With winter sports just feeling like it started, it is sadly coming to an end for our seniors in the class with 2022. I got the chance to interview people from every winter sport, both girls and boys teams. We open off with boy’s basketball!

I first interviewed Jalen Ross, and asked him, “What strengths do you think you have that make you a great athlete?” He said “natural born strength, working hard, and staying dedicated.”
I then asked him, “How do you mentally prepare before a basketball game?” He said, “I close my eyes and just think about all the plays, and scenarios that can happen. I also clear my mind, and get focused.”
Similarly I asked him, “How do you feel that basketball is coming to an end as a senior?” He said, “Not that sad, but I’m excited about getting it done.”
I last asked Ross, “What are your plans after high school?” He said, “I plan on going to college for basketball.”

Members of boys/girls wrestling Daniel Stanescu and Emma Johnson, both went to state this year for their last year. Stanescu first started as a sophomore and Johnson wrestled all throughout his high school year. I first interviewed Stanescu. I began by asking Stanescu, “What strengths do you have that make you a great athlete?”
He said, “I feel like I get motivated easily and it doesn’t take much to get me going.”
I then asked, “what goes through your mind before a wrestling match?”
He then said, “If the guy is good or if he looks like he’s decent.”
I also asked him, “how do you mentally prepare before a wrestling match?”
He said, “I like to listen to music. It calms me down, and gets me in the right mood.”
I last asked him, “How do you feel that wrestling is coming to an end as a senior?”
He said, “It was a good run, and it pushed me to my limits. Also to look back and see what I’ve done.”

I then interviewed Johnson, and asked, “What strengths do you have that make you a great athlete?”
She said, “Commitment, and showing up to practice and working hard.”
I then asked, “What goes through your mind before a wrestling match?”
She said, “Don’t get yelled at by the coaches.”
I also asked her, “How do you mentally prepare before a wrestling match?”
She said, “A good warm up. Also being prepared for a full match, and getting good works well for me.” I last asked her, “How do you feel that wrestling is coming to an end as a senior?”
She said, “I’m gonna miss it, and it’s gonna be weird not doing a sport anymore.” She also said, “I’ve learned a lot in my four years. Not with just wrestling, but I’ve met a lot of people. And it has taught me good work ethic, and I believe that it will carry on.”

I preceded by interviewing members of the boys/girls swimming team, Taz Larson and Kylie Kue. I first interviewed Larson and asked him, “What strengths do you have that make you a great athlete?” He said, “I think it’s all about hard work in order to improve.” I then asked him, “What goes through your mind before a swimming meet?” He said, “I get nervous because I want to perform well, and excited because I get to swim.” I also asked him, “How do you mentally prepare before a swimming meet?” He said, “I usually visualize my race and don’t think about it after that.”
I last asked him, “How do you feel that swimming is coming to an end as a senior?”
He said “I’m sad. Also I think it was really fun.”
I next interviewed Kylie Kue and first asked her, “What strengths do you have that make you a great athlete?” She said, “I think the ability to handle loss, because this sport requires you to mimic others to really improve.”
I then asked her, “What goes through your mind before a swimming meet?”
She said, “Focusing on the temperature and just focusing on one thing, so I don’t get so nervous.”
I also asked, “How do you mentally prepare before a swimming meet?”
She said, “I don’t talk to anyone when I get to the block.”
I last asked, “How do you feel that swimming is coming to an end as a senior?” She said “I am actually really sad. After districts I cried on the way back because it is ending. Swim team is like a family, and a big family.”

I last interviewed Jermanie Gelly and asked, “What strengths do you have that make you a great athlete?” She said, “Probably my competitiveness and my drive.” I then asked, “What goes through your mind before a competition?” She said, “Preparation, and I like to pray before and hope for the best.”
I also asked, “how do you mentally prepare before a competition?” She said, “Think about all the things I would work on and all the things I messed up on and hopefully do it right.” I last asked, “How do you feel that cheer just came to an end as a senior?” She said, “We could’ve been more but so far it was good.

It was an honor interviewing these seniors for their last winter sports season. I think it was cool getting to know them and their favorite sport.