Dawgs 4 Life: Alumni Update With Christian Shewey
January 04, 2019 | Baseball
Over the past five years, Washington Baseball has the second-best overall record in the Pac-12 Conference. The Huskies have been to the NCAA post-season three times in that span and reached the pinnacle of college baseball by participating in the program's first College World Series in 2018.
The foundation for the Huskies' winning culture was laid by the generations of men who have put on the Purple and Gold throughout the years. Playing baseball for the HuskiesΒ is much more than just about the wins on the field. It is about forming friendships and bonds with brothers. It is about reaching your full potential, on and off the field. It is about preparing for the future and being prepared for the next step after leaving Washington.Β
Former UW catcher and Seattle Mariners' draft pick, Christian Shewey (1993-96), who attended the UW School of Dentistry, currently runs his practice in Bellevue. Dr. Shewey recently reflected on his time at Washington, how it prepared him for life after baseball and how his years at UW still impacts his life today.Β
What is your proudest moments on the field as a UW Student-Athlete?
Β
As a freshman, I earned the starting job as the catcher heading into the season.Β Even though I played well defensively, I started the year in a horrible offensive slump - actually not getting a hit in my first 21 at-bats.Β I knew I was a good hitter but I remember feeling like I was letting my team down.Β Β However, I never let it affect my defensive play and my coach kept playing me.Β I'll never forget getting my first hit against Kansas State in Manhattan, Kansas.Β It felt like the biggest monkey was off my back and I can still hear my team cheering for me.Β Fortunately, the hits didn't stop, I ended up with a .286 batting average for the whole season, hitting over .400 in the Pac-10 season, and earned First-Team All-Pac 10 Catcher as a freshman.Β I will always appreciate my coaches for sticking with me, knowing how hard I was working. Β Β The lessons I learned from not giving up when I was down and things weren't going my way will last a lifetime.Β Β
What are some of your favorite memories of playing baseball at UW?
Β
I remember our "Dawg-pile" on the field in Corvallis after winning the Pac-10 North in 1996.Β I was one of only two seniors on the team and almost every other player was a freshman or sophomore.Β We had an incredible amount of success for what was supposed to be a re-building year.Β Β
Β
When I think back at my career as a UW Baseball Player, what I remember most is the relationship with my teammates.Β We were truly a "band of brothers" and these friendships last a lifetime.Β We were pushed to the limit in our off-season workouts and forced to train hard in the wettest, coldest and windiest conditions.Β We knew our competitors had no shortage of sunshine, so we never complained and plodded ahead.Β I truly believe this gave our teams a gritty, tough competitive edge that evened the field against the teams in warmer climates or with better indoor facilities.Β Β
Β
My closest friends in life now, even 25 years later, are my fellow UW BaseballΒ teammates.Β It's almost as if we've been to war together.Β After all this time, we stillΒ share a common bond that most other people will never feel.Β We've won together, lost together, survived the most grueling workouts and battled through some ofΒ the most grueling conditions.Β Β I loved my teammates and knew they all would have my back.Β Β
Β
When I went to the UW to play baseball, I never realized the sense of pride and community I would feel after my career was over.Β Being a Husky isn't something you do for four years, it's for a lifetime.Β Β I felt an incredible amount of pride putting on the purple and gold and it will be part of me forever. Β Β
Β
Talk about your current occupation and how your time at Washington prepared you for your career?
Being a Husky Baseball player has significantly helped me in my career after my playing days were over.Β Intense competition, grit and mental toughness were all requirements to succeed as a student-athlete at the UW.Β In the "real world" these are all attributes that make for a successful professional as well.Β Β
Β
Talk about the pride you feel still to this day watching Husky Baseball.
I felt an incredible amount of pride watching our "Diamond Dawgs" at the College World Series. Β Seeing the "purple and gold" on the field in Omaha felt like a mountain-top had finally been reached.Β This was the goal of every team I played for at the UW. Β We had a lot of success during my career, including two conference championships and were even one game away from the CWS in 1994- but we could never quite make it.Β While I knew our teams were good, seeing the Huskies on the ultimate national stage this year was vindication for being so close, for so long.Β Now, we just need to win it! Β Β Β Β
Β
Β
The foundation for the Huskies' winning culture was laid by the generations of men who have put on the Purple and Gold throughout the years. Playing baseball for the HuskiesΒ is much more than just about the wins on the field. It is about forming friendships and bonds with brothers. It is about reaching your full potential, on and off the field. It is about preparing for the future and being prepared for the next step after leaving Washington.Β
Former UW catcher and Seattle Mariners' draft pick, Christian Shewey (1993-96), who attended the UW School of Dentistry, currently runs his practice in Bellevue. Dr. Shewey recently reflected on his time at Washington, how it prepared him for life after baseball and how his years at UW still impacts his life today.Β
What is your proudest moments on the field as a UW Student-Athlete?
Β
As a freshman, I earned the starting job as the catcher heading into the season.Β Even though I played well defensively, I started the year in a horrible offensive slump - actually not getting a hit in my first 21 at-bats.Β I knew I was a good hitter but I remember feeling like I was letting my team down.Β Β However, I never let it affect my defensive play and my coach kept playing me.Β I'll never forget getting my first hit against Kansas State in Manhattan, Kansas.Β It felt like the biggest monkey was off my back and I can still hear my team cheering for me.Β Fortunately, the hits didn't stop, I ended up with a .286 batting average for the whole season, hitting over .400 in the Pac-10 season, and earned First-Team All-Pac 10 Catcher as a freshman.Β I will always appreciate my coaches for sticking with me, knowing how hard I was working. Β Β The lessons I learned from not giving up when I was down and things weren't going my way will last a lifetime.Β Β
What are some of your favorite memories of playing baseball at UW?
Β
I remember our "Dawg-pile" on the field in Corvallis after winning the Pac-10 North in 1996.Β I was one of only two seniors on the team and almost every other player was a freshman or sophomore.Β We had an incredible amount of success for what was supposed to be a re-building year.Β Β
Β
When I think back at my career as a UW Baseball Player, what I remember most is the relationship with my teammates.Β We were truly a "band of brothers" and these friendships last a lifetime.Β We were pushed to the limit in our off-season workouts and forced to train hard in the wettest, coldest and windiest conditions.Β We knew our competitors had no shortage of sunshine, so we never complained and plodded ahead.Β I truly believe this gave our teams a gritty, tough competitive edge that evened the field against the teams in warmer climates or with better indoor facilities.Β Β
Β
My closest friends in life now, even 25 years later, are my fellow UW BaseballΒ teammates.Β It's almost as if we've been to war together.Β After all this time, we stillΒ share a common bond that most other people will never feel.Β We've won together, lost together, survived the most grueling workouts and battled through some ofΒ the most grueling conditions.Β Β I loved my teammates and knew they all would have my back.Β Β
Β
When I went to the UW to play baseball, I never realized the sense of pride and community I would feel after my career was over.Β Being a Husky isn't something you do for four years, it's for a lifetime.Β Β I felt an incredible amount of pride putting on the purple and gold and it will be part of me forever. Β Β
Β
Talk about your current occupation and how your time at Washington prepared you for your career?
Being a Husky Baseball player has significantly helped me in my career after my playing days were over.Β Intense competition, grit and mental toughness were all requirements to succeed as a student-athlete at the UW.Β In the "real world" these are all attributes that make for a successful professional as well.Β Β
Β
Talk about the pride you feel still to this day watching Husky Baseball.
I felt an incredible amount of pride watching our "Diamond Dawgs" at the College World Series. Β Seeing the "purple and gold" on the field in Omaha felt like a mountain-top had finally been reached.Β This was the goal of every team I played for at the UW. Β We had a lot of success during my career, including two conference championships and were even one game away from the CWS in 1994- but we could never quite make it.Β While I knew our teams were good, seeing the Huskies on the ultimate national stage this year was vindication for being so close, for so long.Β Now, we just need to win it! Β Β Β Β
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