Nate Juergens ’11 and Scott Petesch ’10 play on the powerhouse men’s soccer team, which this year has taken Mac to the NCAA championship playoffs. Both men are also biology majors—and friends—who have done cutting-edge research in molecular genetics.

Their research involves identifying species by sequencing the DNA, long bits of four-letter genetic code. Using DNA sequences rather than morphology (form and structure) to describe species is called DNA barcoding. Both men worked with biology professor Sarah Boyer, Petesch on mite harvestmen, small arachnids akin to daddy longlegs, and Juergens on mussel species, the larvae of which are parasites that feed on fish.

“Managing demanding academics and athletics can get a bit daunting,” says Petesch, a midfielder on the soccer team. “Without question, I would say that Mac’s athletes are also, by necessity, some of its hardest working students. There are late nights studying where I know that I also have to somehow be sharp for a competition coming up the next day. But I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

(left: The Scots salute their fans after beating St. Olaf in overtime in the MIAC men's soccer semi-finals." (Christopher Mitchell photo))

Juergens is a center-defender and now a captain of the soccer team, which has given him an even greater appreciation for head coach Ian Barker. “He is a really nice guy who understands the demands of school and college life in general. He is also a great soccer mind, who knows coaching and takes his job seriously.” During his sophomore year, Juergens also served as the kicker for the football team.

The toughest part of juggling two sports was when he had a soccer game on Friday night followed by a football game on Saturday. “I would already be very sore and tired from the night before and then instead of resting and recuperating, I would go get excited to participate in a football game.” Head coach Tony Jennison let Juergens know he appreciated his contribution, and special teams coach Marshall Mullenbach helped him to hone his form and kicking. “He spent a lot of extra time helping me, a soccer player who had never kicked a football, and turning me into a decent Division III kicker.”

Juergens and Petesch agree that the best thing about sports at Mac is the friends they make. “I have very close friends in every year—freshman to seniors—from all over the world, of every major because of the soccer team,” says Juergens.

Petesch notes another benefit of being a student-athlete : “The most academically relevant thing I take away from soccer is time management. Now, being a senior, I’ve gotten good enough to set aside time for fun as well!”

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