Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the cancellation of the spring season, the Upper Iowa Athletics Department is spending the next few months spotlighting many of our Peacock student-athletes whose spring seasons came to a premature end.
 
In today's virtual interview, Pete the Peacock gets to know UIU golfer Chris Cooksley. Chris, an All-NSIC performer, is a junior from Winthrop, Iowa who came to Fayette two years ago from Indian Hills CC and East Buchanan High School. He is majoring in agricultural business.
 
PETE: How would you describe yourself in three words?   
CHRIS: Fun, weird and caring.

PETE: What made you want to be a collegiate student-athlete?   
CHRIS: I wanted to further my skills at a higher level.

PETE: What have you learned about what it takes to be a student-athlete?       
CHRIS: You have to be dedicated in what you are doing.

PETE: What is your favorite way to de-stress?
CHRIS: Fishing, hunting, or listening to country music.

PETE: What advice would you give to your 14-year old self?         
CHRIS: Learn from every situation you are involved in.

PETE: How do you want to be remembered? 
CHRIS: As someone who always had fun but would be dedicated in everything I did.

PETE: What's the best thing that has happened to you in the last week?
CHRIS: I took a trip to my grandparent's cabin.

PETE: What are the top three things on your bucket list?   
CHRIS: Go to the Masters Tournament, attend a March Madness game, and go bear hunting.

PETE: Who are three people (dead or alive) you'd love to have dinner with? Why?       
CHRIS: Tiger Woods, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Bill Murray. I think all of these guys would have great stories and laughs to share.

PETE: What fictional character (movie, TV show, book, cartoon, etc.) would you want to be for a day? Why?
CHRIS: I would want to be Ace Ventura because his character is hilarious.

PETE: What is your most memorable sports moment?        
CHRIS: Securing back-to-back Class 1A State Golf Championships in high school.

PETE: Do you have any collections? If so, what?      
CHRIS: Yes, I collect golf poker chips.

PETE: What is your dream vacation spot? Why? What would you want to do there?   
CHRIS: Somewhere in Montana because I could go hunting everyday and walk in the woods.

PETE: What piece of clothing do you wear the most?
CHRIS: My legendary whitetails hat.

PETE: What is your favorite restaurant in the world? What do you order?          
CHRIS: Texas Roadhouse. I would order steak, fries, and green beans.

PETE: What does your dream life after retirement look like?
CHRIS: Living in Iowa in a log cabin that overlooks a timber and lake that I own.

PETE: If you could sing a duet with someone, who would it be? What song?    
CHRIS: Taylor Swift – "Teardrops on my Guitar"

PETE: What is your go-to karaoke song?        
CHRIS: Sweet Caroline

PETE: If you had a podcast, what would it be about?          
CHRIS: Hunting and golf

PETE: Who would your dream co-star be in a movie?
CHRIS: Mark Wahlberg

PETE: What would you bring on a one-way trip to Mars?
CHRIS: A camera

Special thanks to Chris for taking the time to chat with Pete! To view previous virtual interviews, please click here.