CCIW Student-Athlete Spotlight (August 2020)
Each month, the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) will highlight the accomplishments of a conference student-athlete. This month, we look into the career of North Park men's basketball student-athlete Matt Szuba.

Story by Mike Krizman, CCIW Assistant Executive Director 
& Ellie Manderfeld, North Park Student-Athlete

CHICAGO -- North Park senior men's basketball student-athlete Matt Szuba lives by the daily motto of "own the day", and has used that motto as a positive influence on others.

Szuba originally began tracking his personal fitness goals via social media, but over time, he discovered that his calling was to use social media to motivate others and inspire people to be the best versions of themselves.  

"In a world full of negativity, I like to envision myself and my work ethic as a light for others," Szuba said. "Sitting around and sulking in your thoughts, thinking about things you cannot control will not change your situation. Go out and own the day, because at the end of the day, the only person stopping you from achieving your dreams and aspirations is yourself."

Helping others "Own the Day" gives Szuba a sense of self-confidence knowing that he's having a positive impact on the lives of others. Szuba watched his mother grind through her life to provide for him and his older siblings; an experience that gave him the drive to help others.

"I've had the opportunity to connect with individuals to share ideas and gain knowledge," Szuba said of his influence on social media. "But I also just put myself out there and hopefully brighten another person's day by giving them motivation to go out and own the day."

Vikings' men's basketball coach Tom Slyder sees the positive impact Szuba has had on his team.  

"Matt's consistent and dedicated approach to his exercise science interests have really shown and has impacted his teammates through his daily example of commitment and discipline," Slyder said. "He embodies the Division III athlete by excelling in the classroom, working to pay for his college experience, sometimes 20-30 hours a week, and playing the sport he loves. He juggles all three and excels at them all."

Szuba has been a regular in the Vikings' lineup, starting 23 games as a freshman, 25 as a sophomore and 24 as a junior last season. He led North Park and was fourth in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) with 35 blocked shots during the 2019-20 season. He also tied for second-best on the team with 36 made three-pointers last year. 

A Criminal Justice major, Szuba will graduate this spring and looks to go on active duty in the Army, as well as a career in law enforcement once his collegiate career concludes. He eventually wants to open his own training facility to help train and develop athletes.

He looks fondly upon his time at North Park, noting that it's been an opportunity to be a positive influence on people he never would have met if not for being a student-athlete. 

"Many people say that you make it what you put into it," he said. "It's been nothing but positive for me here at North Park. I have met people that I would have otherwise never met. I have truly made a few life-long friends not only on the basketball team, but on campus as well."

CCIW Student-Athlete Spotlight
Matt Szuba - North Park (October 2020)
Sam Reichert - Wheaton (September 2020)
Favor Ezewuzie - Wheaton (August 2020)
Ellie Manderfeld - North Park (July 2020)
Izaiah Webb - North Central (June 2020)
Tori Stuart - Millikin (May 2020)
Skylar LeVine - Illinois Wesleyan (April 2020)
Emily Clausen - Elmhurst (March 2020)
Colton Klein - Carthage (February 2020)
Michaela Johnson - Carroll (January 2020)
Luke Sawicki - Augustana (December 2019)
The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) was founded in 1946 and currently services nine member institutions including Augustana College (Rock Island, IL), Carroll University (Waukesha, WI), Carthage College (Kenosha, WI), Elmhurst University (Elmhurst, IL), Illinois Wesleyan University (Bloomington, IL), Millikin University (Decatur, IL), North Central College (Naperville, IL), North Park University (Chicago, IL) and Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL).