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New Gallery 2014/10/30
Hill's two sons watch Quakes at Buck Shaw
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Hill with Wondo after he gave her his jersey
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Hill with Barklage and Busch at the 2014 Wine and Dine benefitting the Earthquakes Community Fund
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Hill's two boys posing with their coach Dayak's Quakes jersey
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Emersyn Wondolowski wears her Lil' Quake shirt Hill made
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East Bay resident Jennifer Hill wasn't a soccer fan before she started coming to Quakes games over two years ago. Immediately after seeing the Ultras chant and what she describes as the "passion of the game," she fell in love. Although she's never been a season ticket holder, she's been a regular at the Quakes games with her two boys.
Now, we're excited to announce that she gets to move into our new home with us! Thanks to being the winner of our most recent #MilesToEpicenter photo contest, her photo - taken 2671 miles from our new stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina - earned her 1,267 votes and two seats in the Epicenter of Soccer for next season.
We caught up with Hill to congratulate her on officially joining the Quakes family and to talk her favorite Quakes memories, swapping gifts with Wondo and what she's most looking forward to about our new stadium.
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SJEarthquakes.com: When did you become a Quakes fan?
Jennifer Hill: I would have to say it was two years ago. My boys recently have done premier soccer and in that circle we met some soccer friends who have been going to Quakes games and following the Quakes. They invited us to a game and I fell in love with the passion of the game. I loved the Ultras and how they chant the entire time, and I just love how the crowd is so involved with the game. What also sealed the deal for us is how nice the players were to my boys. Not only were they just nice but they give them the time of day - they are never in a hurry to get away.
SJEQ: How does it feel for your son to be coached by an Earthquakes Hall of Famer Troy Dayak?
JH: I think it’s pretty fantastic but the funny thing is I didn’t really know who he was. I remember when we first showed up to the first tryout, we talked with Troy for a long time and he never even said he played for the Earthquakes. I didn’t realize who he was until the Earthquakes posted about Troy Dayak bobble heads. [Laughs] I then noticed that we set below his hung up jersey!
SJEQ: Your husband played for the same club as Batty in New Zealand?
JH: Yes, my husband left the year before Batty joined to play rugby. We met him at Wine and Dine and had a really good talk with him.
SJEQ: If you could hang out with one Quakes player for a day, who would it be and why?
JH: Chris Wondolowski - all the way. He is so humble, so nice, just the sweetest guy. Just a doll [laughs].
SJEQ: If your boys could hang out with a Quakes player who would it be?
JH: My youngest is part time a goalie and idolizes Jon Busch. My oldest idolizes Wondolowski and also likes Bernardez and Stewart.
SJEQ: What is your favorite Earthquakes memory either on the field or off the field?
JH: Mine personally is when Chris gave me his jersey because I’ve been asking him for a long time, and he always said “No I can’t, I’m sorry.” [Laughs] It became this funny little game where I would tease him about it, and he would shake his head and laugh. I made him pinky promise after one game and he played along - gave me a pinky promise and everything.
SJEQ: Can you tell about the gift you gave Wondo recently?
JH: When he said that he would give me his jersey, he told me to come to the home game next week Wednesday and I’ll give it to you then. I just wanted to give something back because I know that they don’t just throw out their jerseys. I was so thankful and excited - I just wanted to give him a thank you. I gave him a shirt for his baby Emersyn that I got made - I was so excited and humbled to see that he had his daughter in the shirt at the last game at Buck Shaw, and he knew to show me that she had it on.
SJEQ: What’s the story behind where you took your #MilesToEpicenter photo?
JH: My sister and I were traveling to Georgia for our Aunt’s wedding. I got all dolled up at 3 o’clock in the morning just so I could take that photo. We took it at Charlotte Airport in Charlotte, North Carolina. [Laughs] Once we got to the wedding, I immediately told everyone to get out their phones and vote!
SJEQ: What are you most looking forward to about your season tickets at the new stadium?
JH: It’s at the new stadium so that’s exciting. Now we can go all the time not just hoping to get some from our friends. We can choose to go when we want now.
SJEQ: What features are you most looking forward to about the new stadium?
JH: I’ve heard about the largest outdoor bar and that sounds fun. What’s exciting is that it’s the Quakes' home and something that we can call our own.