Bryce Emory, a junior on the NIU men’s golf team, has taken several underclassmen under his wing this season.

Emory has shown the young Huskies shows how to have fun and when to be serious.

Tom Porten, NIU golf coach, said Emory is a leader to the underclassmen and one of the best golfers on the team. He helps the freshmen on and off the course. Porten added he helps get the team loose on the long bus rides.

“Bryce always puts in extra time in with the freshmen,” Porten said. “He shows them what he would do in their situation. He has a great sense of humor; he is cracking jokes on the long bus rides to help keep everyone loose.”

Emory said he likes to joke around with the freshmen to show that they are part of the team.

“I joke around with the freshmen and give them a hard time,” Emory said. “It helps show them that we are here for them and that we are a team, even though it is tough love.”

While in high school, Emory won four team MVP awards at Marmion Academy. He was named the Suburban Catholic Conference Player of the Year three-straight seasons (2006-08), and was honored as the 2006 Northern Illinois Regional High School Player of the Year.

“Winning all of those awards was an amazing feeling,” Emory said. “We had tons of athletes at my school that easily could have won those awards instead.”

Emory said he’s been involved in golf since he was young, and his dream job includes going pro. He said he would love to golf with some of the tops names in the sport.

“I got into golf due to my dad, when I was two years old, we played in a father-son tournaments,” Emory said. “My dream job one day would to become a professional golfer. I would love to golf alongside Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus, then it would be a tie between Bubba Watson and Dustin Johnson. That way, we can have a long drive competition.”