TOPEKA, KAN. -- Washburn Athletics will feature two different student-athletes in our weekly release, Get To Know An Ichabod, sponsored by Hy-Vee. Week nine features women's soccer senior Paige Ledesma and golf sophomore Griffin Mott. 
 
Paige Ledesma – Senior – Biology 
When did you start playing soccer? How did you get into that?
PL: I started when I was about four years old. My dad played soccer his whole life and he wanted to get his kids to play. I have two older brothers and they both play soccer. My mom told me that I used to always run on the field during their practices and try playing with them. That's how it all started and then I realized I really liked it so then I decided to keep going. 
 
Throughout your soccer career, who has influenced you the most?
PL: All of my friends who have torn their ACL and then came back have inspired me just because that's a major surgery and recovery process. The things that it does mentally to you and to be able to come back and be as strong as you were- that is something I look up to.
 
How did you end up at Washburn?
PL: My roommate my freshman year had committed. We played on the same club team. She told me I should look at Washburn but I was still debating if I wanted to play or not. Then, I came up here and I got to meet all the girls. A lot of people from my hometown have come here to sports or for school, and I just loved it. I loved the class ratio. I loved the biology program, all the professors are so good. That's kind of what grabbed me.

What has been your most exciting moment in your career at Washburn?
PL: Definitely when we beat Emporia State and Central Oklahoma in the 2019 season.
 
How did you gain an interest in oncology?
PL: My mom was diagnosed with cancer. That really hit hard. She's still here but if I wasn't able to grow up with my mom, that would have changed my entire life. At a young age, I lost my grandma to cancer. Those two events have kind of motivated me to want to figure out more about it and help other people that have to deal with that kind of stuff as well. It's a lot mentally. It affects the patient but also affects the family members as well. I just want to be an extra person that they can rely on. That's something I'm very passionate about. 
 
Hidden talents?
PL: I'm left footed but right-handed. A lot of people are dominant with their right foot. That's probably the most unique thing about me.
 
Craziest thing on your bucket list?
PL: I would definitely say buy Justin Bieber VIP tickets and go see him, because those are like a million dollars. 
 
Go-to karaoke song?
PL: Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus. That is the one!
 
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
PL: My answer is based off of Gossip Girl. I would love to go to Paris and see everything. I just have the Blair Waldorf vision in my head and I just want to be like her.
 
If you could own any animal as a pet, what would you choose?
PL: Right now, I have a dog named Lulu and she's a yorkie. That's a dog I have wanted since I was a little girl. I've always wanted a yorkie and I finally got one. Other than that, I would say a baby deer. They're so cute!
 
Griffin Mott – Sophomore – MBA
When did you start playing golf? How did you get into it?
GM: Probably like 10 years ago. I didn't really start trying until about five years ago. I've been playing for 10 years with my dad and grandpa. My dad was golfer, he wasn't very good but he took me out to the course one time and got me a seven iron and I started whacking a seven iron around then it kinda took off from there.
 
How did you end up at Washburn?
GM: You want the actual story? It's really weird. My dad worked here for five years. He's currently back here teaching again. He was working at Arkansas Tech and there was a fire drill one night, so he goes downstairs to see what's going on and sees all these guys playing pool. Then, he recognized Blake Allen, who I grew up playing golf with, just standing there playing pool. He started talking to him and then Blake introduced him to [Head coach Jeff] Stromgren and it just kind of took off from there. They were in Arkansas on the same weekend and a fire drill happened and it's just one of those situations that it was just meant to be. This happened during my sophomore year at Oklahoma State. I had kind of transitioned to just going there for school. I was tired of just playing Fortnite, so I thought I should look back into golf and then that happened and I just figured I had to come here after that whole weird situation. 
 
Hidden talents?
GM: I'm really bad at playing the guitar. I don't know really show many people that so it is kind of hidden, but not a talent. I've been trying to pick up new things because I watched a TED talk one time and it was about 20 hours to learn something. I learned how to solve a Rubiks cube, I tried piano and then moved to guitar. I'm just trying to pick up different things every day. 
 
Favorite show to binge watch?
GM: The Office, not even a question. I have a Dwight Schrute bobblehead. I have a Dunder Mifflin t-shirt. I've got a Threat Level Midnight poster. Oh! My hidden talent is I can quote every quote from The Office. You could just name an episode and I could tell you what season and episode it is. I've probably watched it 15 or 20 times. I've done Office trivia and won that; That's where I got my Dwight bobblehead and airpods for winning that. I got first out of 180 people and got 58 out of 60 questions right.
 
Who's your favorite character from The Office?
GM: Everyone's gonna go with Jim or Dwight or Michael. Honestly, I love Creed. He's just so weird, it's hard not to like him. I'm gonna go with Creed or Kevin.
 
Go-to karaoke song?
GM: Summer Nights from Grease, but I still need my Olivia Newton-John. Big fan of Grease. Maybe Ain't No Mountain Enough by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. I just love duets but I'm still looking for my duet partner.
 
Craziest thing on your bucket list?
GM: I'm scared of heights and I want to go skydiving, but I feel like that's cliché. I want to swim with sharks or go scuba diving and see an octopus. I've never seen an octopus in real life.
 
Anything else you'd like to add?
GM: Bods are coming for the national championship this year. It's been dodging us, but this is the year. We have a tournament coming up in the spring at the Topeka Country Club and it'd be nice for people to come out and watch.