Jason Buursma

Classroom

Buursma has a GPA of 3.64 and is expected to graduate on May 18, 2008. He is majorin in economics and has a philosophy minor. He was the recipient of the Charles F. White Memorial award for student-athletes which was presented to one male and one female athlete of the Class of 2008 from Bucknell University. Was a member of the 2007 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District II First Team selection (as a DH) and has been on the Deans List 6 of 7 semesters and the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll Member 2 of 3 Seasons. In the Fall of 2006 studied abroad at Oxford with a tutorial in classical economic thought. After he finishes playing baseball his career interests include working with mergers and acquisitions and starting and managing a restaurant.

Character

Was elected 2008 co-captainby his teammates. Buursma did not start pitching submarine style until his sophomore year of high school and has developed the unusual delivery well enough to dominate the Patriot League the past three seasons. He came to Bucknell as a shortstop, but played third base as a freshman and first base as a sophomore with little difficulty, posting a .971 fielding percentage in his first season as a first baseman. Dedicated to his education, Buursma sacrificed his “fall ball” season in 2006 to capitalize on the opportunity to study at Oxford. The absence of baseball in England did not deter him from keeping up with his preparation for the spring as he spent time on his own throwing against a cement wall. His self motivation paid off as his 2007 season was one of the most impressive showings on the mound in school and league history. “Jason is one of the finest young men I have had the privilege to work with. He represents the scholar-athlete ideal in every way. He has the highest standards of character, behavior, work ethic, competitiveness and combines all that with outstanding athletic ability. He has the respect of every team member. He is a very well-rounded person, a credit to his family and to our program.” - 27th-year Bucknell head coach Gene Depew “In the four years that I have known Jason he has always been a tremendous player, immediately making an impact on the quality of our team. Through these past four years, Jason has found a way to not only be one of, if not the best pitcher in the league, but also one of the premier hitters. I have seen Jason play first base an entire game and, due to one miscue or another, warm-up at first base throwing submarine to the shortstop, and then enter the game in a bases loaded situation and leave having successfully preserved the lead. The ridiculousness of this situation never seems to faze him as he will calmly stroll to the mound and do his job to the best of his ability. Jason works as hard as anyone I know, taking ground balls at third and first, hitting, and all the while - mostly on his own time - managing to keep up on his pitching work. Jason wants to be in the game when it is on the line, he wants to make others better, and he wants to make our team the best. His competitive nature is rivaled by few and his work ethic rivaled by even fewer. It has been an honor and a pleasure to share four years on the field with him and if there is anything I can say with certainty, it is that he has made me better.” – fellow co-captain Mathew Wilson

Community

Has helped to coordinate and administer a gym renovation and basketball camp for the Donald Heiter Community Center, serving the Lewisburg Area. Is a member of Student Athlete Advisory Committee at Bucknell, where the representatives from each sport meet with school administrators to discuss student-athlete related issues on campus as well as serve as liaison between team and administration in case problems arise.

Competition

Was drafted in the 43rd Round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft by the Seattle Mariners. Named to National Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year Award Watch List in both 2007 and 2008 and was named a 2006 ABCA All-East Region First Team Selection and a Four-Time All-Patriot League Honoree (First Team Relief Pitcher 2006 & 2007, Second Team DH 2005, Second Team 1B 2006). Buursma is the first player in school history to have earned Patriot League Rookie of the Week, Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week honors from the league in his career. He holds the school record for career saves (15) and that ranks second in league history. He ranks ninth in school history for career triples (9), and sixth for career appearances (51) and finished 2007 with the second lowest ERA in Patriot League history, 1.65.