By Kali Westerberg
UWRF Sports Information

In every group of people, there is always somebody who can offer comic relief. For the UW-River Falls cross country team, Matt Olson is definitely fills that role.

However, Olson is not only funny, but is also extremely dedicated to his sport and faith. In May of 2006, he will graduate with a degree in agriculture studies with minors in dairy science and agronomy.  

He is very unsure of what he wants to do after he is done with school. Farming is obviously a possibility, but he has been feeling a little different about his future lately. "I don't really know what I want to do, at all. I am thinking about doing missions, maybe in Uganda, Russia, or Mongolia, joining the Peace Corps, or else becoming a youth pastor."

Olson contributes his career in cross country to two people: "Mr. Kinzinger and Mr. Curtis, for making me run so much that I lost 10 pounds."

Olson, a senior for the Falcons, is originally from Danbury, Wis., and graduated from Webster High School in 2002.  

In cross country, Olson's all-time best race was the 8,000 meter course (about five miles) that he ran in 26 minutes and 57 seconds. He ran this race at the regional in 2004 in Davenport, Iowa.   "Going across the finish line, looking at the clock, and seeing 26.57, my best time by over a minute and five seconds," is his most memorable experience so far in his running career.  

Cross country was not the only sport Olson has played in his lifetime considering he is also on the Falcon track team. He has played so many other sports that he can barely remember all of them. His top two choices were basketball, which he played from fifth to eleventh grade, and broomball, which he plays UW-River Falls.  

Cross country, Olson believes, has shaped his life in tremendous ways. He has learned discipline because "it takes a lot of discipline to get out there are run miles." He has been given a drive "in school, sports, and campus activities. People don't recognize how hard it is to run a lot of miles and fast." And, the last thing that he has learned is "the value of friendship.   I appreciate relationships with friends so much more now."

Although Olson does love to run, there are other things in life that he enjoys doing. He loves visiting with friends, talking with people (even those that he does not know), reading, playing the guitar, doing anything outdoors, and "playing ping-pong."

Olson has always been involved with a lot of clubs on campus, but this year he has cut back and is focusing on other areas of his life. He is active in Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and is a small group leader, he is a UW-RF Tour Guide, and is a member of the Crops and Soil Club, Dairy Club, and Vespers.

He came to UW-RF because of the "great agriculture program, the size of the community and University, and he felt that it was a good environment to continue his athletic competition.  

Matt Olson