Illinois Wesleyan senior high jumper Eric Rydell (St. Joseph, Ill., St. Joseph Ogden HS) earned All-American status with his eighth place finish in 2016 NCAA D-III indoor meet (6 feet-6 1/4 inches). He was elected to third team of the 2016 CoSIDA Academic All-America® Men's Track and Field team.
Also in 2016 he was 16th in high jump in NCAA Division III outdoor championships and was chosen as the team's "Most Valuable Performer"
.He placed first in the 2016 CCIW indoor championships, tying a meet record at 6 feet-9 1/2 inches. He placed fifth in the CCIW in both 2014 and 2015.
At the CCIW outdoor championships, he has placed second in 2016 and fourth in both 2014 and 2015.
A psychology major at Illinois Wesleyan, he is the son of Brian and Dena Rydell.
Why I chose to attend Wesleyan: Coach Shoe wanted to let me jump for him for some reason and I knew a degree from IWU would be a good start to my career ... whatever that may be.
IWU Class I'm most qualified to teach: Probably our Animal Cognition class, I've spent a lot of time with dogs during my four years in the Dog Science lab here.
The hardest challenge about being a Division III student-athlete is: Either dealing with Coach Shoe's humor (Schumor) or having our bus break down on the way home from a meet last year.
Worst grade in a class I ever got - what and when? I secured a D in my eighth grade literature class, the teacher and I weren't the best of friends.
I'm deathly afraid of: Heights ... ironic isn't it?
Worst habit: Compulsive coffee consumption
Most expensive traffic ticket: I got two parking tickets over the course of three days sophomore year, remember to be at least three feet from a driveway everyone.Â
Language I'd like to learn: Mandarin Chinese, but that may take a lifetime.Â
Longest I could survive without my cell phone: I wouldn't miss it much, but probably until my mother came to track me down in person asking why I'm not reachable.Â
One word my mother or father would use to describe me: Stubborn
Favorite sports figures: Michael Jordan, Derek Drouin,Â
My greatest moment in sports was: Tying the CCIW meet record and qualifying for the indoor national meet last season.
The best player I've ever faced was: Trevor James, multiple time national champion in the high jump.
Worst dresser on my team: I think Bryan Worby wins this one, sorry friend.Â
Thing that's been in my fridge the longest: I usually eat most everything in sight..nothing lasts very long.
Person I'm dying to have dinner with: Dan Ariely (he's a super cool professor from Duke)
Favorite food: Anything Asian
Vegetable that I won't eat: I prefer to avoid beets
Pepsi or Coke? Coke
Favorite TV Show: I've been re-watching "House, MD" for maybe the third time recently...
Favorite Musical Group: I quite like the Arctic Monkeys
If a movie was made of my life, I would like the following person to play me: Morgan Freeman, no question.
The person in history I would most like to meet is: Bill Bowerman
My dream job would be: Celebrity Hibachi Chef
Place I'd most like to live: The Pacific Northwest
If I come back in another life, what would I return as? A Giant African Land Snail (Google it)
Tops on my bucket list? Attend the Olympic Trials at Hayward Field in Oregon
What I miss most about being in third grade: Toss up between recess and blissful ignorance
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