Kelsey Thomas is a four-year starter, primarily as a defender but also sometimes helping in the midfield, for the two-time regular-season champion Christopher Newport women’s soccer team.  Defense has been a strength for the Captains, who have recorded 35 shutouts during Thomas’ four seasons, including 10 blankings in each of the past three campaigns.  INTRODUCING … Kelsey Thomas.

Briefly, what is your background in the sport you play?   I have been playing since I was three years old. I played for Beach FC, a club out of Virginia Beach. I played for the same club team from U10 until I graduated high school at U18, which is pretty unique.

What is your major in college, and what is the most important thing you learned in that discipline?   My major is Biology. I learned that sometimes the classes are really tough, but you have to stick it out.

What is your favorite spot on campus?   My favorite spot is Einstein’s, a coffee shop in the library. Since I work there, I like to go in and hang out with my co-workers, even though it really doesn’t help me to get work done like it should.

Outside of your home and campus, where is your favorite place visit?   I love New York City. It’s so crazy and chaotic there and there is so much diversity. The city matches my personality pretty much perfectly.

Other than your team, what organization (s) do you participate in (on campus or off campus)?   I have a job on campus. I work at the coffee shop called Einstein’s and that is definitely like another family to me!

Briefly describe the most memorable experience during your collegiate athletic career.  The most memorable experience to me (so far) was probably beating Virginia Wesleyan last year (2013) for the first time in 11 years. It has always been a huge rivalry, both being in the 757 (area code), and beating them was probably the biggest success we had as a team so early in our season with a new head coach.

What is your favorite form of entertainment?   My favorite is definitely music. I think music can cure or enhance any type of mood and I like that it is truly universal.

If you could give one piece of advice to elementary school children, what would that advice be?   Listen to who is teaching you, embrace every academic opportunity, and never give up because the future belongs to you. One day, you will change the world.

Outside of the CAC, who or what is your favorite sports person or team?   I am a huge Tennessee women’s basketball fan. When I was younger, before I reached my max height of 5’2, I wanted to play basketball there. I not only love watching them play, but I also love how big of an impact a female coach had on the sport and all sports for that matter. Pat Summit really changed the face of women’s sports and women in sports.

Name three (3) people, real or fictional, living or dead, that you'd like to have dinner with?   

I would want to eat with the President (current or future) because not too many people get to experience sitting down and having a relaxed conversation with the President about his favorite breakfast food or the types of movies he likes to watch or what he thinks about the Kardashian epidemic.

I would also want to eat with the author John Green. I read all of his books this summer and although they were labeled as popular “teen fiction” I think they were brilliantly written and also relatable. Who wouldn’t want to know what’s in the mind of a successful author?

Lastly, I would want to have dinner with Theresa Caputo (“Long Island Medium”) because I would like to know about the people I have lost in my life (most recently two friends to suicide) and know the reasons why they decided to cross over. I also think it would be a cool experience to be in the presence of a medium and watch her work.