The Messiah outdoor track and field season is under way and the team will open competition at the Danny Curran Invitational on Mar. 31 – Apr. 1 in Chester, Pa.
Christian Pavlovich is looking to once again have a great season throwing the javelin after qualifying for the NCAA Championships in 2015 and 2016. Last year he finished in second place at MAC Outdoor Championships with a PR mark of 198'9'' earning All-MAC honors. He then competed at the NCAA Outdoor Championships finishing in 10th place overall.
We wanted to learn more about Christian's experience at Messiah so we decided to sit down and talk with him in this week's edition of #WhyMessiah
What is your full name?
Joseph
Christian Pavlovich
I go by Christian because I have 6 relatives on one side of my family with either the name Joseph, Joe or Joey.
What are the names of the rest of your family and where do you fall among siblings?
My parents are Kori and Joe Pavlovich. I am the oldest to be followed by my sister Sarah, brother Jared, and sister Olivia.
Is there anything unique about your family or members of your family that you want to share?
My brother is coming to Messiah to play soccer in 2018, and my sister plays soccer at Lynchburg college and recently was rostered with the Lancaster Inferno, a semi pro team in the UWS league.
Why did you come to Messiah and/or why do you love being at Messiah?
I came to Messiah because it offered me the unique opportunity to study film and be a track and field athlete. The other schools I visited told me I had to pick one or the other. This really discouraged me since I wanted to be a filmmaker and I wanted to throw collegiately.
After meeting with the film department and Coach Fogelsanger I felt confident I could make it work here. It ended up being the right choice! I am now a junior and have gained a tremendous amount of experience in the film program and I have competed in the last two National championships so neither of my passions have suffered.
Why did you choose your specific major here at Messiah? Have you enjoyed your study in it? Why or why not?
I choice film and media arts because I have always loved having a camera in my hand. I love telling stories that connect with people, inspire, and motivate, but can also help heal and mend. Studying film at Messiah has opened a lot of doors for me, and I look forward to what my last year here holds.
What is your dream job for after college?
My dream job after graduating would be touring with a music group and shooting all their video or working for ESPN, Crossfit, or any other sports organization in a media-generating role.
If you could have dinner with one person in history, who would it be and why?
I would have dinner with Jesse Owens, a four-time Olympic Gold medalist in the 1936 Berlin Games. Owens was not only an incredible athlete but servant as well. Once he retired he became very involved in helping US track and field, youth in his community, and many other causes. I think learning more about his life would be an inspiration to me.
How do you balance your academic work and your commitment to your sport?
I balance my academics and athletics by trying to stay organized and on schedule. I keep a fairly detailed daily calendar and try to follow it. Sometimes it doesn't work so well but that is just how it goes sometimes. Ultimately as one of the Pardoe's said awhile back, when its time to run I run, when its time for schoolwork I do my work.
Who has most influenced your life and why?
My parents, Kori and Joe, have made a huge impact on my life, both being very selfless. My dad has literally taught himself everything my siblings and I have gotten involved in so that he could teach us, and be there for us. This includes learning how to snowboard, throw the javelin, play soccer, the list could go on and on. With all of these activities, he had no prior experience, and now I can confidently say he can coach/do these activities at a very high level.
My mom is so giving of her free time and craft skills in our families' activities as well. She is always outdoing herself from having the best snacks on the sidelines as a kid to making javelin bags for the throwers. She also is there for all of us when we bomb our meet or game and are very upset. I will never be able to thank them enough.
What is one thing about Coach Fogelsanger that those outside your team may not know?
Coach Fogelsanger loves coming up with wacky riddles and brainteasers and will hit you with them without warning.
What is your favorite Messiah memory?
One of my favorite memories would have to be DJing the 80's dance my sophomore year. I spent the whole week before rehearsing with my partner Amos because we were so nervous. It ended up being a great dance and has led to me DJing almost every dance ever since.
If you had to answer the question #WhyMessiah what would you say?
Messiah is really an open sandbox for your passions and pursuits. All the tools you need to succeed are available, and with hard work and consistency, you can do just about anything.
