Jake Marsh Named Semifinalist for Prestigious Wooden Citizenship Cup Award

by Jared Martinson - Bethel Sports Information Intern

Jake Marsh thought he was just in Willmar, Minn. to play baseball for the summer of 2019. Then his host family asked him a huge question.

“Are you using your gifts the best you can?”

Marsh was recently announced as a Wooden Citizenship Cup semifinalist, one of 31 student-athletes across all NCAA divisions and sports to be selected. The Wooden Citizenship Cup highlights the best role models in athletics, taking into consideration character traits, service to the community and athletic achievements.

The last time Bethel nominated one of its student-athletes for the Wooden Cup was 2013, when baseball player Matt Rowley was also selected as a semifinalist.

Marsh’s collegiate career has taken a path not many could empathize with. He had tremendous success his first two years both on the football field, taking over as the starting quarterback as a freshman, and on the baseball field as an All-Conference and All-Region relief pitcher. He was replaced as the starting quarterback in his junior season however when Jaran Roste transferred from the University of Minnesota, and the Royals proceeded to make the Division III quarterfinals.

He was named to the Division III preseason All-American team as a relief pitcher for the baseball team that spring. A 3-4 record, 4.68 ERA and a transition to the starting rotation wasn’t enough to keep him on that list by season’s end.

Though obstacles kept popping up in his way athletically, he had more than just football and baseball to focus on every once in a while — avenues to make an even larger impact in other facets of life. Marsh accumulated over 800 hours of community service over his four years at Bethel, from taking children’s ministry director duties at church to volunteering as a Fellowship of Christian Athletes leader. Oh, and that question his Willmar host family asked him? Two days later, he accepted an offer to join them on a 15-day service trip to Ukraine.

Marsh helped lead a Christian English-learning camp for Ukrainian kids of all ages those two weeks, a human jungle gym and someone to literally look up to. The last night of camp, he wanted to ask his small group of teenage boys if they would give their lives to Jesus. But the language barrier was too big for Marsh to tell them by himself.

“The whole time I was thinking, ‘they don’t even speak my language!’” Marsh said. “How could I make this meaningful?”

One of the boys translated for him, and half of the group raised their hands in acceptance.

Being a two-sport athlete in college takes an incredible amount of time management. On top of those commitments, the work at churches, small groups, mission trips, school and being a regular college kid were all just as important to Marsh. It was only natural.

“I was created with a capacity to do a lot of things,” he said.

His capacity didn’t go unnoticed by the Bethel community.

“This attitude of service from such a gifted person has affected the Bethel University community greatly. He has enhanced the lives of many professors, coaches, students and athletes,” Bethel football coach Steve Johnson wrote in a letter of recommendation. “Those that know him, revere him.”

Teammate and AFCA Good Works Team member Danny Munoz saw it every day too. “Since he became a backup, Jake has attacked each practice, each meeting, each drill, each game, as if he were the starter,” Munoz said. “When it comes to practice, he brings incredible intensity paired with tremendous joy.”

Few will have as lasting a mark on Bethel University as Marsh has across two sports, countless service opportunities and a campus full of students. Recognition as a Wooden Cup semifinalist seems to indicate there’s much more in store later, too.

“It’s been a journey, that’s the word I’ve been focusing on,” Marsh reflected. “You never know what will happen next.”