volleyball matches, with a little help from members of th e wrestling team at Portland State. Dan serves on the university's coaching staff and helps conduct wrestlin g camps during the year. Joy first met Dan in the trainin g room at the Port land State gym in 1990 as she was being taped before volleyball practi ce . During their " introduction s," th ey found out they att ended the same church- a large, growin g, suburban conDON PAVLOSKI gregation east of Portland. .&. Reasons to cheer. The Portland State Joy was alread y datin g, University volleyball team has picked but Dan was wi lling to up four national championships- 1984, 1985, 1988, and last year's title behind wait for God 's timing. It the leadership of Joy Russell. cam e in a matter of month s when th e two attended a Wizard of Oz production and had dinner at a fan cy restaurant atop a 48-story Portland bank tower. As time passed, both became convinced that God had brought them together, and they were married October 7, 199 1. This just happened to be the night before an important volleyball match. Joy Lammert shocked both her coach and teammates with the news, but they gave their blessings and hoped for the best. The following clay, Portland State had a new name in the lineup: Joy Russell. Joy and Dan come from strong family backgrounds, and they each accepted Jesus Christ as Savior at an early age. However, both sets of parents were later divorced. These unhappy experiences have served only to strengthen the young couple's resolve to have a strong marriage and Christian testimony as they seek to serve God. " We've learned to lean on God because He alone is the only One you can trust," Mrs. Russell says. She finds assurance in an appropriate Bible verse from Nehemiah 8:1 0, " ... thejoy of the Lord is your strength." Her husband is challenged by Jeremiah 15: 16: " When Your words came, I ate them; they were my j oy and my heart 's delight." The words of the Bible are on his regular study diet as a student at Multnomah Biblical Seminary. Together, Joy and Dan serve on another team, leading junior and senior high youth groups in their church. " We feel God 's call to serve, and that remains our number one priority over any athletic endeavor, including the Olympics," Joy emphasizes. But even when they do compete, they find a purpose that transcends wins and losses. "God has given all of us talent," Joy explains, " and we should use it to the best of our ability with the purpose that is above and beyond the day-to-day achievements." Any future careers are on hold for both Russells. But later they want to be involved in a Christian sports ministry, holding sports camps, and fami ly retreats. Joy, an Art s and Letters major at Portland State, may also look into some kind of outreach using music. Meanwhile, it 's back to the volleyball court, either for another NCAA II championship year at Port land State, a stint with the U.S. national team, or both. One thing is sure: For this volleyball star, a life of serving-whether on or off the court- is sheer j oy.
A
NO YOU THOUGHT Maury Pavich and Connie Chung had a
~tough time getting their schedules together. Take a look at this. While wife Joy Russell tried out for the US Volleyball National Team in San Diego during August, husband Dan was off to Colorado Springs to train for the 1993 World Cup wrestling matches which were held in Heinola, Finland, during October. While husband Dan was holding wrestling camps last summer in Portland, Oregon, wife Joy was playing for the US Volleyball "B" Team in Germany. It's a frenzied lifestyle, but when they have to be apart they're pulling and praying for each other all the time. Dan, former national champion Greco-Roman wrestler at Portland State University and alternate for the 1992 US Olympic wrestling team, has been pinning opponents in Europe and across the United States for years. In the 1992 World Cup held in France, he placed second in his medium-weight (74 kilos or 149.5 to 163 pounds) class, losing only in the finals to a wrestler from Cuba. Now Dan has his sights on the 1996 Olympics. Only one wrestler in each weight class goes to Atlanta, and Dan, who was ranked third in the nation in 1992, hopes he can become number one in 1996 and go for the gold. Dan's also busy endorsing Nike wrestling wear, from shoes to jerseys, a contract he's had with the sportswear giant the past 3 years. At NIKE TOWN in downtown Portland, Dan has his own personal display, complete with his awards, shoes, and jerseys worn in past wrestling tournaments. Both faith in Jesus Christ and wrestling came early for Dan, who has photos showing him in a wrestling singlet and 4 In it toget:,:¡~~~~;;~;;:;' headgear at 18 months old. "I athletic endeavors sometimes became a Christian at a camp take them to separate locales, meeting in Idaho when I was 5 the Russells are unified in their years old and solidified my main purpose. faith in Christ as a high school sophomore." Dan finds many opportunities to share his Christian faith with other wrestlers across the world. "I got into a conversation with a heavyweight Jewish wrestler at the 1992 World Cup in France," he relates. "We talked about differences between religions, and I explained what it meant to have a vital, living relationship with Jesus Christ." Naturally, Dan likes the Bible verse, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, and rulers of the darkness of this world" (Ephesians 6:12). "That's what it's all about," says a guy who knows about wrestling. Now, if only Dan and Joy could find a place that hosts both world-class wrestling matches and world-class volleyball games at the same time. Someplace like Atlanta, perhaps? - Richard Koe
For more information about what Dan Russell was talking about when he discussed Jesus Christ with the Jewish wrestler, write for the free booklet Who Is This Man Who Says He's God? The address is Sports Spectrum, Box 3566, Grand Rapids, Ml 49501-3566.
Richard Koe is a freelance writer who lives in Portland, Oregon. 30
S POR T S S P ECTRUM • N OVE M BER 1993