Welcome back to 11 Questions presented by Piedmont Natural Gas — a weekly questionnaire series designed for you to get to know the people that make up Greenville Triumph Soccer Club. Each week, our own Marion Cole will ask someone from the organization the same ten questions, but the eleventh question will be from the previous interviewee. With players, coaches, and front office staff involved, we hope to bring you a fun look inside our club!
This week, I’m joined by Greenville Triumph’s Merchandise Manager, Cory Elwood. Cory has worked with an array of sports teams including the Nashville Predators, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Rapids, and the Greenville Swamp Rabbits hockey team. Originally from Colorado, Cory and wife, Jasmine, have lived in Greenville since 2016.
1. If you had a podcast, what would it be about and why?
It would revolve around sports in some capacity. I have been a very passionate sports fan since a pretty young age and have always known that my career would include sports. I was also 100% sure it would not be as an athlete. But I’m a big fan of sports analytics, statistics, and random facts, really, so I’m sure any podcast I started would include a touch of all that as well. Sports are very situational, so interpreting them by utilizing the statistics and data available, in the right situations, can give your team an edge.
2. How do you decompress after a long week of work or training?
Generally, my weekends are fairly low-key. Spending time at home with my wife and our dogs is always a nice way for me to decompress. We have two dogs. Champ is a one-year old lab mix, and Hulk is six-year old American Bulldog who is deaf. Now that we are homeowners, I also spend a lot of time at doing yard-work, which I thoroughly enjoy. We spend quite a few weekends outdoors, going to Asheville for hiking and visiting one of the local breweries. Asheville reminds us most of Colorado, where we’re both from. Really laid-back, mountainous area, that promotes outdoor activity and has really good beer. It’s easy for us to feel relaxed in Asheville.
3. What’s the most memorable meal you’ve ever had and why?
I’m not sure that I can pinpoint the most memorable meal, but I’ll always remember Thanksgiving dinners at my parents’ house. Thanksgiving dinners were a chance for our entire family to come together, watch some football, eat some really good food, and spend time with each other. My mom would always make a green bean casserole that had a buttered cracker topping. It’s very simple, but we only have it at Thanksgiving, so I was always looking forward to it.
4. What was the most nervous you’ve ever been?
That’s a good question, there have been plenty of nervous times in my life. But I’d have to say, when I proposed to my wife, Jasmine — well, that was pretty nerve-wracking. We were on vacation in New Orleans and decided to spend the day at a nearby state park. When we finally had a moment to ourselves, I popped the question. Even though I was 99% sure she was going to say yes, I was definitely nervous. Long story short, she said yes, and we moved to South Carolina shortly after we got married!
5. If you’re up at 2AM on a Saturday night, what are you eating?
There aren’t many nights that I’m up at 2AM anymore. But let’s say I was, honestly, chances are I’m grabbing whatever is convenient. Generally, we keep mostly, emphasis on mostly, healthier foods in our house. If it’s 2AM, though, then I’d probably be reaching for chips or ice cream, preferably Ben & Jerry’s Peanut Butter Cup.
6. What’s something you learned recently that blew your mind?
I recently learned the differences between an ‘possum’ and ‘opossum.’ My wife and I were driving home the other day and saw a possum crossing the road, which sparked the conversation. So, possums are generally found in Australia, New Guinea, and other Pacific Island regions while Opossums are found in North, South, and Central America. Opossums are also North America’s only marsupial. Who knew?!
7. Triumph SC announces they’re bringing a celebrity to the next match and wondering if you have enough time to say, “Hello.” Who’s the celebrity you’re most excited to have at a match?
It would probably be Alexander Ovechkin, left-winger for the Washington Capitals NHL team. He’s been my favorite athlete since I first learned about him while he was playing for Dynamo Moscow in the Kontinental Hockey League. He plays with a lot of passion, a lot of energy, and is really charismatic. I was at his first game in Colorado and I’ve gotten to watch him lift the Stanley Cup. He’s also a big soccer fan. His dad actually played in Russia. So maybe it’s not too far-fetched to actually make this happen?!
8. What’s the most memorable sports moment you’ve had as a fan?
There have been quite a few but attending the 2010 Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers playoff game where Tim Tebow connected on an 80-yard touchdown pass on the first play of overtime was a pretty unreal experience. Also, this past New Year’s Day, my wife and I went to the NHL Winter Classic in Dallas to watch the Nashville Predators play the Dallas Stars at the Cotton Bowl. And to watch a hockey game take place outdoors, in Texas of all places, in front of 85,000 people was a pretty cool. Since high school, I’ve kept the ticket stubs from each sporting event or game I’ve been to, so it’s very easy to reminisce on a lot of these special moments.
9. What sporting event have you always wanted to go to and why?
To echo Kaitlyn’s previous ‘11 Questions’ answer, I would love to attend the Stanley Cup Finals. Preferably featuring either the Colorado Avalanche and/or the Washington Capitals. The NHL post-season takes roughly two months, so by the time the two teams are in the Finals, they’ve just been physically and emotionally tested to their limits. Not to mention, they’re all battling multiple injuries at that point. Combine that with some sell-out crowds and just the overall post-season atmosphere and intensity, it would be unbelievable to experience.
10. If you’re part of a PK lineup, what number are you taking your penalty kick?
Honestly, fingers crossed that it wouldn’t get to the point when any team would be relying on me to take a penalty kick! But if they did, I’d prefer to go first, for no other reason than to get it out of the way so that the actual professional players could take over.
11. Triumph defender, Trevor Swartz, wanted me to ask you what position on the field would you play and why?
I would definitely play defense. I grew up playing several sports, but the sport I played year-round was hockey, and I always played defense. For me, it was always way more satisfying to shut down the other teams’ top scorers than to score myself.
Next week, I’m speaking with the Assistant Coach and Upstate legend, Rick Wright. What would you like me to ask Coach Wright?
If you could ask advice from any historical figure, who would it be and what would you ask them?
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