Ryan Burch

Year of Graduation: Senior
Sport: Men’s Cross Country
Major: Business
Hometown: Greenwich, N.Y.

Who is your favorite pro athlete?

Ryan Dungey, a professional motocross rider.  He embodies hard work, he never quits. The dude finished a 30 minute race with a broken back. He’s proof of what hard work, dedication and heart gets you.

Why did you choose Mount Ida?

It’s small, and I come from a small high school. It’s near Boston and I wanted that city feel because I’m from the country so I wanted to experience something new. I was recruited here for soccer and this was the recruit visit I enjoyed the most. The guys just seemed like a group. They were relaxed. Pete (Sliva) was from New York - I had played against him in high school, so it was cool to have someone I played against and was from my area. I also looked at Wells, Hilbert, Sage, and Lesley.

What is your favorite moment so far as a Mustang student-athlete?

Last year’s men’s soccer team beating JWU in overtime. That was awesome. It was just one of those games that was fun to be a part of. It showed the hard work we had put in had paid off because the year before that we were not at their level.

What’s your favorite food? TV Show? Music artist? Movie?

I enjoy almost all seafood. I love seafood. / American Horror Story / Grouplove (alt. rock) / I don’t have a certain type of movie that I like. I hate that question because it’s too hard to pick.

When not playing your sport, what do you like to do for fun?

I enjoy road biking, working out, and just running for fun. Even though in cross country we do a lot of endurance training, we’re not marathon training, and I have a half coming up in November, and I’m waiting for my Boston Marathon qualifying date, so if I get into that I will have to train for marathons again. You have to run a US qualification race to qualify for Boston. In November, I am running the Chilly Half Marathon which starts at South Newton HS.

What is something most people don’t know about you?

Probably that I race dirt bikes in the summer. Not a lot of people know that about me. I’ve been racing for six years, racing endurance, which are like hour and a half to two hour races in the dead of the summer. People ask me what’s harder between a marathon and dirt bike endurance race. The dirt bike season is harder, racing every weekend that long. On the day of, it’s tough between that and a marathon. I’ve never gotten heat exhaustion from a marathon, but I have from dirt biking.

What would be your dream job?

To be an Olympic or some kind of professional runner or some kind of endurance runner. I’d like to get into ultra-marathons, anything above 26.2, which are races that take place in the middle of nowhere in the mountains and last a few days sometimes.

What’s the best thing about the Division 3 experience?

It seems to give an opportunity to people who otherwise wouldn’t have thought of playing in college. It still offers the experience of being extremely competitive, at a higher level than high school, but with the hint of opportunity for everyone. Unlike Division 1, you can get on a team if you are a hard worker, which I think is a good thing.

Who is someone that has been an inspiration or a role model in your life?

My dad, for sure. He was a runner in high school. He also skis and I’m a skier as well, so I’ve always looked up to him for that. He’s easily best skier I know. He knows a ton about running, so I always pick his mind, and he rides motorcycles, so I got info, knowledge and techniques from him when I was learning to ride. He teaches me a lot about being an adult male. He just has vast amounts of knowledge that I’m really glad he can share with me.

What are some words that you think your teammates would use to describe you?

Dedicated, crazy, relaxed. Not that high strung. I know when to have fun and when to be serious. I don’t drink soda (haven’t for the last four years), don’t eat desserts, and go to bed at ten.

Suzie Thibault

Year of Graduation: Sophomore
Sport: Field Hockey
Position: Defense
Major: Psychology
Hometown: Douglas, Mass.

Who is your favorite pro athlete?

Patrice Bergeron. I’m a big Boston Bruins fan and he is dedicated to the sport. He plays for the game and not for money.

Why did you choose Mount Ida?

I went to a really small high school. I liked how Mount Ida was small. I wanted to be near the city and wanted to play field hockey. I looked at Worcester State, but I wanted to be near Boston. Mount Ida was my top choice. I decided to come even before I toured it. I knew I wanted to come, no matter what it looked like and I loved it when I eventually toured it.

What is your favorite moment so far as a Mustang student-athlete?

Last year I got MIP, and that was a big deal for me because in my town you could try out for the high school team in 7^th grade and I got cut. I didn’t know if I wanted to play, but my dad forced me to and I made varsity when I was a freshman. I worked very hard to get where I am with field hockey. I know my family is really excited for me because they knew I didn’t want to play and then I grew to love the sport.

What’s your favorite food? TV Show? Music artist? Movie?

I’m a very big chicken fan, just everything chicken, like chicken tenders / The Vampire Diaries / I’m a big EDM (electronic dance music) fan, like Zedd / Silver Linings Playbook

When not playing your sport, what do you like to do for fun?

In high school I was a baton twirler. I was captain and the featured twirler for my team, so every now and then I pick up a baton or go back to my high school practice. My sister was also a baton twirler and she is now a co-coach in high school so I go help her out. I still twirl occasionally - my sister and I do the July 4^th parade in Wellfleet.

What is something most people don’t know about you?

I was almost born on my dad’s boat. I was premature and was born in Cape Cod while my parents were on vacation. The day before I was born my sister jumped on my mom’s stomach while they were at their Cape house, and my mom had to be rushed to the Hyannis hospital. I was almost three months premature.

What would be your dream job?

I really want to help people, but I haven’t decided exactly how yet. I have considered working in a mental health hospital, working with people who have Asperger’s, or doing grave counseling. I keep switching, but I just know that I want to help people.

What’s the best thing about the Division 3 experience?

Playing time is really important. I’ve started every game and never came out. It’s really flexible with school so you can focus on that, whereas D1 or 2 you have to be committed and miss classes. I purposely made my schedule so nothing will interfere with games or practices since I hate missing them, nor do I like missing classes.

Who is someone that has been an inspiration or a role model in your life?

My sister because I “follow in her footsteps.” She always strives for herself and everyone else’s best. Watching her play field hockey in college made me want to play also. She pushes me harder in everything, especially field hockey, to get better. She is 20 and plays field hockey as a junior at Worcester State.

What are some words that you think your teammates would use to describe you?

Supportive, caring, hard-working, and dependable.