This winter I am following ten athletes as they compete as athletes and face the challenges of the classroom. They will share their experiences as students and athletes.
Taylor Herchenroder- Junior, Galesburg
Volleyball, Basketball, Track
My favorite tv show is the 100.
Do you have a favorite college or pro team that you root for?
I like the packers for the NFL and for college it depends, I guess.
Do you have any superstitions before your contests/games?
Yes, I have to pray when the anthem is playing and most of the time have a Java before hand while fresh-soph is playing.
Was there someone who you really appreciated when they came to your game?
I really appreciate my parents and grandparents for always coming to my games no matter what.
Do you have a pregame pump up song that you like?
I usually just listen to what our team plays when we warm up. But the song “Over my dead body” by Drake calms me down before playing.
Do you have a pregame ritual or just pregame routine that helps you relax and focus?
I mean not really. It depends on what happens before my game and sometimes it does change. The only rituals I do are my superstitions.
How nervous do you get before contests?
I only get really nervous once we’re about to run out to do warm ups during certain games. Here and there during the day I will get nervous but only for a second.
Izzy Kennedy- Sophomore, Galesburg
Swimming, Basketball, Track
My overall favorite TV show is Stranger Things. I have watched it ever since I was a little kid when it first came out.
Do you have a favorite pro or college team?
My favorite pro team is the Dallas Wings because of Paige Bueckers who is my favorite player. However, my favorite college team is UCONN, which is where Paige played for college. I know I can always look up to them, because they are always determined and motivated which helps them all work well together.
Do you have any superstitions?
I don’t really have any superstitions, but I have a routine that I do when I get ready to compete.
Was there someone who you really appreciated them coming to a game?
I am lucky to have so many family members at my games. I think the time that it meant most to me was when my Grandpa Kennedy came to my junior high game, which is when I made my first 3 pointer. I also remember my Uncle Sean came to one of my games last year when I made my first 3 in a varsity game. It was a memorable experience to have them there to support me since they live far away.
Do you have favorite pre-game song?
My favorite pregame song is Blessed By Daniel Caesar.
Do you have a pre-game ritual or routine that helps you relax and focus?
I enjoy watching film to understand what the team may do when we go against them. Most of all, I listen to music and just try to focus on what I can control in the game while I am on the court.
How nervous do you get before games?
I do get a little nervous before a game. I don’t have any trouble sleeping at night, but at school, when i’m not busy, I do think about the game. I can get a little nervous, but I am overall more excited.
Olivia Hanlon- Sophomore, Denver East (Co.)
Basketball
My favorite tv show is friends.
Do you have a favorite pro or college team?
Utah women’s basketball and UConn women’s basketball.
Do you have any superstitions?
No superstitions.
Was there someone who you really appreciated them coming to a game?
I got really excited anytime any of my extended family come to my games.
Do you have any songs you like to listen to before games?
I like to just listen to nothing and try and replicate the game.
Do you have any pre-game routines to help relax and focus?
On game days I like to eat very healthy and focus on my fuel.
Do you get nervous before games?
I get nervous right before tipoff but once the game gets going I lose nervousness.
Anthony Makwala- Senior, Galesburg
Soccer, Wrestling
I do have a favorite tv show that I like to watch I’ve, seen it all the way through two time now. The tv show Suits.
Do you have a favorite college or pro team you follow?
My favorite pro team is FC Barcelona, a soccer team in Spain.
Do you have any superstitions?
I do not have any superstitions but I do like to always thank God before every contest kind of like a routine.
Was there someone who you really appreciated coming to your games?
I really get excited when my parents come to my games. They work all the time so they haven’t made it to a lot of my competitions. So when they do it’s always the best.
Do you have a favorite song you like to listen to before games?
One song that I like to listen to is Skyfall by Adele. The song brings calmness and confidence to what I have to offer to the game.
Do you a routine or ritual to help you relax or focus before games?
Before the game I just like to joke and be relaxed then about 5 minutes out. I shut in and become focused and I pick out a moment in time where I played best. I replay that moment and other moments, as the best version of myself and try to embody each movement for the coming contest.
Do you get nervous before games?
I do get nervous before every contest but it’s not a bad thing I’ve started to like the feeling. Because it means I’m ready and my instincts are awake, it’s an excitement nothing to negate me from competing well. Do I have trouble sleeping the night before yes! Not like bad but when it’s a big competition I play mixtapes in my mind over and over and it’s hard to sleep because I’m nervously excited. Concentrating at school does also become a bit hard because I just sit and daydream about everything. But not too an extreme measure to where I can’t get work done.
Oh, and for when I get nervous, I am nervous until the moment I step onto the line or on the field. Then it all goes away because I trained and trust myself no matter the outcome.
Antonia Kisler- Sophomore, Carl Sandburg
Basketball
Do you have a favorite TV show that you like to watch?
My favorite TV show to watch is Suits on Netflix!
Do you have a favorite college or pro team that you root for?
I like to follow Nebraska volleyball, and I follow quite a few college women’s basketball teams. I like to watch clips and things when I have time.
Do you have any superstitions before your contests/games?
I have a superstition that like I can’t be too focused, and I can’t do anything crazy with my hair. It has to be a pony or a braided pony.
Was there someone who you really appreciated when they came to your game?
I get excited when I see old coaches come to my games because it means a lot that they still want to follow me and my team. I also really appreciate my family and boyfriend making time to come watch me!
Do you have a pregame pump up song that you like?
I don’t have a specific song that I really have to be pumped up. I do prefer like some 90s or 2000s R&B or hip hop, or some Drake is always good.
Do you have a pregame ritual or just pregame routine that helps you relax and focus?
I like to do form shots around the rim and then do midrange around and then some 3s around too, along with ball handling.
How nervous do you get before contests?
For certain games, like tough teams, I get pretty nervous, but not normally. If I do get nervous, it’s starts right before tip off. I don’t normally have trouble sleeping, but sometimes during class the day of I watch film because the game is all I can concentrate on.
Leslie Kelley IV- Senior, Galesburg
Basketball
I don't have one favorite TV show right now, but with the late release of the new season of Stranger Things, that would probably be my best choice.
What is your favorite pro or college sports team?
I enjoy watching Illini football/basketball; but most of the time, I tune into the top-ranked games, rivalries, or teams that have the next big superstar.
Do you have any superstitions?
I have a few. I always have to eat around a hour and a half before games. Also, with the apparel I wear for the game, it goes off of how I have played in the most with each specific thing. The smallest little item could be the blame for having a bad game and never be worn again.
Was there someone who you really appreciated coming to your games?
I really appreciate when my mom comes to my games, because she somehow really understands everything that I think in my head during the game. Really, it just reminds of me when I was younger and she was my biggest supporter.
Do you have a song you like to listen to before games?
I don't have one in particular; but this year, Nevada by NBA Youngboy has been a go-to song for a select few on the team.
Do you have any pre-game routines that help you focus or relax?
Before every game, I connect to the huge speaker we have in the locker room and play music on full blast. This really gets me locked in.
Do you get nervous before games?
The nervousness for me comes on the nights before. My mind races, and I just want to fast-forward to stepping on the court to play. My stomach goes crazy, and sometimes it becomes unbearable. When I played future streaks, on the away games it would be such a struggle for me to maintain composure in the car with my stomach going crazy.
Stone Thiel- Senior, Galesburg
Basketball
My favorite TV show growing up was probably Henry Danger. Right now I would have to go with Outer Banks or Stranger Things, the new season of Stranger Things was awesome.
Do you have a favorite pro or college team?
I Don’t really have a pro team I follow but I am a HUGE Kansas Jayhawk guy (basketball wise) shoutout Coach Noonan!
Do you have any superstitions?
A superstition I have is to always touch the top of the door way before running out the locker room no matter what and at halftime.
Was there someone who you really appreciated coming to your games?
I really get excited when my family gets to come to my games. Especially this week with my mom and sister in town to watch our season opener, and with my whole family in the crowd to watch me and my dad Coach Thiel win vs Limestone on the 26th!
What is your favorite song for pre-game?
My pump up song is Probably Skrilla by Kodak Black.
Do you have a pre-game routine that helps your relax and focus?
Pregame routine for me is probably just get a good shoot around and then put some headphones on and relax in locker room before tip off
Do you get nervous before games?
I get a little nervous the day of and not too much but as soon as the ball is tipped all the nerves are gone! I always have trouble sleeping the night before because I am just so ready/excited for the game, it’s all I think about. I wouldn’t say it affects me in classes but during passing periods I definitely think about nothing but the game.
Grady Hickey- Sophomore, Galesburg
Football, Basketball, Baseball
My favorite TV show is Outer Banks.
Do you have a favorite pro or college team?
I have always rooted for Illinois because that’s who my parents root for and my brother also went to college there.
Do you have any superstitions?
A superstition I have is eating skittles before games to have a good game. I did before a game in 8th grade and have done it almost every game since then.
Was there someone who you really appreciated coming to your games?
I got really excited when my oldest brother, Riley, came to my regional championship game in 8th grade because he had been at college and we hadn’t seen him in a while.
Do you have a song you like to listen to before games?
I don’t really have any one song that I always listen to before games.
Do you have any pre-game routines that help you relax and focus?
Before games I like to go somewhere quiet and stretch on my own to calm my nerves down a little bit.
Do you get nervous before games?
For me a don’t really get nervous the night before or during the day of a game but more nervous right before it’s about to start.
Lily Furrow- Senior, Galesburg
Swimming, Basketball, Track
I don’t have a particular show that I like to watch, but I do rewatch shows that I like. Once I find a show that catches my attention, I will rewatch it multiple times. I like what I like, and I like the feeling of knowing what’s going to come next
Do you have a favorite pro or college team you root for?
I don’t watch pro sports all that much. I do love watching the big champ meets to swim when they are being streamed, but that doesn’t happen usually, unless it’s during the Olympics.
Do you have any superstitions before your contests?
For swim and track, I’m always yawning. Not because I’m tired, though, it’s just part of what my body does to get ready. I also always have to crack my left ankle. If I don’t, I feel my ankle is going to get tight and lock up on me. During the National Anthem for basketball, I’ve been standing by Ella, my cousin, for almost every game. During the last part of the song, I always squeeze her pinky three times, I love you. To me, it shows that no matter what, we are always there for each other.
Was there someone who you really appreciated them coming to a game?
I always appreciate when my family comes and watches; they are my number 1 fans. Although I’ve had some people show up to my swim meets that made my jaw drop. One being my old club coach from Iowa. She was the person who brought the love of swim to me. I wasn’t expecting her to come, but as soon as I saw her, my mood instantly got better, and I couldn’t wait to go talk to her after the meet. Another person who stands out to me is Danielle Tansel (Hulick). She has almost all of the school records at the pool. I met her during the winter of my sophomore year, and we’ve been in contact since. She lives in Michigan, so whenever she comes down to visit, I always look forward to seeing her.
Do you have a favorite pre-game song?
Not necessarily pump up, but listening to music before my swim meets calms my head. This season, Tate McRae was my main artist this year.
Do you have any pre-game routine that helps you focus or relax?
For basketball, no, I just go out and have fun. For swim and track, yes. I have a routine that I do behind the blocks for both sports, and if I don’t do it, I feel off. For swim, I always have to talk to my coach first. Double-check what I’m working on this time, and what I need to swim to get a certain time.
Do you get nervous before games/meets?
For swim, especially during high school, I get so nervous. I only have so many meets to get this time and be at the top of the board. I’m still learning how to control that feeling, but it’s gotten easier. For basketball, it usually doesn’t hit me until we are in the locker room one last time discussing our plan for the game. For track, I won’t get nervous until we go to check in for our event. Swim is the biggest one for me. As soon as I remember something, I get nervous. One time during the season, I remembered we had a meet in 5 days from that point, and I freaked out. I was not in a good headspace for the practices leading up to and at the meet. Sleeping sometimes bothers me. Usually, I’m so tired that as soon as I hit my head on the pillow, I’m out. School usually takes my mind off sports because I’m so busy with work.
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