Name: Aaron Crist Sport: Golf Hometown: Springboro, Ohio

Katie Giovinale (KG): How did you get into golf?

Aaron Crist (AC): My father was a golf pro and he raised me into it. We also used to live on a golf course, so that helped. I played junior high golf and when I got to high school I played football, basketball, tennis and golf. I finally dropped football so that I could focus more on my golf game. After my sophomore year, I transferred to Middletown because I thought it would be better if I was playing golf at a division I school. After that, I started to really get recruited, but the only place I ever wanted to go to was Miami.

KG: What attracted you to Miami?

AC: I loved the school, I loved the courses that Miami played at and I developed a relationship with the coach at the time.

KG: How did you do that?

AC: Just through e-mails and letters. I expressed my interest in Miami and he came and followed me a few rounds one day. He offered me a scholarship right then and there and I accepted it.

KG: How did you do in high school golf?

AC: My junior year, I tied for fourth at state. That was a great year for our golf team. We won sectionals and the whole team made it through districts to go to states. In high school I averaged around even par.

KG: What are you averaging now?

AC: My scoring average was 36.5 on nine holes. This year, it's 74.4 on 18 holes in tournament play. My best ever was a 66 at Browns Run the summer going into college.

KG: Can you describe the team?

AC: Our team chemistry is really strong, and that's going to help us win the MAC championship. Five of the guys on the team live in the same apartment building, and three of the seniors live in a house together. We all get along really well and our new coach has really fired us up to win the MAC.

KG: Tell me about your new coach.

AC: I pretty much love our coach. The relationship he has developed with us is very strong and means a lot to me as a player. He has given me more drive and determination.

KG: What's the hardest part about being a student-athlete?

AC: Definitely traveling and keeping up with school. We were just gone for three straight days. Most tournaments are on Mondays and Tuesdays, and the practice rounds are on Sundays and then you have to leave time to travel.

KG: What's the best part?

AC: Playing a sport you love to play.

KG: What else do you like to do besides golf?

AC: I like to hang out with my friends and I love fishing and boating. My family goes boating on Brookville Lake in Indiana. I just really like to hang out on the lake.

KG: If you could go anywhere, where would you go?

AC: To a beach in the Virgin Islands ... and I'd bring my dad, brother and Craig Voorhees.

KG: What's your major?

AC: Physical education and coaching.

KG: Is coaching golf what you want to do?

AC: Yeah I'd like to eventually.

KG: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

AC: In the Springboro area with a nice job, maybe in real estate, maybe coaching golf on the side.

KG: Are there any professional golfers that you really look up to?

AC: Obviously Tiger Woods because he is as close to mastering the game as it gets. He is a freak of nature in this game. He is so impressive because there are so many uncontrollable aspects in golf that he has such control over.