Three-sport athlete

Published 12:01 am Monday, April 4, 2011

Q: What three sports do you participate in?

A: In the fall, I’m on the cross-country team; in the winter, basketball. This spring, I’m doing track.

Q: Which do you like best?

A: Well, I like all them for different reasons. I like basketball because it’s my only real team sport.

Track and cross country are the ones I excel in the most. I’ve been going to state in track since I was a freshman. This was my first year for qualifying for state in cross country.

Q: How did you do at state?

A: Last year in track I was fifth in state for the 400 meter. In cross country, I didn’t place but I did get to go. That was big, my goal. That was a fun time.

Q: How about basketball?

A: Last year, we were fifth in state for basketball. This past winter season we were like … we had a frustrating end of the season. We ended up not placing in the top six, but we still got to go to the Tacoma Dome, which was a lot of fun for our team.

Q: What position do you play in basketball?

A: Usually a wing or guard.

Q: And what about the other sports?

A: Track, my main event is the 400 meter. Also, the 4-by-100 relay and the 4-by-200 relay.

Those are actually the three events I hold the school records in.

Q: I hear you excel in academics, too.

A: I’ve maintained a 4.0 for four years. I’m in the international baccalaureate program, advanced placement courses (for which students can obtain college credit).

Q: So how do you balance sports and your school work?

A: A lot of it’s been kind of hard. My athletic director told me that with student athletes that the word student comes first. Make sure you do well in the classroom.

Q: How many hours a week do you spend studying?

A: I’ve learned time management. I have two hours of practice after school and another thing I do is hula dance. That’s sometimes later on in the evening. I don’t have much down time. I’m either studying or working out. A lot of it has to do with time management. If I have a question or don’t understand, I get help from other classmates.

Q: What are your college plans for next year?

A: I’ve been accepted at six schools. I applied to eight, so I’m still waiting to hear from two more.

Q: What are some of the schools that have accepted you and which are you still waiting to hear from?

A: I got into Swarthmore College. It’s ranked second in the nation for liberal arts. I also can participate in track and cross country there. I was accepted at Carnegie Mellon University and am still waiting to hear from Cornell University.

Q: What are you considering as a career?

A: I’ve always had an interest in science and math. Right now I’m looking to focus on biomedical science and have an interest in medicine and helping other people. Doing research would definitely be of interest.

Q: Tell me about people in your life who have influenced you.

A: A lot of my influences are my teammates when it comes to sports. They’ve always been a good support system. Last year, my teammate Katie Tougas helped me in the classroom and on the track. Now she’s running track at Seattle University.

My parents also taught me to have a good work ethic, and if I set goals don’t just say this is what I want but to do something about it. If I want a school record, work hard and train hard, and if that’s what I want, I need to put in the time to get it.

Q: What’s your favorite moment in high school?

A: Well, for sports just going to state every year in different sport is always a fun experience. It’s something that all season you work towards, going to state. Outside of sports, I have fun going to all the other sporting events. I love being an Edmonds-Woodway fan. Going to those big sporting events for my high school is really fun.

Q: What’s your favorite subject?

A: Chemistry.

Q: You’ve accomplished a lot. I’m sure you’ve had some setbacks as well. Can you talk a little about how you’ve dealt with that?

A: That happened to me my freshman year in track at the district meet. I was trying to qualify for state. I made it my goal. Then at the finish line, I fell and all the other girls passed me. And the feeling of not reaching that goal and falling short, really falling short was very frustrating. I thought if I worked a little harder that wouldn’t have happened.

My teammate Katie Tougas said when you fall short use it as motivation and something to push you to work harder. And when you do work harder and reach that new goal it’s the best feeling.

My sophomore year it was the best feeling when I did qualify.

Q: So the message is, don’t give up?

A: Yeah, definitely!

Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com