Graduating Seniors Q&A: Moore, Natras and Karsten to be celebrated on Senior Day Saturday
Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Time has gone by in a flash and it's hard to believe that this will be the final weekend that three members of the MacEwan men's volleyball team will don Griffins silks for the final time in their careers.
Mason Moore, Mason Natras and Jonah Karsten are all set to graduate from the program.
The trio will be honoured prior to their final home vs. Calgary on Saturday (4:30 p.m., David Atkinson Gym). The teams will also meet on Friday (6:30 p.m., both on Canada West TV).
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Read Q&As with all of them below:
A team-first player, Mason Moore has played nearly every position on the court for the Griffins over his career. He aims to become a doctor (Jefferson Hagen photo).
MASON MOORE
(2020-25)
What are you going to be graduating with and when?
This year with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Biology
Do you have a career goal in mind?
I would like to do medicine. I'd like to become a physician, specifically in the emergency department. But I'm kind of keeping my options open at the moment and trying to figure out next year whether it's volunteering, just getting some more experience, writing the MCAT.
You're on track for five U SPORTS Academic All Canadian awards. How much pride have you taken in your academics?
A lot. Most of my time here I considered a balance between sports and academics. Just really into the time management stuff, knowing when things need to be done, so I can focus on volleyball. Once you figure it out, it helps.
What are some of your favourite memories from your time with the Griffins?
Mostly just the friends and connections I've made. There are so many. Basically, everybody I've met at MacEwan is somehow involved in sports here.
Just being on the road with them and hanging out with the guys every day.
Some of the wins I can remember – our win against UFV two years ago on Griffins night, it was really, really fun to see because it was a full gym with all the club players there. It was really good to win in front of them. I played for NAVC my U18 year, so it was super cool.
What do you want to be remembered for? What's your legacy with the program?
Someone who put the team first. Someone who put his own wants aside and did what was best for the team. I switched positions like three times because it was best for the team, whether we had an injury or it was something we needed. I was always back and forth helping out the team wherever was needed.
What positions have you played?
Middle, left side, right side, serving sub, attack sub. I've done whatever the team needs.
How challenging is that to be ready to come in when you're called on?
It's extremely stressful, to be honest. Once you kind of have a role, you expect it. If you're not expecting it, it's tough and difficult. There was a stretch there when I knew I was going in as the serving sub or the attack sub and it was when am I going in.
Anything else you'd like to say about your time with the Griffins?
It's gone by fast. It still feels like my first year almost. It's been a lot of ups and downs, but a lot of good memories, for sure.
Starting setter Mason Natras enters his final weekend with 666 career assists - fifth in the program's Canada West era (Jefferson Hagen photo).
MASON NATRAS
(2020-25)
What are you going to be graduating with and when?
Graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce in Management as my major and I have one more year.
Do you have a career goal in mind?
Not really. Just focusing on getting the degree and we'll see where it goes after that.
Do you have plans to keep playing volleyball again?
Maybe. Right now, it's just focusing on school, but I'm sure in the future maybe I'll decide to play again – maybe even come back to play for MacEwan next year. But as of right now, I think I'm going to step back. Just taking it as a precaution for the Senior Night in case I don't come back.
What are some of your favourite memories of your time with the Griffins?
I'd say just travelling with the boys – going to Vancouver, Winnipeg, wherever we went. Those long road trips were a lot of fun. Winning was always good. A lot of good memories and those are probably the main two.
Is there a play or a big game that stands out to you?
Probably against Fraser Valley two years ago. It was (NAVC) Griffins day and it was my first ever start. We won that one. It was really good.
What would you like to be remembered for and what's your legacy with the program?
A good setter, I guess. A funny guy on the team. Try to make everyone laugh and have a good time all the time. That's probably it.
What's behind the wide eyes in every photo? Following Brandon Tanev?
Kind of goofing off. Brandon Tanev from the NHL does it all the time. I love doing it for every photo, so that's kind of my thing.
Is there anything else you'd like to say about your time with the Griffins?
I think you kind of covered it all. I'll miss the guys and that's about it.
Middle blocker Jonah Karsten finishes his Griffins career with 112 career blocks - fifth in the program's Canada West history (Jefferson Hagen photo).
JONAH KARSTEN
(2020-25)
What are you going to be graduating with and when?
Bachelor of Commerce degree with a major in accounting and a minor in business law. I still have a few classes I have to take, so that will be in August.
Do you have a career goal in mind?
My goal is not to be an accountant. I want to go to law school in 2026, so next year will be working full-time and working on that application process.
Obviously, it didn't quite go the way you planned for your last year here, with an injury in Game 2 of the season (he suffered a season-ending knee injury). How are you making the best of of your last year?
Just trying to look at as many positives as possible. I'm definitely realizing all the things I took for granted when I was healthy, like the ability to walk, and to play volleyball, obviously. And just being on the court with the guys all the time is something I definitely didn't appreciate enough when I was healthy. Now I'm kind of realizing that. I'm just thinking about how it could always be worse. I'm going to be healthy again sometime in the future and this is just a temporary setback. I can still support the boys with leadership – being vocal, being a leader and still being a presence.
What are some of your favourite memories from your time as a Griffin?
Obviously, winning games was always a great feeling. Just the road trips with the guys are just full of awesome moments – the long bus rides, especially. Playing games with the guys and talking and laughing. Those are just the things that don't go as appreciated, but are so important. All the time spent with every player on the teams with, those are your built-in best friends. Any time spent with the guys is a great moment, so I'm definitely going to miss that.
Is there a moment in a game that stands out – maybe a personal highlight?
Fraser Valley two years ago. I think we had an insane amount of blocks that weekend and personally I had seven. It was our first win of the season. It was also NAVC Griffins night. We had a crazy crowd and rode the crowd's energy to a win. We had a great blocking game, and it was one of my personal best games.
Did you play for NAVC too?
No, FOG. But I'm actually coaching NAVC now – the U17 team.
Do you have plans to get back into volleyball or is more coaching now?
I'm very into coaching. Next year, I'll be coaching my high school team (Archbishop Jordan) and I also have my own brand of coaching camps, so I'll be doing some work with that. I love the game too much to just totally go away from it. There's definitely a possibility that when I'm healthy I'll look to play again. I'm definitely getting the itch to play again, even though it's a way's away. It will be a year until I'm able to play, but you could see me coming back to being an athlete.
How would you like to be remembered with the program? What's your legacy here?
Just a guy who's hopefully always enjoyable to be around and was a positive presence in all my teammates' and coaches' lives. I hope they can look back and say I'm glad I got to spend my time with Jonah; he was great to be around. Maybe they learned something about leadership, discipline and hard work – those things that I bring. Hopefully that rubbed off on the people around me.
Anything else you'd like to say about your time with the Griffins?
Just really thankful that I got to spend the past five years at this school with this team. It's just hitting me so hard that it's going to be over, so I'm just looking back fondly on every second I got to spend on the court with the guys – all the lessons I've learned. There were a lot of hard times, too, but I definitely came out of it a totally different and totally better person than I went into it as. I'm just thankful for the evolution I've gone through in this program.
