With a quarter of undergraduates involved in athletics, North Park student-athletes make up a significant part of what it means to be a Viking. Two student-athletes and an assistant coach share their experiences and how their teams connect with Chicago.
Isabella Santos
Softball captain Isabella Santos made history as part of the first Viking softball team to earn a spot in the CCIW tournament. She lives in the Portage Park neighborhood and enjoys immersing her teammates in Chicago.
How does your team engage with Chicago?
When we get to campus each year, we bond by taking the 鈥楲鈥� to find a beach, coffee shop, or breakfast place together.
How does your team help you succeed?
Finding motivation is easier when you are on a team with others working as hard as you. It also provides structure and pushes me to succeed academically and athletically.
Favorite part about being a student-athlete?
The best part about playing at this level is that you get to do something you love while setting yourself up for a successful future. There鈥檚 a misconception that student-athletes are too busy to do well academically, but most of my teammates are STEM majors who also get it done in the classroom.
Karsten Hahn MA 鈥�15
Assistant coach of the men鈥檚 soccer team Karsten Hahn coached the team鈥檚 historic NCAA Division III National Championship runner-up season in 2017. The team is incredibly diverse, and Chicago plays a part in how the players connect.
Where are team members from?
We have two players from the city of Chicago, 16 from Chicagoland, and many international players. While eight languages are spoken on our team, soccer is our universal language.
What do you value about the team?
The team鈥檚 diversity helps broaden perspectives and exemplifies what a global community looks like. Soccer is the world鈥檚 sport, and with us being in Albany Park鈥擟hicago鈥檚 most diverse neighborhood鈥攈aving a team that reflects that is special.
How does your team engage with Chicago?
On Sundays, teammates explore Chicago together, taking trips downtown and to the neighborhoods. Last year, we worked with Diverse City Football Club, which provides soccer opportunities to neurodivergent children in Chicago.
Shamar Pumphrey
Shamar Pumphrey, a senior who grew up in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood, transferred to North Park and the men鈥檚 basketball team before the historic 2022鈥�23 season, when they won their first CCIW tournament championship.
How does your team engage with Chicago?
We worked with the Chicago Bears last season as ushers; it helped us connect with the city while fundraising for our team. Many of us also spend time with local students with developmental disabilities, encouraging their love of basketball.
How does your team help you succeed?
Being on the team has made me hold myself to a higher standard. There鈥檚 a spotlight on us because of our recent success and an expectation to do well.
Best advice you鈥檝e received from a coach?
鈥淓verything to prove, nothing to lose.鈥� 鈥擬en鈥檚 Basketball Coach Sean Smith