State Bank Financial Senior Spotlight

Siblings: Tylan (12)

Position or events: Power forward/guard for basketball; 400m, 800m, 4x400-meter relay, 4x800-meter relay for track 

Career highlight: My career highlight would probably be either last year in our game against Kaukauna when I made both free throws to tie at the end of the game or when I had a 22 point game my freshman season.

At what age did you start playing your main sport? 

At the age of eight years old. 

Who introduced you to the sport? 

My mom introduced me to the sport when I was in third grade and has truly inspired me to continue my basketball at Eau Claire. (The same place she went to play college basketball.)

Has this always been your favorite sport? 

Yes, basketball has always been my number one but track comes in a close second as I have really grown to love the sport.

How has balancing academics and athletics been different for you from your freshman year to your senior year? 

My freshman and sophomore year were a lot harder, just figuring out how to make time for both sports and academics. As I’ve gotten older I’ve joined many clubs and have actually become even busier but I have learned over time how to fit everything into my schedule and how to properly balance academics and athletics.

What is your favorite part about this sport? 

My favorite part about basketball is probably the adrenaline rush it brings to me. I love being able to see improvement in myself over the years and how it translates into games. Basketball is a contact sport that is very competitive and involves a lot of communication to build a good team. I believe this is what has always made me have such love for this sport.

What about it has caused you to stick with it for this long?

Basketball has always been something I look forward to. I love being able to be around my friends and the sport I love so much. The feeling when I wake up on game day is also so exhilarating.

What would you say is your biggest asset on the field/track? 

I believe my biggest asset on the court would be my leadership as well as court IQ. As an AAU player and four-year varsity player, I have a lot of experience playing against good teams and have pretty good court awareness to know where to be in certain situations. My leadership is something I really focus on because being able to motivate, explain drills, and lead by example can truly make a huge impact on a team’s success.

What has been your most memorable experience in high school sports so far?  

So far my most memorable experience in high school basketball was my sophomore year was winning conference and pouring water all over Coach Scheuer when he came into the locker room after the game.

How does it feel as a senior, to look back throughout high school and see your growth (as a person and athlete)? 

Looking back now as a senior is crazy because time has really flown by. I have so much to look back on and so many memories that I  have made through my sports. When looking back I realized how much I have grown throughout high school in academics and athletics.

Any memorable coaches or teammates you’d like to give a shout out to? 

I specifically want to thank Emma Ridgway for all the amazing memories I made over the two years playing with you. Emma and I would always battle in practice against one another but after practice there were so many laughs I had with this girl.

Any hobbies outside of sports?  

4-H, HOSA, Youth Group.

Favorite song? 

“Painted You Pretty” by Hudson Westbrook.

Future plans? (college, major, career, etc.) 

I am committed to UW-Eau Claire and look forward to continuing my basketball career there. I plan on going into the field of physical therapy and possibly majoring in exercise science, pre-physical therapy or rehabilitation science.