Krystal Geeson
Staff Writer
Once a Bengal, always a Bengal.
Matthew and Chelsey Stucki returned to Pocatello and ISU’s community after life’s passions took them across the Atlantic Ocean.
After graduating from Century High School and going on a church mission, Matt played for ISU’s men’s basketball team from 2005 to 2009.
Chelsey is from Georgia. She played at Salt Lake Community College before transferring to ISU for her last two years of her undergraduate degree.
Upon receiving his undergraduate degree in business management, Matt, Chelsey and their son traveled to Weissenfels, Germany, for Matt to have a professional career in basketball for Mitteldeutscher Basketball Club.
“It was an amazing experience. The club I played on was in a smaller town. Our stadium would sell out almost every game with between 2,500 and 3,000 fans,” said Matt.
Chelsey said they fell in love with Germany.
Although Matt stayed busy with basketball, they were still able to tour a lot. The locals they got to know took them to different restaurants and towns that not everyone knew about.
The Stucki family has been able to maintain a relationship with those they came across in Germany.
Their son was six months old when they arrived in Germany. The fans loved him and treated their family great, they said.
They now have a three-year-old daughter and are expecting the arrival of a little girl in the next few weeks as well.
During his undergraduate career at ISU, Matt took business law classes.
“Taking those classes made me fall in love with law and I decided that is what I wanted to do,” said Matt.
Following Germany, Matt got accepted to the University of Idaho Law School.
He and his family lived in Moscow, Idaho, for three years.
After those three years and internships in Pocatello during the summer, he started full time with Racine Olsen Nye Budge & Bailey. He is now a licensed attorney.
While in Moscow, Matt and Chelsey had the chance to play intramural basketball.
“I had a group of girls that I played with three days a week and we got to play co-ed as well. We played more basketball in those two years [in Moscow] then we have in a long time,” said Chelsey.
Chelsey’s coach from ISU now coaches at the University of Idaho. The family was able to watch his games.
Matt practiced transactional actions of the law, and proposed to his firm the option of representing players, which he had the opportunity to pursue.
“I have been able to start developing a relationship with players and coaches and clubs. It has been a good opportunity to stay involved with something I have done my whole life, while continuing to provide for my family,” said Matt.
When the Stuckis returned to Pocatello, they made sure they bought a house in the university area near ISU’s campus.
“It is within walking distance, so we attend most of the men and women’s games and have a lot of fun with it. We are huge fans of ISU,” said Matt.
“I have a lot of fun memories from my playing days and going to school at ISU,” said Matt.
“I had a great experience [at ISU]. I loved my teammates and I loved the coaches. I had the chance to be a graduate assistant the year I finished and it was the year they went all the way to NCAA,” said Chelsey.
Chelsey received her undergraduate degree in sports management. She was a graduate assistant for that department and taught classes in the Department of Sport Science and Physical Education while pursuing her Master of Athletic Administration degree at ISU.
Chelsey is currently a spin instructor at ISU. She has had the chance to get to know the head coach of women’s basketball, Seton Sobolewski, and followed the girls’ basketball team this past year. She also played in the alumnae game last year.
