Featured Senior: Justin Scanlon

What was your most memorable moment throughout your career at Willamette?

Sweeping George Fox in 2019

Describe your feelings when you found out the season was canceled.

Mostly just shock. It took days for everything to actually sink in.

How have you been handling life in quarantine? Are you home or on campus? What's it like learning online and not having practice?

Quarantine life has been good for me. I'm still living in Salem and I've been keeping busy doing schoolwork and exercising. In the absence of baseball I've been finding other ways to compete and stay fit, but I do miss my teammates quite a bit.

What has your experience as a Bearcat taught you?

In sports and in life, there's periods of success and struggle. Don't get too high or low, and be grateful for everything even during tough times.

If you could leave one piece of advice for future Bearcats, what would it be?

Have fun and enjoy every day you get to play your sport and be with your teammates. It's tough balancing life with sports, but even when things get stressful remember to cherish the little moments.

What are your future plans following graduation?

No concrete plans yet. Things are still up in the air.

From their teammates

What was your most memorable moment of Justin?

Ryan Whithorn: Dude was a human highlight reel. Impossible to pick one moment.

Ryan Berg: When it was pouring rain in one of our intrasquad games in the fall, and Justin was still able to hit an absolute bomb to the opposite field. That really showed me how you can overcome the elements in any situation.

Trevor Burrows: Being followed by a cat while walking around Salem

Ben Setlak: The pregame meetings he led with Nick, Jack, Sam, Andrew, and myself.

Tyler Vandemark: The home run, and even the weekend, he had at George Fox last year. The ball he hit to left was one of the farthest I have seen hit, and he did so much damage at the plate that weekend that George Fox was questioning the legality of his bat.

Clint Walker: After one football game, he piled about six first-years into his truck to take us back to campus because the person who took us there had already left. It just goes to show the kind of person he is because he saw that we all needed a ride and took it upon himself to help us out.

Nick Di Fiori: Justin used to play with all the bees.

How has Justin impacted you in your sport or in life?

Ryan Whithorn: Justin was a true leader. Guys wanted to be just like him. Man had so much swagger it was just unfair.

Justin Miller: Knowing how to play the game the right way

Ryan Berg: Justin was always a humble leader for everyone on the team and he helped me out a lot during defensive practice.

Ben Setlak: He was level headed and driven to compete. He was also very mellow and kept his cool in all situations.

Tyler Vandemark: Always a fun guy to be around, and its fun to pry a conversation out of him. He led the team by example in every aspect whether it was on the field or off the field. I respected how much time he sacrificed in the classroom to give us everything on the field.

Clint Walker: He made me know what it takes to be a leader. He picked up anyone when they were down and never let his performance impact his mood. I want to become a leader on this team, and his leadership that he brought to the table every day helped teach me what I need to do in order to become one. He's the perfect depiction of leading by example.

Nick Di Fiori: He was very care-free and relaxed in every moment.

What makes Justin special?

Ryan Whithorn: His smile.

Justin Miller: Maturity and willingness to put others over himself

Ryan Berg: Justin was special because he was the type of player who would put in the most work on his own and he wouldn't need validation for it. He always got better because he genuinely wanted to.

Trevor Burrows: Justin leads by example, He is reserved, but when he speaks up you know something meaningful is being said.

Ben Setlak: He is quite unique and has great hair.

Tyler Vandemark: His knowledge and approach to the game. You can never tell whether he is mad or disturbed. Justin played the game so smoothly and consistently, it was just fun to see him on the field.

Clint Walker: He is one of the hardest workers and best leaders who I have ever been around. He showed up to practice every day and was always someone who we followed. If Justin was doing something, everyone followed because it had to be the right thing if he was doing it.

Is there anything Justin brought to the program that will have a lasting impact?

Ryan Whithorn: Justin's truck broke down and so he decided to skateboard or ride his bike to school from his home. He lives a decent distance away, too. He didn't let something like that stop him from grinding in the library or making practice. That speaks volumes.

Justin Miller: Talent and always trying to get better

Ryan Berg: Showing humility and respect on and off the field

Tyler Vandemark: An example of a team player. He was consistent and very reliable, and an asset of ours that many teams had to pitch around. He was a great leader, even if he wasn't that vocal.

Clint Walker: His leadership. He brought the same attitude every day and put anything off the field to the side and just worked. This definitely rubbed off on our whole team, and I think so many people have learned from him and will become leaders because of how he carried himself.