Eagle Extra: Chelsey Beaver, Women's Track and Field

Sports Information Intern
lucidrx10@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net

 

HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Juniata College track and field student-athlete Chelsey Beaver (Shamokin Dam, pa/Selinsgrove Area) has made tremendous strides in both throwing and academics since arriving in Huntingdon.

Born and raised in Selinsgrove Pa., Beaver's decision to attend Juniata College over Susquehanna University has left her known as a traitor among friends and family.

"No one told me that we were rival school until I came here," laughed Beaver. "It was a very interesting surprise."  

Even though she chose the Eagles over the Crusaders she has not forgotten where she came from.  Graduating with a degree in education and a secondary emphasis in English, she would love to give back to her community and return to Selinsgrove as a high school English teacher.

"The stars maybe aligning," said Beaver. "The whole English department is retiring within the next couple of years, so fingers crossed that I can get a job."

Beaver did not grow up throwing a shot put or hammer. She happened to stumble upon her love for the sport with the help of her middle school gym class. After her teacher watched her throw the shot put exceptionally far, he knew it was time to introduce her to the head track and field coach for her high school team.

According to Beaver she realized that sports like soccer, gymnastics and field hockey were too much to handle with her bad joints, she decided to give track and field a try during her freshman year of high school.

Her success in track and field has only progressed since her high school years. As a junior Beaver is currently ranked second in the indoor shot put and third in weight throw and is ranked third in outdoor shot put.  She is not planning on stopping there, her goal for this year is to break all of the indoor records and move up to third in her other outdoor events.

"It would be amazing to break some records, but if I do not get it done this year, I always have my senior year," said Beaver.  

In addition to her busy academic and track and field schedule she is a pending member of the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) and an active member of All Ways of Loving (AWOL). NSLS is an organization that helps students discover and achieve their goals through the power of leadership on and off Juniata campus and AWOL is a social and activist group for the LGBT community that is based within Juniata College.  

"It is a super awesome experience being involved in AWOL," said Beaver. You learn so many new things about people and you get a chance to discover so many interesting facts about gender that you never knew before college. It's just awesome."

Understandably with an English degree she loves literature and to write poetry when she can find a break within her busy schedule.  When her schedule gets to hectic she needs her alone time to just relax and be "Chelsey".  During this time she likes to turn off the lights and have her own personal movie night. Watching movies from her child hood helps her relax and reminisce about when times were simpler.

"Right now my go to movie is either The Lorax or any Tim Burton movie," stated Beaver. "These movies really bring me back to my childhood, and give me a sense of happiness no matter what mood I am in."

Even with her schedule hectic at times, she does not regret being a Division III athlete. Participating in sports has helped her become the student-athlete she desired to be while attending college. 

"Being a Division III athlete means sports don't rule your life," Beaver states. "I can still focus on my education, and be social and continue my love of track and field. All of those aspects of a college are important and I am glad I chose Juniata. "

Rapid Fire:

Favorite band/artist?
Right now, my shower jam is Lana Del Ray.

Favorite shoes?
Nikes are defiantly my favorite.  I have a pair of Pink Nikes that are around five years old and they are still as white as the first day I got them. They are my babies.

Favorite item in your dorm room?
I would have to say my owl pillow named Owlburt.

One thing you couldn't go a day without?
My Rings.  I have ten rings and if I don't have them on I feel naked.

If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why?
Tim Burton he is just so sick, twisted and beautiful.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I would go to Ireland for so many reasons. The people and the culture are just amazing.

If you could be any animal (car, vegetable, etc.), what would you be and why?
I do not know what animal I would be, but I know it would not be a beaver. It is just a sick joke that my last name is beaver, I have buckteeth, and I live in Shamokin Dam.

If you could be an Olympic athlete (in anything other than your sport) what would it be?
Field hockey. Kelly Smith on the national field hockey team is from Selinsgrove and she is just an awesome person. 

Favorite class at JC?
I loved young adult lit. Mainly because of Carol Peters. 

Favorite place in Huntingdon?
The cliffs because it is off the grid and since I am a deep person its a great place.

Favorite Juniata tradition?
Mountain day because you get a little bit of everything.

Favorite athletic experience at JC?
My memorable, but not so much favorite, experience is from freshman year.  Coming in and having a sand pit instead of gravel pit and the pit froze and the team had to dig for ten minutes straight for my shot, which was lost deep within the sand. Once I found it I realized most my skin was chewed off by the sand.

If you could trade places with one JC athlete, who would it be and why?
Katrina Woods because it would be really cool to enjoy running for once in my life and not want to die.

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