Roo Senior Spotlight: Daniel Izadifar and Awal Ajak
4/21/2020 7:00:00 AM | General, Men's Tennis, Women's Basketball
Daniel Izadifar is a men's tennis player hailing from Oslo, Norway. Daniel saw limited action as a senior, but has been a consummate team player throughout his career. He was a member of the 2018 regular-season conference championship team and holds 10 career doubles victories.
1. Tell us the story behind what made you decide to become a Kansas City Roo.
Coach Hale gave me an opportunity that few have the chance to receive, therefore I decided to come to UMKC. It's been four amazing years and I do not regret it one second.
2. What is your best memory from your time as a student attending Kansas City?
My second semester freshman year, I was lucky to be able to travel to Europe with the whole team and win the conference championship a few months after. All the memories and experiences throughout the years with my teammates are second-to-none so choosing one best moment is impossible.
3. Do you have any advice for your younger teammates or recruits that are looking at coming to KC?
Unfortunately there will be no more Men's tennis, but for future woman's tennis players and other freshman I would say that you take any opportunity given to you and step out of your comfort zone as much as possible. Be open to learn from experience made through failure, but strive for gain through victory.
4. What are your plans after you graduate/leave KC?
I will be staying in Kansas City for another year doing my master's (degree) in mechanical engineering as well as help coach Hale out as a graduate assistant for the women's tennis team. I'm excited to see what the future will bring!
5. Where is your favorite place to eat in Kansas City? What do you get there?
A bowl-to-go with two tortillas on the side. Both with rice, beans and some fajitas too. Mild, some medium, corn, sour cream, cheese and lettuce. And vinaigrette please.
6. What would Spotify/music list tell us is your most played song of 2020?
Would be 'Biking' by Frank Ocean, I really like the last 15 seconds of the song ??
What head coach Kendell Hale has to say about Daniel:
"Daniel has been with us for four years and has been a great leader on and off the court. He saw limited playing time, but did a lot off the court to help the team be unified and grow together by organizing events to help team bonding. I told him after we won the WAC that he was extremely instrumental in our success that year. He is an engineering major and his class schedule was hard to work around, but he always found a way to hit and do extra for the team. He was always working on his game and creating plans to get better. He is a super logical guy who always had us laughing with his out-of-the-box thinking about everything from politics to science! Daniel will stick around this next year and help our women's program as their GA. Look forward to working with Daniel and I know our teams will benefit from his knowledge and work ethic!"
Awal Ajak is a women's basketball player from Des Moines, Iowa who developed one of the deadliest long-range shots in the conference. She ranked ninth in the conference in 3-point accuracy (.341) and was third on the team with 43 triples on the season. She added 6.4 points per game, helping the Roos collect their first-ever conference title.
1. Tell us the story behind what made you decide to become a Kansas City Roo.
The reason why I decided to become a KC Roo was because I believed in the vision of becoming a part of a Ring team.
2. What is your best memory from your time as a student attending Kansas City?
My best memory would have to be the day we won conference. Cutting down the net reminded me of all the talks we had about believing we are capable of doing this. It was a historic moment that will have our names all over it.
3. Do you have any advice for your younger teammates or recruits that are looking at coming to KC?
One advice would be, leave your basketball problems at the gym and never take them home with you. This will help you to learn how to separate basketball and your life outside of basketball. It won't help you if you keep thinking about all the bad things. (I had to learn the hard way.
4. What are your plans after you graduate/leave KC?
My plans after graduating is to get my master's degree in international relations and to become a graduate assistant.
5. Where is your favorite place to eat in Kansas City? What do you get there?
My favorite place to eat would definitely have to be Crab Kings. I usually get the crab and shrimp platter. Then take a dangerous nap!
6. What would Spotify/music list tell us is your most played song of 2020?
My favorite song right now would have to be 'Billionaire' by Teni.
What head coach Jacie Hoyt has to say about Awal:
"Awal was a key player for our championship season. One of the neatest things about Awal's career was the fact that she always seemed to have great games when they mattered most. Her career high's always came against the best teams, and she had an ability to make huge shots in big games. I will never forget her dagger three-pointer at the top of the key to put us ahead by two points against Mizzou on our home court that led us to victory. Awal was a great player, but will most be remembered by others for her big heart and incredible light that she brought to others. I am so thankful for the light she brought to me personally. I will miss her positivity on a daily basis."
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1. Tell us the story behind what made you decide to become a Kansas City Roo.
Coach Hale gave me an opportunity that few have the chance to receive, therefore I decided to come to UMKC. It's been four amazing years and I do not regret it one second.
2. What is your best memory from your time as a student attending Kansas City?
My second semester freshman year, I was lucky to be able to travel to Europe with the whole team and win the conference championship a few months after. All the memories and experiences throughout the years with my teammates are second-to-none so choosing one best moment is impossible.
3. Do you have any advice for your younger teammates or recruits that are looking at coming to KC?
Unfortunately there will be no more Men's tennis, but for future woman's tennis players and other freshman I would say that you take any opportunity given to you and step out of your comfort zone as much as possible. Be open to learn from experience made through failure, but strive for gain through victory.
4. What are your plans after you graduate/leave KC?
I will be staying in Kansas City for another year doing my master's (degree) in mechanical engineering as well as help coach Hale out as a graduate assistant for the women's tennis team. I'm excited to see what the future will bring!
5. Where is your favorite place to eat in Kansas City? What do you get there?
A bowl-to-go with two tortillas on the side. Both with rice, beans and some fajitas too. Mild, some medium, corn, sour cream, cheese and lettuce. And vinaigrette please.
6. What would Spotify/music list tell us is your most played song of 2020?
Would be 'Biking' by Frank Ocean, I really like the last 15 seconds of the song ??
What head coach Kendell Hale has to say about Daniel:
"Daniel has been with us for four years and has been a great leader on and off the court. He saw limited playing time, but did a lot off the court to help the team be unified and grow together by organizing events to help team bonding. I told him after we won the WAC that he was extremely instrumental in our success that year. He is an engineering major and his class schedule was hard to work around, but he always found a way to hit and do extra for the team. He was always working on his game and creating plans to get better. He is a super logical guy who always had us laughing with his out-of-the-box thinking about everything from politics to science! Daniel will stick around this next year and help our women's program as their GA. Look forward to working with Daniel and I know our teams will benefit from his knowledge and work ethic!"
Awal Ajak is a women's basketball player from Des Moines, Iowa who developed one of the deadliest long-range shots in the conference. She ranked ninth in the conference in 3-point accuracy (.341) and was third on the team with 43 triples on the season. She added 6.4 points per game, helping the Roos collect their first-ever conference title.
1. Tell us the story behind what made you decide to become a Kansas City Roo.
The reason why I decided to become a KC Roo was because I believed in the vision of becoming a part of a Ring team.
2. What is your best memory from your time as a student attending Kansas City?
My best memory would have to be the day we won conference. Cutting down the net reminded me of all the talks we had about believing we are capable of doing this. It was a historic moment that will have our names all over it.
3. Do you have any advice for your younger teammates or recruits that are looking at coming to KC?
One advice would be, leave your basketball problems at the gym and never take them home with you. This will help you to learn how to separate basketball and your life outside of basketball. It won't help you if you keep thinking about all the bad things. (I had to learn the hard way.
4. What are your plans after you graduate/leave KC?
My plans after graduating is to get my master's degree in international relations and to become a graduate assistant.
5. Where is your favorite place to eat in Kansas City? What do you get there?
My favorite place to eat would definitely have to be Crab Kings. I usually get the crab and shrimp platter. Then take a dangerous nap!
6. What would Spotify/music list tell us is your most played song of 2020?
My favorite song right now would have to be 'Billionaire' by Teni.
What head coach Jacie Hoyt has to say about Awal:
"Awal was a key player for our championship season. One of the neatest things about Awal's career was the fact that she always seemed to have great games when they mattered most. Her career high's always came against the best teams, and she had an ability to make huge shots in big games. I will never forget her dagger three-pointer at the top of the key to put us ahead by two points against Mizzou on our home court that led us to victory. Awal was a great player, but will most be remembered by others for her big heart and incredible light that she brought to others. I am so thankful for the light she brought to me personally. I will miss her positivity on a daily basis."
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