Michigan State University Athletics
Q & A with Nicole Mercado
4/7/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 7, 2006
EAST LANSING, Mich. - A junior on the Michigan State softball team, Nicole Mercado has played in 146 career games during her Spartan career. Mercado brings a strong competitive nature to the field, and emphasizes the importance of team unity and support.
Talk about the feeling of winning a Big Ten tournament championship as a freshman and what the team is doing to try to get back there. "Winning a Big Ten tournament championship as a freshman was probably the best experience ever. It definitely shows you what it takes to be a winner and the steps you have to take to get there. In getting back there this year, I think we have the experience, we are just trying to give the younger girls guidance on what it takes."
I saw that your biggest role model is your dad. What is your relationship like and what makes him most special to you? "My dad Ron Christner has been absolutely wonderful. He is a person where if something goes wrong he is very supportive, and just tells me if you work hard it will happen for you. He has been such a positive role model in my life because of everything he has been through, and just by hoping for the best and being a big optimist."
Which position do you like playing more, second base or outfield and why? "I like the outfield, but I like second base too; it is really about wherever Coach J (Joseph) can find a place for me in the line up, and I am good to go."
What do you think the biggest asset is that you bring to this team? "I definitely try to be a little spark plug! Everyone has their own motivational tactics, but I think it is important to have a couple of girls on the team that pull everyone together and keep the energy going throughout the game."
Now in your third year living in Michigan, have you adapted to the culture shock that comes with migrating from Southern California? What were the biggest changes you had to deal with? "I definitely have adapted, but it was a huge culture shock coming from Orange County. I have had to deal with a few things - like the weather and being here without my family - but I have my Michigan State family now, and that makes it really easy."
What do you plan to do with your pre-law and psychology degree when you graduate next season? Where do you see yourself in five years? "To be honest with you, I'm not really sure what I am going to do with it, but both areas are a big interest to me, so we will see where it takes me."
What memories of Michigan State will you carry with you for the rest of your life? "Definitely the experience with my teammates is the number one memory I will take. Being a part of this family and part of Michigan State in general has just been a great experience."
With only one senior this season, how has your rather large junior class stepped up and taken a leadership role? "I think, even as freshmen, we had to take that role then. Right away they brought us in saying, `you guys aren't freshmen, you have a big role to fill,' so we have just tried to keep that mentality throughout. Hopefully we can maintain that for the rest of the year."
You are currently tied for eighth in the MSU record books for career triples. What goes through your mind as you approach second knowing you have a chance to take three bags, a fairly rare occurrence in softball? "Nothing is really going through my head, I am just running until they stop me. I don't really think about records or things like that, I am just happy to help my team in any way possible."
