Joni Frei & her husband

Continuing the Exclusive Grad Interviews leading up to my 10 year High School reunion, my 2nd interview is with Joni Frei.

WILL YOU BE ATTENDING THE REUNION? IF NOT, WHAT’S YOUR EXCUSE?
Not quite sure yet. I’m going to try. I have company coming in from out of town and also a softball tournament that weekend….but I’m going to try….Luckily there’s facebook to keep up with everyone and get updates from if needed

WHERE ARE YOU LIVING AND WHAT ARE YOU UP TO THESE DAYS?
Recently moved back to Canada after living in the States for the last 10 years. After high school I moved to Georgia and went to university on a softball scholarship. Played 4 years in university and upon graduation with my undergrad I moved to Europe to play professionally. Met my husband while I was playing (he played baseball for the same club that I played softball for) Moved back to the States and coached at a Division I University while getting my Masters Degree. Took a position at another Division I University to teach in Health Sciences and coach varsity softball. Moved to Europe for a season to coach the Austrian National Softball Team. Recently moved back to Canada after my brother passed away. Loving being back in Kelowna. I forgot how much I love Canada. The weather and scenery are absolutely amazing! Kelowna is a little small for my liking (compared to Atlanta, Georgia) but it’s a nice change. I work at The Next Level Athlete Development Center. Which is a huge multi-purpose facility out by the airport. In addition I contract with Softball Canada and Softball B.C. as a coaching facilitator. All in all life is good.

MARRIED? KIDS?
Married. No kids.

DID YOU DO ANY POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION?
Undergraduate degree in Kinesiology and Teacher Education Certification….Masters Degree in Political Science with a Discipline in Public Administration

HAVE YOU CHANGED MUCH SINCE HIGH SCHOOL?
Yes and no. I think I still have the same personality but I’m definitely more open-minded now.

ARE YOU STILL TOUCH WITH ANYONE FROM HIGH SCHOOL?
Actually yep, still best friends with Ashley Martinuk and still talk to a bunch of them thanks to facebook. I definitely enjoy catching up with old friends though.

WHAT’S SOMETHING THAT YOU MISS ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL?
I don’t really “miss” high school…but I fondly remember high school sports and the teams I was a part of.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENTLY IN HIGH SCHOOL IF YOU COULD DO IT AGAIN?
Nothing. Well actually, maybe I wouldn’t have driven my truck down that huge hill at Grad Campout and gotten stuck….Other than that, nothing

IN HIGH SCHOOL, COULD YOU HAVE IMAGINED YOURSELF DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING NOW?
Absolutely! I live my dream job.

WHAT’S A SIGNIFICANT LIFE LESSON THAT YOU’VE LEARNED IN THE PAST 10 YEARS SINCE HIGH SCHOOL?
To do full justice in answering this question would require a series of books I think….but simply put….hard work pays off, life is fragile—enjoy today because tomorrow is not promised, everyone has something to offer, having a passion for life is essential to happiness…passion, independence, open-mindedness, empathy and confidence breed success….

ANY INTERESTING BOOKS THAT YOU’VE READ LATELY OR MOVIES THAT YOU’VE WATCHED?
Between The White Lines (Softball Documentary)

WHAT DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO ACCOMPLISHING IN THE FUTURE?
Mentoring and significantly impacting the lives of the athletes/students that I work with in a positive fashion. Making a difference.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO SAY / SHARE?
If you’ve read this far, thanks! I’d love to hear from you!

You can reach Joni via http://www.thenextlevelcamps.com/

From Joni’s email signature:

Joni Frei
MPA, B.Kin, TSCC-BRONZE, NCCP L2
Softball Canada CANpitch Regional Pitching Instructor
Softball B.C. Learning Facilitator
Director of Softball Operations
Twist Strength & Conditioning Coach

“A Mind That is Stretched By A New Experience Can Never Go Back To Its Old Dimensions” -Peter Twist

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Stay tuned for the next interview! And more importantly, don’t forget to RSVP! Oh, and feel free to say hello on the facebook event wall. do it!

Cheers,

Paxton

Justin Bourne & his bride-to-be, Brianna Gillies

I’m trying to do a few interviews with Grads leading up to my BIG 10 Year Reunion on July 3rd, and I’m pleased to announce that my first Q & A is with Justin Bourne – an old hockey and golf team mate of mine. I had heard through the grapevine that he was doing some professional hockey writing and I’m happy that he was willing to do this!

WILL YOU BE ATTENDING THE REUNION? IF NOT, WHAT’S YOUR EXCUSE?
Unfortunately, I won’t be attending the reunion for a couple reasons. 1) Time: A good friend is getting married in Minneapolis the same weekend. 2) No sidekick: Without Casey Fodor or Carly Burke, I’m afraid no one will recognize me.

WHERE ARE YOU LIVING AND WHAT ARE YOU UP TO THESE DAYS?
I’m living in Phoenix, and writing about sports (mostly hockey). I played up to the AHL, then busted my face and started writing while I healed up. It caught on, and I switched careers. Now I contribute to USA Today, The Hockey News, Yahoo’s “Puck Daddy” and run a blog at www.jtbourne.com

MARRIED? KIDS?
Engaged. My lovely bride-to-be, Brianna Gillies, was my next door neighbor in NY from 0-6 years old (our Dad’s played on the Islanders together). We re-met in 2005 when my Dad was inducted into the Isles Hall-of-Fame, and we’re living together in Arizona. She’s an Occupational Therapist at St. Joseph’s Hospital (Barrow Neurological Institute)

DID YOU DO ANY POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION?
I did. I spent four years in Alaska on a hockey scholarship, getting my degree in psychology.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU LOOKED AT YOUR HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOK?
Ha, no idea. High school? I made awful hair decisions.

ARE YOU STILL TOUCH WITH ANYONE FROM HIGH SCHOOL?
Yep, I’d say I’m closest with Dave Cunning and Neil Corbett from my days at Mt. Boucherie. And Mr. Treadgold. We hang out all the time.

WHAT WOULD YOU DIFFERENTLY IN HIGH SCHOOL IF YOU COULD DO IT AGAIN?
Drink. I would drink like a fish and not get hungover.

WHAT’S SOMETHING THAT YOU MISS ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL?
In class, I’d say being at the back of Mrs. Heymen’s English class (look Mrs. H, I’m a writer!). Out of class, I’d say sitting in Paul Hampson’s basement and playing NHL ’00 on Playstation.

ANY FAVOURITE GOOD (OR BAD) MEMORIES THAT YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT YOUR HIGH SCHOOL DAYS?
No, but I have a question: do they still let you skip an absurd amount of class and never really ask many questions? How was that ever possible?

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO HAVE ACCOMPLISHED BY THE 20 YEAR REUNION?
I’d like to have a kid, have a much higher paid writing/tv analyst gig, and not be absurdly fat. My metabolism is slower than Mr. Fowler was in Grade Nine Social Studies.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO SAY / SHARE?
Yeah, if you haven’t read any of my work, give it a go – I’d start with the stuff at Yahoo’s Puck Daddy or my blog. Also, sorry I couldn’t make it. Would’ve been nice to see everyone.

BONUS QUESTION: Who’s gonna win the Stanley Cup this year?
I think Chicago wins the first road game of the series in Philly to win it in six!

You can reach Justin at: jtbourne@gmail.com
His blog site is: www.jtbourne.com

ABOUT JUSTIN BOURNE (From Justin’s Blog)
I’m a hockey player turned writer. After playing for Alaska Anchorage in the WCHA (NCAA), I carried on with a NHL tryout (New York Islanders in 2007) before spending a couple seasons in the AHL/ECHL. My father, Bob Bourne, won four Stanley Cups with the Islanders in the ’80′s, as did my fiancee’s dad, Clark Gillies. I’m now a columnist for USA Today, The Hockey News and Hockey Primetime.com.