BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The next alum in the Moravian College Department of Athletics & Recreation's Get to Know Series is former men's tennis student-athlete C.J. Widdifield from the Class of 2016. Widdifield was selected as the ECAC Division III Men's Tennis Tournament's Most Valuable Player in 2015 as the Greyhounds won their first ECAC title, and he had 26 singles and 26 doubles victories during his career. He was also a three-time member of the Landmark Conference Spring Academic Honor Roll.
C.J. Widdifield
Class: 2016
How did you choose the sport you played when you were growing up? Tennis was a sport that I fell in love with at a young age, initially I was just playing doubles as a fun summer activity and quickly things changed to competitive doubles. This is when I truly began to feel the competitive nature of the sport. It is one of the few sports with both an individual and team aspect where success and defeat is nobody's fault but your own.
Why did you choose to come to Moravian College? I knew Moravian College would prepare me for a future as a dentist, with a strong health science curriculum. However, the appeal of being a collegiate athlete and training to become a better tennis player was the icing on the cake.
What experiences as a student-athlete at Moravian helped prepare you for life after college? As a student athlete and biochemistry major, there were many long, stressful nights and early mornings. When I wasn't on the court, or in the gym, I was working through lab reports, O.Chem mechanisms, and biological systems. I had to be on the top of my game at all times to ensure the highest level of comprehension. Today I work long shifts treating the people of my community and this hard work and dedication that blossomed at Moravian College has been my working mentality for my life as a dentist after graduation.
How did you get into your current occupation? I had dreams of becoming a dentist as a young child. Moravian College gave me the background knowledge and ability to see the profession in several different lights through real life experiences. There is nothing like giving someone their smile back.
What was your favorite place on campus? I loved the cafe. With a small school like Moravian, I would see tons of familiar faces, teammates, classmates, professors and of course Don. I can remember having a table of 10+ people all laughing and enjoying the company of one another. Food always tastes better when you eat with friends.
What activities/organizations were you involved in at Moravian College as a student-athlete? I stayed busy at Moravian College, I was the president and brother of Sigma Phi Epsilon, I help found the Boxing Club and was named treasurer, I was in the Pre-Health Club, SAAC, and the IFC to name a few. I enjoyed volunteering for the beautiful Vesper's service each year as well with other SigEp and AST friends.
What was your most memorable moment at Moravian? My most memorable moment at Moravian is difficult to pin down. Three memories I will never forget at Moravian are the day I was accepted into dental school, winning the tennis ECAC Championship and having my match clinch the win, and lastly the day I was voted to be the president of SigEp.
What advice do you have for prospective student-athletes looking to attend Moravian College? Come to Moravian, experience the school, the environment, and see for yourself that this is more than a college experience but somewhere you will find your family away from home.
What advice do you have for current student-athletes as they approach graduation? Immerse yourself in what you love, play your heart out, and win or lose know you put it all on the line. It's always a Great Day to be a Hound.
What is the best piece of advice you've been given? College is what you make of it, keep yourself busy and involved and the possibilities are endless.
Who are your role models/most influential people? My parents. They have had my back since day 1 and have supported me in every way I could ever ask for. I strive to be like them and make them proud each and every day.
Which three people, living or dead, would you like to share a meal with? Albert Einstein, Michael Jordan, Bill Burr
Quick Hits:
Favorite Color – Blue
Favorite Food – Nutella and Banana Crepe
Favorite Restaurant – Hoof's
Favorite Movie – Lord of the Rings
Favorite TV Show – Breaking Bad
Favorite Musical Artist – Eminem
Favorite Athlete – Brett Favre
Favorite Pro Team – GB Packers, Boston Celtics, Boston Bruins, Boston Red Sox
Hobbies – Marvel Superhero's/Comics, Homebrewing, Target/Claybird Shooting
Most Prized Possession – anything family has passed down to me
Ideal Travel Destination – Turks and Caicos
Your Spirit Animal – Elephant
Superpower you'd Like to Have – I'd love to be Spider-Man
