Senior Derek Andersen was named "Most Valuable Performer" for the Illinois Wesleyan 2015 men's cross country team. Andersen (Wheaton, Ill. / Wheaton-Warrenville South HS), who is also a member of the Titan men's track team, was the top Illinois Wesleyan finisher in two cross country meets last fall, including a 24th place finish in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin meet with a time of 26:55.
Majoring in English (writing) and business at Illinois Wesleyan, he is the son of Phillip and Christine Andersen.
Why you chose Illinois Wesleyan: The English program, the cross country team, and the small class sizes
IWU class you’re most qualified to teach: Creative Writing 101
The hardest challenge about being a Division III student-athlete is: Morning practice
Worst grade in a class you ever got – what and when? B in accounting because, well… it’s accounting
I’m deathly afraid of ... : Needles
Worst habit: Excessive sarcasm
Most expensive traffic ticket: $20 parking ticket from IWU
Language I’d like to learn: Danish
The longest I could survive without my cell phone: A couple weeks
One word your mother or father would use to describe you: Creative
Favorite sports figure: Steve Prefontaine
My greatest moment in sports was: Leading the cross country team through the conference championship, being named most valuable athlete
The best player I ever faced was: North Central’s top seven
Worst dresser on my team: Sam Powers— he’s got that Dad style
Thing that’s been in my fridge the longest: Mayonnaise
Person I’m dying to have dinner with: Trey Parker and Matt Stone
Favorite food: Oreos
Vegetable I won’t eat: Kale… I don’t buy the hype
Pepsi or Coke? Coke
Favorite TV show: "South Park"
Favorite musical group: Machine Gun Kelly
Favorite movie: "Pulp Fiction"
If a movie were made of my life, I would like the following person to play me: David Duchovny
If my life were on TV as a reality show, I’d call it: "The Biggest Snoozer"
The person in history I would most like to meet is: Mark Twain
My dream job would be: A professional novelist or poet
Place I’d most like to live: Colorado
Two things that are tops on my “bucket list”: Write a novel and do a sick wheelie on Razor Scooter
My possession that would fetch the most on eBay: My stereo
Who is the luckiest person in the world? Amanda Macuiba
What I miss most about being in the third grade: Capri Sun and AIM
