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Zorn to Largent
Sarah Zorn Passes Her Enthusiasm for SPU to Freshman Kramer Largent
Seattle Pacific University, long a choice for “MKs” (missionaries’ kids) and “PKs” (pastors’ kids), is also home to two “NFLKs.” Sarah Zorn and Kramer Largent, children of popular
1980s Seattle Seahawks Jim Zorn and Steve Largent, are now Falcons.
 Teaming up as Falcons, Kramer Largent and Sarah Zorn show the competitive spirit
that made their NFL fathers great.
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“I wanted to go to a private Christian school, and I wanted to row,” says Sarah, a senior psychology
major. “SPU is a comfortable place for me to grow academically and in my faith.”
So comfortable, in fact, that when longtime
family friend Kramer Largent began his college search while an Oklahoma high
school student, she encouraged him to consider Seattle Pacific. “I always wanted to come back to Seattle,” says Kramer, whose first campus visit confirmed Sarah’s recommendation.
Now in his first quarter as a Falcon, Kramer continues to be impressed. “SPU is definitely a good fit,” he says. “I’ve made friends a lot quicker than I expected, and the professors
are always available to talk.”
Sarah’s father, Jim Zorn, was the Seahawks quarterback whose three consecutive 3,000-yard seasons remain tops in team history. Many of his passes were caught by Kramer’s father, Steve Largent, whose six NFL receiving
records in 14 seasons with the Seahawks helped him to a berth in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. When their playing days ended, the two men and their families continued a close friendship despite the distance between the Zorns’ home in Mercer Island, Washington, and the Largents’ Tulsa, Oklahoma, ranch.
In a stroke of second-generation providence, a Zorn and a Largent
have teamed up again — not only at SPU but also as part of the Falcon
crew team. Sarah helped propel the women’s
varsity four to three national titles and rowed in the prestigious Henley Women’s Regatta last June. Kramer, who was born with spina bifida, exchanged his early dream of playing
professional football with a passion for rowing. “I plan to row all four years of college,” he says. “The thing that brought me to this sport is that I can do it without many limitations
— and no one has ever said I can’t.”
Crew coach Keith Jefferson calls the pair’s competitive drive and positive attitude “omnipresent.” “Sarah is a tremendous leadership asset to the program,” he says, “and I’m excited to see what Kramer can do for the men.”
As students, Sarah and Kramer count themselves
fortunate to avoid notoriety. “It was really nice that it took my floormates four weeks to figure out who my dad is,” says Kramer.
“I get more reaction from professors and the parents of my friends,” says Sarah. “And sometimes I’m suspicious of boys. Does he want to be my friend solely to get an autographed
football?”
— BY HOPE MCPHERSON
— PHOTO BY GREG GILBERT / THE SEATTLE TIMES
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