Nov. 26, 2008
Three-time all-BIG EAST selection Mary Saxer returns as Notre Dame’s top pole vaulter for the 2008-09 season. She won the 2008 BIG EAST outdoor pole vault title and set a new school record with a 4.06m vault at the NCAA Mideast Regional. The senior from Lancaster, N.Y., looks to continue her BIG EAST reign and qualify for the NCAA Championships during her final season with the Irish.
1. If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your life, what would you eat?
Ice cream with Hershey’s syrup chocolate sauce
2. What do you miss the most about being away from home?
My friends and family, because I am really close to both.
3. When you were little, who was your favorite cartoon character?
Definitely, Winnie the Pooh. In my room at home I even have Winnie the Pooh stuff.
4. What’s the most notable thing about your hometown?
I’m from Buffalo, so I’d say the chicken wings are pretty important. Buffalo is definitely known for their wings. Also, Niagara Falls is only 25 minutes from me, so whenever people visit they always want to see that.
5. If you could trade places with Coach Garnham for a day, what would you do?
To be honest I would probably do everything he is currently doing. We have a new coach this year, so we are still just getting to know him, but he’s really fun and talks to us, not just about track things. At practice we listen to music, and he just has fun with it.
6. What television show would you like to make a cameo on?
I would probably want to make a cameo on One Tree Hill, because that is my favorite show.
7. Other than the Irish, what is your favorite sports team?
I would have to say the Buffalo Bills.
8. Do you have any pre-game rituals/superstitions?
Before I go to meets I listen to some music and try to relax. Since I’m a pole vaulter, I envision in my head what I’m going to do and have a lot of imagery, and I always I try to eat peanut butter and a banana before I compete.
9. What is the hardest thing about being a student-athlete?
There are probably two things. Balancing your time with school and athletics is really hard and stressful. Also, being really tired all the time is tough with my busy schedule, because it can make you feel pretty worn down.
10. If you were stranded on an island, what three things would you want to have with you?
Probably my best friend, something to eat, and my favorite article of clothing-though I’m not sure what that would be. I guess it would depend if it was a cold place or not. If so, it’d definitely be a coat.
11. Where is the most interesting place you have traveled?
A few weeks ago I went to Mexico for the first time. I went to Cancun, which was really touristy, but at the same time I have not been outside the country besides Canada, so seeing the people there was different from what I am used to. It was a good trip despite the fact that it actually rained a lot of time, but it was still warm.
12. What is the first thing you think about when you wake up?
Brushing my teeth. It seems like a silly answer, but I absolutely have to do that before anything else in the morning.
13. If you had your own energy drink, what would it be called?
Probably Sax-Attack, because of my last name. I actually just thought of that because my one teammate jokes around and calls me that.
14. What song do you love to listen to but are embarrassed to admit it?
I don’t know one song in particular. To be honest, I’m not really embarrassed by the music I listen to. As long as I like it, I don’t mind if other people don’t. I listen to a lot of country, so if I had to pick one I guess it’d be a really slow, sappy country song.
15. Do you have any nicknames?
I don’t know where it came from, but my dad has called me Kieby since I was little. Some of my friends at home call me Merr Bear the Carebear, and my teammate calls me Sax-Attack. Those are probably the three big ones.
16. What’s your worst habit?
Biting my nails.
17. If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Keith Urban. He’s my favorite country singer. I’ve loved country since I was little, and for years now before he was even popular, I just really liked his music and really liked watching him. I’ve been to a bunch of his concerts, and he’s from Australia and seems like just a really cool guy that would be interesting and nice to talk to.
18. What would be your dream job?
A dream job would be a professional shopper/buyer for a celebrity.
19. If you could be on any reality show, which would it be?
I kind of think that Fear Factor would be really cool, because it would be interesting to see what I would do if I was actually in that position.
20. What does being part of the Fighting Irish mean to you?
Before I got here everyone said that you don’t know what it’s like to be a part of Notre Dame until you’re here, because it has this magical feeling to it, and it’s true. It is an amazing feeling knowing that you are competing and wearing the jersey for such a good school with such great tradition and great academics. Everyone here takes such pride in the school, and all my teammates are like a family. So basically it’s just a huge family that I can take pride in and that I really love.