1. How did you train for your sport during quarantine?

I still was able to keep up my running on most days because it’s low contact, and I started training in other ways too like biking and lifting.

2. Sadly spring season was canceled last year, what are some things you were looking forward to with your team?

I don’t play any spring sports but my fall sport was pretty much moved until February, and likely most of the out of town meets I was excited for were cancelled. I had also just finished auditions for the school musical, Into the Woods and we had our first rehearsal. The show ended up being completely canceled, which was pretty sad.  

3. How did you and your team stay in contact during quarantine?

At the beginning of June we were allowed to do practice but only half of the team was allowed to come and we had to wear masks. Luckily with my band, we were able to write our own songs from our houses and send each other files so we never really had to meet up.

4. What did you think about online school last year?

The first 2-3 weeks were really rough. Blackboard Collaborate crashed numerous times, other students were causing mayhem during class, and I think at one point even Google Classroom/Drive crashed so I couldn’t do my assignments. It was really hard making the adjustment to working at home with so many distractions (still is) but it got easier as the weeks went on. Eventually, I had to take my AP World History exam online and that really helped me stay focused and was scary to take at home but felt good when I finished. 

5. Personally, do you think corona affected you as an athlete?

I think it affected me in different ways. I was able to get a stronger upper body but I struggled to keep up with my running, I kinda started to lose motivation during the summer.

6. What’s your favorite memory with your team?

Definitely with my XC team was when I beat my personal record by 1 minute at the last meet of my sophomore year.

7. During quarantine we had lots of free time, are there any new hobbies you picked up?

I learned how to skateboard and how to produce music on my own. 

8. What motivated you to practice/train during a time when most people were doing nothing?

I just sort of figured I’m given so much time now, I better not waste it. That doesn’t mean I didn’t like to relax or anything, I did spend a lot of time on Discord playing video games with my friends and reconnecting with other people on facetime.

9. What is one thing you love most about your sport?

For running and most extracurriculars, I love the mental happiness it brings. If I don’t keep up my hobbies my mood changes dramatically so I always have to keep my stuff up.

10. Quarantine was a unique time for everyone, what is one thing you learned during your time at home?

One thing I learned was the importance of a good sleep schedule. From April-August I had the worst sleep schedule I ever had, and it really affected my mood and productivity during the day. It’s a lot better now, but I was often irritable and unproductive during the day because I was only getting like 5-6 hours of sleep.

     11. Did you hop on any tik tok trends? 

If getting completely addicted to tik tok is a trend then I definitely did that.

     12. Did you watch Tiger King? If so, is Carol Baskin guilty? 

Without a doubt.

• During quarantine in order to stay in shape I ran around my neighborhood a lot alone so I could maintain my shape. I bought weights as well so that I was able to do the workouts that my trainer provided for me on an app. I also have a soccer rebounder so I was able to use that to train with a ball. 

Sadly spring season was canceled last year, what are some things you were looking forward to with your team?

• When I heard that school was canceled I was praying sports weren’t because I had been working really hard all year to be able to play. I had a bad fall season and was looking forward to the spring to play for my school surrounded by my friends and family. I was looking forward to being a captain this year and leading my team to a state championship! I knew we could’ve gone all the way. I was looking forward to the new bonds I would create and the last memories with the seniors. Unfortunately, we never got a season but I am hoping and praying for one this spring to finish out my senior year. 

How did you and your team stay in contact during quarantine?

• During quarantine, my team and I actually stayed in very good contact. We would text all the time and would group facetime a lot. We also had a few zoom calls with our coaches as well to stay in touch and make sure everyone is doing well and staying healthy!

What did you think about online school last year?

• Online school last year was hard at first because everyone was still upset about sports being canceled and not being able to leave the house or do anything other than sit in the house all day. This year it has gotten a lot better because it is more of a routine now and last year it was all new and hard to adjust to. 

Personally, do you think corona affected you as an athlete?

• Personally, COVID-19 has made me a better athlete because I had to think about how I can continue to develop and eat healthy to stay in good shape. Corona made it all about mental strength to be able to get out of bed and say I need to go on a run. There were days where I didn’t want to and I was super lazy but I had to push myself because I knew in the future that it would benefit me. It has made me feel more independent because there was barely any motivation to get out of the house. I am not able to practice and play club games with my team which I am very happy about. 

What’s your favorite memory with your team?

• My favorite memory with my team is when we won districts back to back years and we were going for a 3-peat this year. We are all very hard workers and fight until the end!

During quarantine we had lots of free time, were there any new hobbies you picked up?

• Sadly I didn’t pick up any new hobbies but I just worked out a lot more and would tan a lot haha! 

What motivated you to practice/train during a time when most people were doing nothing?

• My mom and my trainer motivated me the most. My trainer would text me if I didn’t do the workout on the app and motivate me to go out and do it. My mom would push me if I was lazy and tell me in the future. My mom has always been my biggest supporter!

What is one thing you love most about your sport?

• What I love most about soccer is that when I'm on the field I feel like I’m in a different world. I’m in my own element and nothing else is going on except for the game I’m playing. I’ve been dedicated to this sport since I was 3 years old and it makes me so happy. I love the friendships that you gain that feel like family, I love the coaches that push you to be the best, and my family and friends that support me no matter what. 

Quarantine was a unique time for everyone, what is one thing you learned during your time at home?

• I learned how to be more independent and manage my time better. I also learned how to become better at self-motivating. 

Last question, did you hop on any tik tok trends?!

• Oh of course! I’m literally the best dancer ever like who wants a competition?! I’m famous, check me out hahaha!

How did you train for your sport during quarantine?

• For the most part I just trained by myself and with friends, but my team’s practices started up again in July and our games started up again in September, my coach also hosted a few zoom practices weekly.

Personally, do you think corona affected you as an athlete?

• I do think corona affected me as an athlete. I mean it just changed my whole dynamic, one day I was having school 5 days a week, practice for highschool 5 days a week, travel 3 days a week, and game on the weekends. For that to all just be gone in a week was crazy and really hard to come back from. But with hard work and persistence, I think I have come back around to the athlete I was pre-covid.

What did you think about online school last year?

• I think online school is the best it can be. Nobody and I mean nobody expected us in March to just stop school completely. And yes, at times it was boring and dysfunctional, but I learned everything I needed and felt prepared for the next year.

Quarantine was a unique time for everyone, what is one thing you learned during your time at home?

• I learned that your destiny is solely up to you. It took me a month after quarantine to go out running and I just really let myself slack off. I already knew that I was in control but I really saw it during quarantine.

During quarantine we had lots of free time, are there any new hobbies you picked up?

• During quarantine, I watched an insane amount of tiktok and gaming but a hobby I picked up was running. I have always really enjoyed running, but only did it when I was playing soccer, but I did running by myself a lot during quarantine and it was actually a lot of fun.