Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
(written by Claire Norfleet, Student Sports Information Assistant)
Jan. 25, 2016 - After taking up wrestling during his junior year of high school as a way to stay active in between football and track season, North Central College senior Ben Bard never imagined how much he would truly love the sport.
Before he became a Cardinal, Bard was a student at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. With the help of a close friend, he was able to find North Central, where he ultimately felt more at home. In addition to wrestling, Bard is also a member of the track and field team, where he competes in the 200 and 400-meter sprints and the 400-meter hurdles.
"I started track and field my freshman year of high school because I was kind of chunky and wanted to lose some weight, but I ended up loving it and making huge improvements every year that I have been involved," Bard said.
Being a two-sport athlete at the collegiate level comes with a full plate of responsibilities. Having a tough class schedule and an internship makes for a much larger realm of activities to manage. But outside of athletics, academics, or his work involved with sales and marketing at Walker Athletics Multi Sports Complex in Lisle, Bard has a unique and wide range of hobbies.
Some of his oldest ones include drawing and sketching, playing viola, studying Northwest Coast Native American cultures and running. Recently, he has started to pick up woodcarving, cooking and folk dancing.
"My family is really into music and art, so viola, drawing and folk dancing are all things I picked up with their help," Bard said. "Carving and studying Northwest Coast Native Americans come from my interest in cultures, so a few years back I started trying to carve their designs into wood that was laying around in the garage and have been learning more ever since. Cooking just started last year when I had to focus on making weight for wresting, so I wanted everything I ate to taste good."
Following graduation, Bard hopes to spend some time in Alaska, where he would search for a job in the advertising or marketing industry as well as a coaching position for a wrestling or track and field program, before ultimately returning to the Chicago area for work opportunities in similar fields.
"Alaska would be great because I could get away from the city/suburb life while being close to the Native American cultures I study, as well as being able to coach and work so I'm still earning a living," Bard said. "It's just a place that I have always wanted to visit."
The marketing major is wrapping up his final year of athletic eligibility for both wrestling and track and field, after having played football and run track at his previous school.
"It's bittersweet, but I know that I'll find a way to be a part of the sports I love even if I'm not competing on the mat or on the track."
