State Bank Financial Senior Spotlight

Siblings: James Clements

Position or events: I play defense and midfield in soccer, and do all events in gymnastics.

Career highlight: 

It's a very difficult question to answer because I’ve had so many great memories. I have been blessed to be able to play three sports all four years of high school. There have been many positive memories in my sports with persevering through the rough times. In cross country, the greatest feeling was myself or one of my teammates getting a personal record for their race. This school year I had the great honor to be one of the captains for my gymnastics team, and a highlight was doing anything I could to help the team with our record breaking season. Another career highlight of mine was making the varsity soccer team and being in the starting lineup for our first game of that season. 

At what age did you start playing your main sport? 

I started playing soccer at 10 years old. 

Who introduced you to the sport? 

I was introduced to soccer at Grant Elementary School. I started playing at recess and slowly became a confident player on the field. I came home and said to my parents that I wanted to go out for soccer. My first experience was playing for the Marshfield Parks and Recreational Youth teams. I had a great experience with that, so I moved onto the traveling Marshfield Youth Soccer Association (MYSA) teams. I was able to continue growing and improving my skills with the help of my MYSA teams. 

Has this always been your favorite sport? 

Ever since I started playing soccer, it has always been my favorite sport. 

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

Since day one, grades have meant a lot to me. Going into high school, I was told how demanding the classes and coarse work were. It made it difficult to know how much time I would need for my academics, and how much time was left for athletics. Over the years, I’ve understood the demands much better, which has made me more efficient and effective. 

What is your favorite part of this sport? 

My favorite part of soccer is when my team is playing as a cohesive team and playing as one unit. One of the other things I really like is the struggle that the team has to go through to get to that point. Success isn’t easy and the effort we put together to be successful is what I enjoy the most. 

What has kept you in the sport this long? 

My coaches and teammates have kept me in soccer this long. The bonds and relationships I have made through the years is what made it so enjoyable. Having the desire to work hard and persevere through tough situations helped increase my love and appreciation for athletics. 

What is your biggest asset as an athlete? 

My biggest asset as an athlete is to go where the coaches tell me to go and being versatile, because that is what’s best for the team. I always put my team and the big picture in front of my own personal goals. I enjoy doing whatever it takes to help my team. 

How does it feel to look back on your growth as a senior?

Looking back on my personal growth is so rewarding over the past 4 years. I came in with a lot of questions and put a lot of pressure on myself. As a senior, I try to instill some of the wisdom that I have gained to help the younger athletes be the best that they can be. 

Any coaches or teammates you want to recognize?

I am beyond grateful for all the coaches that have been involved with my sports over the years. All of them have helped shape me into the athlete and person I am today. I thank especially all my high school coaches for supporting me through the growth in my sports, both physically and mentally. 

Hobbies outside of sports: 

Involving myself in music and art are major hobbies of mine outside of sports. I enjoy painting, drawing, and playing my cello. I like to bake and spend time outdoors, including water tubing and water skiing. 

Favorite song: 

“Memories” by Conan Gray.

Future plans: 

I will be attending Bellin College in Green Bay and will be majoring in radiologic science.