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 baseball's Jack Thode. Jack is a senior from Cedar Falls, Iowa who came to Fayette four years ago from Janesville High School. He is majoring in marketing and sports administration.

PETE: How would you describe yourself in three words?    
JACK: Motivated, compassionate, and thoughtful.

PETE: What made you want to be a collegiate student-athlete?    
JACK: I wanted to be a student-athlete because I wanted to continue playing the game that I love, all while furthering my education at UIU.

PETE: What have you learned about what it takes to be a student-athlete?    
JACK: I've learned it takes a lot of commitment to be a student-athlete. There are so many different aspects that go into being a student-athlete from the classroom to the field, you have to be fully committed.

PETE: What is your favorite way to de-stress?    
JACK: My favorite way to de-stress is to take a nap or listen to music.

PETE: What advice would you give to your 14-year old self?    
JACK: You don't have to have your life all figured out. I still don't have mine figured out and I'm 22.

PETE: What is your favorite thing about your hometown?    
JACK: The small-town feel of everyone knowing everyone.

PETE: What is your favorite thing about Fayette?    
JACK: The people here.

PETE: How do you want to be remembered?    
JACK: As being more than an athlete. I want to be remembered for who I am as a person rather than my accomplishments or athletic ability on the field.

PETE: What's the best thing that has happened to you in the last week?
JACK: I won a game of Catan versus the boys.

PETE: What are the top three things on your bucket list?    
JACK: Travel to Australia, visit all of the current MLB stadiums, and to travel to all 50 states.

PETE: What is your dream job if money wasn't a factor?    
JACK: President of a sports marketing agency.

PETE: Who are three people (dead or alive) you'd love to have dinner with? 
JACK: Derek Jeter, Michael Jordan, and last but not least, Pete the Peacock.

PETE: What is your most memorable sports moment?    
JACK: My most memorable sports moments are spending time with my teammates both here in Fayette and on the road.

PETE: What fictional character (movie, TV show, book, cartoon, etc.) would you want to be for a day?    
JACK: Woody from Toy Story, it'd be cool.

PETE: Do you have any collections? If so, what?    
JACK: I have a collection of baseball cards.

PETE: What is your dream vacation spot? Why? What would you want to do there?    
JACK: My dream vacation spot is Australia and while there I want to go scuba diving, visit the outback, and enjoy local food!

PETE: If you were president for a day, what would you change?    
JACK: I'd create a law mandating all college athletic teams to fly to their competitions so an Upper Iowa athlete never has to make the drive to Minot State or UMary ever again.

PETE: What is your favorite restaurant in the world? What do you order?    
JACK: Giordano's Pizza, the deep-dish sausage and pepperoni pizza.

PETE: What does your dream life after retirement look like?    
JACK: Golfing, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

PETE: What is your favorite non-sport hobby?    
JACK: Watching movies with Duncan Snider, Dalton Steere, Alex Baker, and Jaret Stellmaker during self-isolation.

PETE: What are three things you cannot live without? Why?    
JACK: The boys, food, and SportsCenter/sports in general.

PETE: What is one cause that you hold dear to your heart? Why?    
JACK: I've recently done some work with Chi-Town blankets, a non-profit started by former UIU baseball player Dom Hillesheim. Chi-Town Blankets is an amazing organization doing great things in the city of Chicago and it's a cause that I am very passionate about.

PETE: What was your first job?    
JACK: Umpiring middle school baseball.

PETE: What would you bring on a one-way trip to Mars?    
JACK: I'd bring my good friend Conner Klostermann. I had the privilege of rooming with him on the road and I think we'd have a blast!

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