May 5, 2011

BERKELEY - CalBears.com is staging introductions between fans and the eight freshmen on the California softball team and this week, fans get to meet Britt Vonk. Not only is freshman shortstop Britt Vonk the team's sole foreign player, but she also played in the 2008 Olympics with the Netherlands National team. Vonk is the most current Golden Bear with Olympic experience in a distinguished line of former Bears. Named the best hitter in the 2006 Apeldoorn Softball Series and the most talented player of 2006 in Enschede. She earned recognition in 2008 as the best hitter at the Mastenbroek Tournament and awarded the Bep van Beijmerwerdt Trophy as the most talented youth Dutch player. She was also lauded as the best hitter at the 2010 International Indoor Cup, and with her club team, the Tex Town Tigers, was a two-time national champion in the division one league. Vonk could prove to be a threat on the basepaths for she was also a member of the track and field team in her hometown. After attaining her bachelor's degree, she would like to get a master's in a field relating to psychology. Her father, Theo Vonk, played professional soccer in the Netherlands, and mother, Tanja Reijerink, played professional water polo in the Netherlands and her brother plays soccer. Vonk said that her two best sports moments are making it to the Olympics in 2008 and being Dutch champions with Tex Town Tigers.

CalBears.com: What made you chose Cal?
Britt Vonk: I chose Cal because its history and reputation really spoke to me. The combination of these two factors made Cal an easy choice.

CalBears.com: What are your hobbies outside of softball?
BV: Eating, listening to music and hanging out with my friends.

CalBears.com: What's your favorite part about Berkeley and/or the Cal campus?
BV: The unique people!

CalBears.com: What is the best thing about being a part of Cal softball?
BV: It's a great program and there's a fantastic family aspect!

CalBears.com: What has been your favorite part about college life so far?
BV: To be around great athletes and great students.

CalBears.com: What are you planning on or thinking of majoring in?
BV: Psychology.

CalBears.com: What has been the hardest, most surprising aspect about transitioning from high school to college?
BV: English! I was used to speak Dutch all the time, so speaking English every day was a big change.

CalBears.com: What class did you most enjoy to this fall?
BV: Ethnic Studies! The professor is great!

CalBears.com: Now that you're in your well into your first semester of college, what advice do you wish someone had told you about college or would you give to incoming student-athletes?
BV: Keep looking at the syllabus!

CalBears.com: What would you like to be doing in 10 years?
BV: Traveling around the world!

CalBears.com: Which three people would you invite to dinner?
BV: Three of my teammates - LaRisa Jones, Victoria Jones and Arianna Erceg.

CalBears.com: What is one thing you can't live without?
BV: My parents.

CalBears.com: What is your biggest pet peeve?
BV: Cereal bowls that go uncleaned.

CalBears.com: If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would buy?
BV: I would buy a private jet and a house so I could bring my family here to the Bay Area!