WEBSTER GROVES – Throughout the remainder of the 2020-21 school year, the Webster University Athletics Department will feature Gorlok senior student-athletes. The senior student-athletes were asked 21 questions about their time at Webster, which will help everyone get the chance to know them as individuals and how much they've grown during their time as a Gorlok student-athlete.
The Senior Spotlight feature is scheduled to run every Monday and Friday until all the senior student-athletes have been profiled.
Our 46th and final Senior Spotlight of the 2020-21 school year features senior All-American men's track and field sprinter
Jacob Ridenhour (Jerseyville, Ill./Jerseyville).
- What is your name? What sport(s) do you play? Jacob Ridenhour, Men's Track & Field
- What is your major? Accounting and Finance.
- How many years have you been a student at Webster? This is my fourth year at Webster.
- What attracted you to attend school and compete in athletics at Webster University? Close to home with good athletics.
- What are your plans after graduation? Get a job as a financial advisor and maybe run as a professional.
- What has been your favorite class at Webster and why? Volleyball class taught by Webster volleyball coach Merry Graf.
- What is your most memorable athletic moment at Webster? Getting the NCAA Division III National Runner-up in the 200-meter dash and claiming All-American honors during the 2019 outdoor track season.
- What is your most memorable/best academic experience at Webster? Probably completing 18 credits each semester for almost three years.
- Outside of sports, what is your favorite hobby or activity? I like to golf.
- What is your favorite food? Movie? Book? TV show?
Favorite food: Seafood
Favorite movie: Any Marvel movie
Favorite book: the Bible
Favorite TV show: Lost
- What is your pet peeve? When people don't put in 100 percent effort at practice and meets.
- Would you consider yourself a morning or a night person? I am a night person.
- What is your typical pre-game meal? Either pasta or steak.
- What are your typical game day rituals? Sleep on the bus, listen to music and watch a motivational video.
- What Webster University faculty or staff member has had the greatest impact on you and why? Webster track and field coach Nick Niehaus because he has pushed me to be the fastest I can be and has helped me not be so stressed all the time by his stupid jokes he always makes.
- What do you enjoy most and least about practice? I enjoy the atmosphere at practices and being around my teammates. I hate Wednesday's practice because coach is always in a bad mood because it's the hardest day of the week for our workouts.
- What advice would you give to underclassmen at Webster University? Run fast, most importantly, lift because it makes more difference than you think.
- If you had to listen to one song on repeat forever, what would it be and why? Does to Me by Luke Combs.
- What is a funny story that you can tell about your coach or about your team that people might not know? Corbin White almost broke his back in practice jumping over a hurdle and everyone started laughing.
- What is something that people may not know about you, but should? I sucked my freshmen year compared to where I am now.
- If you could spend an hour with three people (past or present), who would you choose and why? The three people I would choose are Damon Fowler, Donalda Desir and Jordan Kaden. I haven't seen any of them in so long and I miss practicing with them.
