Odds are if you’ve ever played on an intramural team, you’ve come across Alex Nelson ’15. The Exercise Science major, most commonly known as “Nelly,” has played on no less than eight different intramural teams, including broom-ball, floor hockey, kickball, softball, football, dodgeball, soccer, and basketball. As if being on multiple intramural teams isn’t enough, Nelly also plays for both St. Olaf’s football and track teams, and is the goalie for Olaf’s club hockey team. In his freshman year, he also played on both the JV and Varsity baseball teams at St. Olaf.
However, his high level of involvement in the St. Olaf sports community came at a price. “When I was on the baseball team freshman year I was on both JV and Varsity teams, which meant I was traveling every Tuesday and Thursday for over three weeks. I just decided I couldn’t do that anymore because I was missing all of my classes on those days, so I had to quit after the season was over.”
Choosing to quit playing baseball is not the only difficult sports-related decision Nelly has made. Throughout his career as a wide receiver, he has experienced no less than 17 concussions! He explained, “It was in high school when I first got concussed, and as a result I didn’t know where I was. I didn’t want to have to stop playing, so I didn’t tell anyone. Luckily for me it was never severe, but kept happening. As long as I can tell it’s not severely affecting my life or school I’m gonna keep doing what I’m doing, but if that ever changes I’ll be forced to stop.”
What people may be surprised to hear though, is that this gym-rat loves Disney almost as much as he does sports! Nelly said, “there was a solid couple month period where I fell asleep at least once or twice a week to Hercules or The Lion King. I rarely nap without one of those two movies playing in the background.” When asked why he’s so keen on these two movies in particular, he explained that this is no new obsession. “When I was a kid I always used to rewatch the Lion King, and rewind it to the beginning before Mufasa died. I kept hoping that once it got to that part there would be a different outcome, but unfortunately for me I just got to watch him die a bunch of times,” Nelly said. “I liked Hercules because he was the guy I always wanted to be, so I was just trying to be him and find my Meg.”
Nelly can be found at the gym, with his best friend Ron, or “wherever there’s hockey or free food!”