Winter Sports Coming to an End

Winter Sports Coming to an End

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.