SALISBURY, Md. – This is "Nest to Nest," a regular series spotlighting the big miles and bigger stories of the Sea Gull student-athletes on each team who traveled the farthest to be at Salisbury University. This week,
Cooper Keesee of men's lacrosse takes us just south of Portland for one of the Pacific Northwest's true lakeside gems.
Cooper Keesee | So. Defenseman, Men's Lacrosse
Hometown:
Lake Oswego, Oregon
Population:
40,731
Distance from Salisbury:
2,951 miles
Driving Time:
44 hours
What would you say your hometown is known for?
My hometown is definitely known for its economic figure. My city surrounds a man-made lake, so it provides a lot of public and private activities along the waterfront; there are plenty of swimming docks and whatnot. Downtown Lake Oswego surrounds the north side of the lake, which is pretty cool. So, you like to go boating, wake surfing, or just hanging out on the lake all day, my city is the place to go.
What's your favorite hometown hangout spot?
I would say the downtown area of my city. There's a lot to do there, a bunch of cool spots to go to. My city is very nature focused, as you can imagine, so being outside is definitely a hobby for me. The little towns we have just outside the city are great too; any of those are fun to hang around.
Which local sports teams do you root for?
It's funny enough – I'm from Oregon, but my entire family is from New York, so I root for the New York Teams – Giants, Knicks, Yankees, Rangers – not the West Coast teams.
How did you hear about Salisbury University?
So I originally went to school in Philadelphia [at Drexel University] for two years, and when I decided it was time for me to switch schools, Salisbury had been a historically successful program. I figured a spot like that with the success rate they've had and the opportunities they hold for me, I didn't really see any other outcome except for success, and I'm glad I made that decision.
What's the biggest difference between life in your hometown and life here in Salisbury?
I would definitely say the weather. Out here, we get a good amount of snow. Back there it's mostly just rain; Oregon as you would suspect is a very rainy state. Also, there's no humidity in Oregon, so when the heat comes around it's not quite as bad.
What's something you can turn to that reminds you of your hometown on the days when you miss it?
I think the fact that I'm close to the beach and being about to go outside here is a positive factor. It's definitely something that reminds me of being home. I'm about an hour from the beach back home, so being so close on both sides of the map is a nice little factor to have.
How would you sell someone on visiting your hometown?
My city is a very tourist-heavy spot, you know – an hour east of the beach, an hour west of the mountains. So you like to ski and snowboard, or you like to surf, you can find a place to hang out. Or if you like to stay in, or go on the lake, that's another thing that we have to do. My city is definitely a cool place to visit.
Salisbury University is a proud member of NCAA Division III with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, along with affiliate membership in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (football, men's & women's swimming), Coastal Lacrosse Conference (men's lacrosse), State University of New York Athletic Conference (field hockey), and Colonial Women's Golf Conference (women's golf). With over 500 student-athletes in 23 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the nation's most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs regardless of division, featuring dedicated coaches and staff that foster excellence on and off the field. The Sea Gulls have won a combined 23 team national championships, 24 individual national championships, and 207 conference championships, and have produced 54 Academic All-Americans.
To Make Tomorrow Yours at Salisbury University, and learn more about Sea Gull Athletics' tradition of excellence, visit SUSeaGulls.com or follow on social media @SUSeaGulls.
