Feb. 22, 2010

BERKELEY - Standing in a 6-3, senior pitcher Marissa Drewrey is a formidable force in the circle for the No. 11/12 California softball team. Hailing from Oakdale, Calif., in the central valley, Drewrey easily transitioned into life in Berkeley, a city remarkably different than her hometown. CalBears.com chatted with Drewrey to find out more about her, including how she gave up fast food for an entire year.

CalBears.com: What's something not a lot of people know about you?
MD: I am half-Portuguese.

CalBears.com: Your hometown of Oakdale is known as the Cowboy Capital of the World, why is that?
MD: We are actually called the Cowboy Capital of the World because the town's rodeo cowboys have won 24 world championships. Oakdale holds many rodeos every year, and the rodeo grounds happen to be a couple blocks from my house. Even though I've lived in Oakdale for several years, I've never attended the rodeo!!

CalBears.com: What was it like to grow up in the small town Oakdale and then go to school in a town as unique as Berkeley?
MD: It was definitely a culture shock. Oakdale is very conservative, unlike Berkeley. It took a lot of getting used to, but now I would definitely choose living in a big city over a small town.

CalBears.com: For your 2008 New Year's resolution, you went the whole year without eating fast food. What was the process like? Did you get some fast food at midnight on New Year's Day?
MD: This was definitely one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, especially during softball season! People always make resolutions so I thought I'd just try it. When we got done late after games, the only place to stop was somewhere fast. I would either have to make a sandwich ahead of time or eat something else unhealthy like chocolate! When I had fast food for the first time in 2009 it was gross. It took me at least four times to try different things before I started liking it again.

CalBears.com: Who has been your favorite professor at Cal?
MD: I hate playing favorites, but if I have to pick, I would say Craig Nagasawa who taught my first paint class at Cal.

CalBears.com: What is the best thing about being a part of your team?
MD: I love how different our team is from any team I've ever been on. Every person is so unique and has a completely different personality, except for the twins, of course, who are identical. My most favorite thing about my team is that almost everyone loves to dance. Even though I am probably the one person who does not dance, I LOVE watching everyone else. I think it's hilarious.

CalBears.com: As a self-proclaimed reality TV show avid fan, which show would you most like to be on?
MD: It would be between "Top Design," which is an interior design show, or "Wipeout."

CalBears.com: Speaking of reality television, ho do you want to win "The Bachelor" this season?
MD: Tenley! Even though Vienna is predicted to win, I'm all for Tenley getting to be the next Bachelorette!

CalBears.com: What's one of the most important things you've learned while playing softball at Cal?
MD: Time management. I have to allot my time so that I'm able to manage softball, school, family and friends.

CalBears.com: Amy Bishop, the last person to do a Q&A, wanted the next softball player to answer: What is your most embarrassing softball moment?
MD: I can't think of any embarrassing moments!!

CalBears.com: What question would you like the next softball player that does a Q&A to answer?
MD: Who is your celebrity look-a-like?

Check in next week to hear Jace Williams' answer to that question!

To read all past Q&A with the Golden Bears, check out the archive by clicking here