Community service helps shape your perspective. You become more grateful and more understanding to the community's circumstances while making a positive impact.
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