Morehead State University - Raconteur Yearbook (Morehead, KY)

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Although Crager feels his small size of 58 will keep him from playing pro ball, he spent the summer traveling with the Athletes in Action. e The semiepro team played baseball and shared religious convictions. Baseball and academics go hand-in-hand for Kyle Crager, a junior math and Seorts Feature journalism major from Morehead. Crager is the second baseman for the University as well as a Presidential scholar. 1 34

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Unsung Heroes Moreheads collegiate athletic team has room for only so many athletes, but not the intramural department. There is room for everyone. Many teams and individuals partici- pated in the years intramurals, in the independent, fraternity and dormitory leagues. Competition in the leagues is fierce. iTve played in the softball and bas- ketball leagues, both independent and dorm, for three years now, and this year the intensity was the highest Iive ever seen, said Michael Newman, 21 senior from Beattyville. iiEveryone wanted to win very badly this year. Not everyone could win everything they entered, but it doesnt mean they were losers, just ask West Liberty senior Everett Markwell. iiOur basketball team didn,t win a game this year, but I had a good time anyway. It gave me the chance to play organized basketball, I didnit get to in high school. 111 definite- ly play again next year. A lot of people didnit win this year, but a lot of people did. A list of people that are wearing this years final intra- murals champions T-shirts is on the op- posite page. - By: Bryon Souder Ray Davis, a graduate student from Russell, com- peted in the intramurals archery competition that helped his fraternity tDelta Tau Deltai place sec- ond overall. Davis placed seventh overall. PHOTO BY: 1e17Colquhoun lntramurals 133

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A second baseman wanting to be Third Athlete, Presidential scholar, Father . . . these words all describe Kyle Crager, a Morehead j unior with a double maj or in mathematics and journalism. Crager did not see as much baseball action as usual this year in his position as second baseman for the Eagle hardball squad. Injuries kept him OH the field for a large part of the season. II had a hard season because I sprained my knee, which put me out for two and half weeks, he said. uI missed five more games when I tore my right tricep. Iim just happy I got to finish out the season with the team. The team had a successful season, in Cragefs opinion, although they did not do quite as well as they could have. II consider the season successful, although we didn,t per- form quite as well as I would have liked? he remarked. iiWe got Off to a slow start; we were 1-8 at one time. It was a hard battle to come up with a good record, but we did. Crager also commented about the teams the Eagles played. We had a tough schedule, but it makes me proud that we won games against some bigger schools? he said. Crager has been playing baseball for many years. iiIt is hard to face the fact that Ive only got one more year to play baseball, and then I will never play competitively again? Crager said. Crager does not see himself playing professional ball after he leaves Morehead, partly because of his small size. iTm only a 5'8 , and most scouts look for bigger players, although Fm not using that as an excuse, he said. iTve made the most of the talents I was given; I just wasn,t given every- thing it takes to be a professional player Still, I am very fortunate to have my gift Not everyone has their way paid through college for doing what they love to do. Because of the baseball scholarship and the Presidential academic scholarship Crager has, he does not have to pay any tuition or fees to attend the University. The scholar and ath- lete maintains a 3.88 grade point average, while maintaining a heavy course load. Crager feels that baseball and academics go hand-in-hand, because both require hard work and fortitude to excel. uAll the things I am involved in make my work harder, but you,ve got to pay a price to do well in any aspect of life, said Crager. iiAthletics and academics complement each other in this respect? Crager has been married for about a year to the former Kim Calvert. The two have an infant son, Ky Andrew. II married my high school sweetheart when Kim and I tied the knot. We started dating when Iwas a high school freshman and she was a sophomore? Crager enjoys being a father, and considers raising his son to be a learning experience. iiThrough Ky I have learned so much about everything. He has really change my life for the better, in a way that is very difficult to explainf, he said. iiHaving a child is thrilling, and a little scary. He is a new little person with his own personality. Watching Ky grow and knowing that he will one day look to me for guidance, is abig responsibility. I just hope that I can be as good as a father as my dad is. Crageris parents give him a lot of support in baseball and all the other facets of life, Crager said. The two rarely miss a game. uMom has kept a scorebook of my games since my little league days. It is really nice to be able to look back at all my games? said Crager. II think she does it mainly to keep from getting nervous? Crager would like to be equally as supportive of his own child, and would like to instill values in him at an early age. uI would like for Ky,s motto to be the same one that was mentioned in uBrian,s Song, which was that 1 am thirdf To live as you should, I think it is important to put God first, family, friends, and enemies second, and yourself last. I want my son not only to be able to say this, but to live it daily. His belief in God plays an important part in Crageris life. Last summer he spent the majority of his time traveling with Athletes in Action, a Christian Missionary team which travels around the country playing baseball and sharing their reli- gious convictions. uThe team was semi-pro,, and many of the players have been drafted or will be soon, said Crager. iiIt was an excellent opportunity to play with top-notch players and learn about so many different things. Crager still keeps in touch with many of his Athletes in Action, although they are from all parts of the country. He said he found the friendships he developed to be the most valuable part of playing with the team. Crager does not yet have any definite plans about what he would like to do with his life after he graduates. He is consid- ering either finding a job immediately or attending graduate school. Another option is entering the seminary to become a minister. Currently Crager acts as co-president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. His hobbies include fishing and spending time with his son. There is little time for other activities, as he says he likes to keep his priorities in order. iiMy very top priority is to believe in what Iim doing. If I canit wake up each day and look in the mirror, happy with what I see, then I am not living as I should, and something needs to be done. uI try to be the best husband, father and Christian I can be. After that everything seems to fall into place? - Story By: Karen Craigo Photos By: Jeff Colquhoun Injuries kept Crager of the field for most of the season. He had a sprained knee and a torn right tricep. His playing time was limited in the fall because of a heavy academic schedule. Kyle Crager 135