Sports editor Jess Koster sat down with men’s lacrosse captain, senior Adam Wiersma. This is Hot Seat:

Koster: First off, how old are you?

Wiersma: 21.

Where are you from?

Holland, Mich.

How many siblings do you have?

I have an older sister and a younger brother.

What is your major?

International development. Business minor.

What brought you to Calvin?

Well, besides pretty much my entire extended family coming here, I came for the academics and to play lacrosse too.

What first got you interested in lacrosse?

Well, back in high school, one of my good buddies just kind of convinced me to play. It was kind of a newer sport and it’s growing and he just said, “Hey, I think you would be good,” and I went out and loved it.

What is the best part about playing lacrosse?

I love the fast paced nature of the game. It’s very quick and you always have to be ready for a different situation. It’s a lot of problem solving on the defensive end with what sort of offensive set are they running and how can we counter that. So I like trying to figure that out.

What are your interests besides lacrosse?

I love the outdoors. I love to go backpacking or fishing or hiking. I love spending time with my friends and playing other sports or playing games.

How hard is the transition from club lacrosse to varsity lacrosse?

We definitely see some stronger programs. Some more well-established teams, but it’s still the same game, we still love to play. It’s no different game so it’s nice that it’s kinda the same still, but we do have to step it up a level as a team.

What are your thoughts on this inaugural season of lacrosse?

It’s very exciting! We are honored really to be the first new varsity sport along with women’s lacrosse in quite some time and it’s just very exciting. I know our coaches are excited. All the guys on our team are just really excited to give it our best shot and lay the foundation for years to come.

What’s your favorite color?

Blue.

Favorite music?

Probably alternative rock, soft rock.

Favorite books?

There’s too many to choose from.

Favorite movies?

Probably the Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Favorite sports team?

Detroit Tigers

Tell us about a significant person in your life whom you really look up to.

I would have to stay it was one of my mentors back in high school, he was also one of my assistant coaches for lacrosse. He was just a good example of what it looks like to live a good life for Jesus Christ as a husband, as a friend and as an athlete too.

What do you hope to do when you grow up?

I guess somewhere down the road, I would like to start my own organization or be top level management of a non-profit or something like that.

What are you hopes and goals as a lacrosse team this year?

We have some specific team goals this year and one of the kind of measurable goals we have is 50 percent of the ground balls we’d like to win. We like to say that ground balls win games. It starts with the little things and it gets you possession and therefore time on offense. But as a team, we’re really looking to lay the foundation for the years to come and to start a successful program that will be well known in the future.

Who helped you improve your game while at Calvin? Even in club play.

I would say Eric Kamstra. I had the honor of playing with him for two years and now he’s the assistant coach. He’s a very driven person and that motivates me to get better. He’s always been encouraging and helping me improve over my four years here.

What advice do you have for younger players?

Keep working on the fundamentals. They can be sometimes boring or monotonous to work on, but fundamentals are what can set a team apart at a higher level so it’s important to keep working on the little things.

If you had to pick one person, historical or living to have lunch with, who would it be?

I would maybe go with Martin Luther King Jr.

Describe one of your most embarrassing moments.

I’m sure there was one time where I tripped up the steps going to Uppercrest or something. I don’t know.

Describe a perfect day.

I’d probably say get up on time, go out fishing in the early morning, maybe come back and have a big breakfast with some friends. Play some sports in the afternoon.

Do you prefer cats or dogs?

Dogs, definitely.

What’s the best Calvin dorm?

Bolt.

What is one thing you cannot survive without?

Coffee.

If you were stranded on a desert island, which of your teammates would you eat first?

I’d maybe go with Greg Boer, fellow senior.

Commons or Knollcrest?

Commons.

What would I find in your refrigerator right now?

I got some eggs, yogurt, condiments, some mushrooms, tomatoes, strawberries.

What is the last book you read?

This summer I read “The Book Thief.”

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be?

Wow. Hmm. Maybe Bilbo Baggins from the Lord of the Rings.

What is the last movie you went to go see?

I want to say the Dark Knight Rises.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see play you?

Maybe Matt Damon, even though we don’t look anything alike.

What is the best pizza topping?

Pineapple.

What came first, the chicken or the egg?

The chicken.