Penn State Harrisburg senior outfielder Colton Houseal (Maytown, Pa. / Donegal) brings much needed experience to the Lion's first season as members of the Capital Athletic Conference.  Houseal hit .363 last year during the team's conference championship winning campaign that ended with an appeareance in the NCAA Tournament.  After three strong years, he has seen the level of competition the Blue & White face continue to improve and he's ready to help Penn State Harrisburg meet the new challenge head on.  INTRODUCING … Colton Houseal.

Briefly, what is your background in the sport you play?  

I've been playing since I was five years old. In high school, we won the Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3 championship at Donegal High School.  I'm now in my fourth year playing at Penn State Harrisburg.  We won the North Eastern Athletic Conference championship last year and played in the 2013 NCAA Division III championship tournament before joining the Capital Athletic Conference this year.

What is your major in college, and what is the most important thing you learned in that discipline?  

I am a Criminal Justice major and the thing I've learned from this area of study is to always work hard and stay out of trouble.

What is your favorite spot on campus?  

My favorite spot on campus is the Capital Union Building (CUB) – Penn State Harrisburg's athletics building. Whether it's hanging out in the trainer's office or playing pickup basketball in the gym, I always have a good time.

Outside of your home and campus, where is your favorite place visit?  

My favorite place to visit is Stone Harbor, New Jersey.  It's where my family and I vacation every year.

Other than your team, what organization (s) do you participate in (on campus or off campus)?  

I'm active in The ROAR Zone at our home basketball games.

Briefly describe the most memorable experience during your collegiate athletic career.  

My most memorable experience during my collegiate career was when we won the NEAC Championship in Washington, D.C.  We followed it up by making the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history.

Other than your family members, who was the most influential person in your life?  

Other than my family members, the most influential people in my life are my friends. They're always there when I need someone to talk to or when I need advice about anything in life.  They're my second family of sorts.

What is the most important societal issue facing college students?  

The most important thing I think college students face is the struggle to perfect time management.  It is hard to manage your school work and your social life while also being active within your school.  If you're a student-athlete, managing a schedule becomes even tougher.

If you could change any one item in the world (in your personal life, school, community, amateur or professional sports, national/international issue, etc.), what would it be, why, and how would you do it?  

I would lower the amount of money professional athletes are paid to play the sport they love. It's sad to see athletes not play for the love of the game instead of playing for the huge contracts and the money.       

What is your favorite form of entertainment?  

My favorite form of entertainment is music; especially going to concerts with my friends. There is nothing better than going to a concert with all my friends and listening to great musicians play great music.  The live experience just can't be topped.

If you could give one piece of advice to elementary school children, what would that advice be?  

The advice I would give them is to stay active, whether it's staying active in school or outside of school.  Also, play sports while growing up because it teaches a lot of life lessons.

Outside of the CAC, who or what is your favorite sports person or team?  

My favorite team is the Philadelphia Phillies.  My father was always a Phillies fan and that's the team I grew up watching.  I love the Phillies because no matter where the players end up at the end of their career, they always come back to Philly because they say it is the best place in baseball to play.

What is your favorite thing about the CAC, or what would you change about the CAC if you could?  

My favorite thing about the CAC is the competition.  The teams that are in the conference are some of the best in Division III and that motivates everyone in the CAC to work harder and push themselves to be great.

Name three (3) people, real or fictional, living or dead, that you'd like to have dinner with?  

I would love to have dinner with Chase Utley because he is one of the best second basemen in Major League Baseball and he possesses a great work ethic and always hustles no matter what the situation.  The next person I would like to have dinner with is Ken Griffey Jr. because he was one of my favorite baseball players growing up and is one of the best players to ever play the game and would have been the best if he wasn't always dealing with injuries.  The last person I would have dinner with is Michael Jordan because he is the greatest athlete of all time and a true inspiration to everyone because of the way he played the game and the way he went about carrying himself as a winner.