The University of Akron Athletics
In Their Own Words - Jay Bartos Alumni Postcard
Akron Athletics wants to hear from YOU!
Send us a postcard! Share your story as a Zips' student-athlete and Alum.
Challenge your former teammates and classmates to send us postcards on all of Akron's Zips' social media platforms.
You can upload your own video challenges on your own Twitter (preferred) or other social media accounts, if you do so, please include #ZipsRiseTogether and #ZipsAlumniPostcardChallenge in your social media posts so we can highlight your efforts. Additionally, please visit GoZips.com/AlumniPostcard to complete an online postcard.
Jay Bartos (1991-96, men's baseball)
What makes you most proud to be a Zip?
That our baseball teams progressively got better in the MAC and making it to the NCAA Tournament Regional in Raleigh, N.C.
How are you and your family doing during this time?
We are doing doing well. I have been coaching baseball since I left Akron (24 years) trying to Win the Way Fross Teaches.
I am a seventh grade science teacher in Pickerington, Ohio. My wife is a gifted curriculum coordinator in Canal WInchester part-time and sells LuLaRoe full-time. I have two children Anna 12 and Evan 9, both attend Canal WInchester schools and are active dancers.
Any messages of hope or inspiration for fellow Zips out there during our current stay-at-home orders?
Stay focused on your goals and make positives out of negatives.
“Little things are trifles, trifles make perfection, perfection is no trifle.”
“Always do things with a purpose.” Play with a purpose.
What is your purpose?
Do you have any work from home tips that you have learned while quarantined?
Make time for exercise always.
What is your current job, title, ect. that are keeping you busy these days?
I am a seventh grade science teacher in Pickerington, Ohio. I coach seventh or eighth grade baseball for Pickerington North High School.
What was/were the deciding factors(s) that brought you to Akron?
I was set to go to the University of Kentucky and I went on a visit to Akron. Talking to coach Fross and sharing my goals for the program I ended up at made Akron feel like home. I took pride in wanting to make Akron flourish and spread that goal because I knew I could not do it on my own.
What was/were your first impression(s) of Akron?
I loved the people, the camaraderie, the pride of the people who went there.
What makes being a student-athlete at Akron unique?
There is nothing like being a Zip. It was the best seven years of my life since I stayed and got my master degree.
What are your favorite memories on court, field, etc.?
Winning the MAC championship with my teammates on Kent State’s field.
One of the best aspects of being a student-athlete is teammate camaraderie. Give us an example from your experience as a student-athlete.
The camaraderie was with baseball but we were all cheering for every part of the athletic department. It was that togetherness that fueled us, to have this ultimate pride of being a Zip.
What is your personal success story?
I am very lucky that I was a four-year letterman, two-time captain, sophomore honorable mention All-MAC, senior year second-team All-MAC along with being named to the All tournament team my senior year. I am still part owner of two records I believe...most triples in a game and most hits in a MAC Tournament game.
What is it that you have learned from being a student-athlete at Akron that you will use throughout your life after graduation?
The words of encouragement that I shared mostly came from the adaptation of my experiences that I learned at Akron from my coaches and my experiences that they shared with me.
Time management and striving to be my best Being a student-athlete requires a lot of time management. How have you learned to do so?
I did not have a phone to keep my plans in order or my itinerary, so I use my phone now.
What is your view on the difference between playing and competing?
Playing is doing it for the fun of it, but competing is to strive to be the best. Both are necessary to be the best athlete out there. If you are missing one, you will be mediocre at best.
Being a student-athlete has high physical demands, but also requires mental toughness as well. What have you done to develop both?
Developing spiritually as well has helped me to develop mental toughness.
Send us a postcard! Share your story as a Zips' student-athlete and Alum.
Challenge your former teammates and classmates to send us postcards on all of Akron's Zips' social media platforms.
You can upload your own video challenges on your own Twitter (preferred) or other social media accounts, if you do so, please include #ZipsRiseTogether and #ZipsAlumniPostcardChallenge in your social media posts so we can highlight your efforts. Additionally, please visit GoZips.com/AlumniPostcard to complete an online postcard.
Jay Bartos (1991-96, men's baseball)
What makes you most proud to be a Zip?
That our baseball teams progressively got better in the MAC and making it to the NCAA Tournament Regional in Raleigh, N.C.
How are you and your family doing during this time?
We are doing doing well. I have been coaching baseball since I left Akron (24 years) trying to Win the Way Fross Teaches.
I am a seventh grade science teacher in Pickerington, Ohio. My wife is a gifted curriculum coordinator in Canal WInchester part-time and sells LuLaRoe full-time. I have two children Anna 12 and Evan 9, both attend Canal WInchester schools and are active dancers.
Any messages of hope or inspiration for fellow Zips out there during our current stay-at-home orders?
Stay focused on your goals and make positives out of negatives.
“Little things are trifles, trifles make perfection, perfection is no trifle.”
“Always do things with a purpose.” Play with a purpose.
What is your purpose?
Do you have any work from home tips that you have learned while quarantined?
Make time for exercise always.
What is your current job, title, ect. that are keeping you busy these days?
I am a seventh grade science teacher in Pickerington, Ohio. I coach seventh or eighth grade baseball for Pickerington North High School.
What was/were the deciding factors(s) that brought you to Akron?
I was set to go to the University of Kentucky and I went on a visit to Akron. Talking to coach Fross and sharing my goals for the program I ended up at made Akron feel like home. I took pride in wanting to make Akron flourish and spread that goal because I knew I could not do it on my own.
What was/were your first impression(s) of Akron?
I loved the people, the camaraderie, the pride of the people who went there.
What makes being a student-athlete at Akron unique?
There is nothing like being a Zip. It was the best seven years of my life since I stayed and got my master degree.
What are your favorite memories on court, field, etc.?
Winning the MAC championship with my teammates on Kent State’s field.
One of the best aspects of being a student-athlete is teammate camaraderie. Give us an example from your experience as a student-athlete.
The camaraderie was with baseball but we were all cheering for every part of the athletic department. It was that togetherness that fueled us, to have this ultimate pride of being a Zip.
What is your personal success story?
I am very lucky that I was a four-year letterman, two-time captain, sophomore honorable mention All-MAC, senior year second-team All-MAC along with being named to the All tournament team my senior year. I am still part owner of two records I believe...most triples in a game and most hits in a MAC Tournament game.
What is it that you have learned from being a student-athlete at Akron that you will use throughout your life after graduation?
The words of encouragement that I shared mostly came from the adaptation of my experiences that I learned at Akron from my coaches and my experiences that they shared with me.
Time management and striving to be my best Being a student-athlete requires a lot of time management. How have you learned to do so?
I did not have a phone to keep my plans in order or my itinerary, so I use my phone now.
What is your view on the difference between playing and competing?
Playing is doing it for the fun of it, but competing is to strive to be the best. Both are necessary to be the best athlete out there. If you are missing one, you will be mediocre at best.
Being a student-athlete has high physical demands, but also requires mental toughness as well. What have you done to develop both?
Developing spiritually as well has helped me to develop mental toughness.
