CYPRESS, CA - Entering his second season with Cypress, Cade Flowers discusses his fitness journey during quarantine and how changing his diet helped him stay game-ready. Originally from Anaheim, CA, Cade stuck to a fitness regime in his hometown during 2020 and lost 60 pounds over the past year. With the men's basketball team back on the court next week against Santiago Canyon College, Cade is ready to play ball again with his teammates.

1. Your transformation has been extremely inspiring to Cypress Athletics and people of our community this past year. How did you stay active during quarantine and what goals did you set for yourself to stay motivated?

 "I was the heaviest I had ever been and I really wanted to get back into shape. Since my job got shut down during the pandemic, I used a lot of my free time to exercise and change my diet. I would walk or run two miles every morning and then lift weights in my garage for an hour. I cut out all fast food and focused making myself lean meals like ground turkey, chicken, rice and vegetables. My go-to was ground turkey with rice and asparagus."

2. What are you most excited for this year as a Charger? How do you think the 2021 season will be different for the men's basketball team from previous seasons?

 "I worked on my jumper a lot this past season since I used to shoot really flat. I'm really excited to show off my form on the court soon and to get back into playing. This season will definitely be different since I'm the only big on the team. As an undersized team this year, we're playing more fast-paced and positionless basketball which will be a lot of fun."

3. What are some goals you and your team have coming into your first home game next week? How is the team preparing to take on Santiago Canyon during training?

 "Our goal is to start off really strong and bring the energy. Coach Drew has been focusing on fundamentals and running a lot of defensive drills to get us prepared for our first home game. We go hard during the drills and look forward to bringing our A-game next week."

4. What are your plans after Cypress? How do you think the experiences and skills you had as a Charger will translate into pursuing your career post-college?

 "I plan on entering the Marines. Since we have a limited season this year, I plan on playing one more season as a Charger before getting deployed. I really want to get my AA before I go and am excited to go on this new journey for myself. I think being a student-athlete will allow me to be successful in my career post-college because I will be able to translate key skills like teamwork, self-motivation, and discipline in the workforce."

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