After a rough beginning, Kirsten Kramer has come a long way in basketball. When Kramer tried the sport in fifth grade, the outlook seemed bleak.
“I was so horrible,” she said. “I could not make a layin. I could not dribble to save my life.”
But now Kramer is an experienced starter for the 3-3 Granite Falls Tigers, who are enjoying plenty of success this season. The 5-foot-9 forward contributes in a variety of ways, averaging 5.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and one steal per game.
Off the court, Kramer has endured family difficulties that created a frequently changing home life. Over the past four years she has lived at four different residences. She currently stays with her older sister Alissa, who Kramer said is a supportive pal.
“She is like a mother figure to me and also one of my best friends,” said Kramer.
Coach’s corner
Elected co-captain by her teammates, Kramer leads by example at every practice, Granite Falls girls basketball coach Mark Neuman said: “She tends to be positive with her teammates and works hard every day in practice. She does a little bit of everything for us.”
Long-awaited win
Kramer scored 10 points Dec. 12 in Granite Falls’ 48-42 victory over King’s. It was the first time Granite Falls defeated the Knights since Kramer started high school. “It was so amazing. I could have cried,” Kramer said. “The whole team was in sync and we were all together. We finally accomplished something that we’ve been working for for four years.”
A surprising trip
Last season during a practice in Granite Falls’ then-new gym Kramer suddenly fell while she sprinted near midcourt. No one was near her. “I tripped and it made the loudest noise. Everybody was just keeling over laughing,” she said. “It was so embarrassing but all I could do was laugh.”
Gaining confidence
Asked to name the most valuable lesson she’s gained from playing basketball, Kramer said: “You have to have confidence in yourself and in your teammates. Once you do that, if you have confidence in yourself, then things start to fall into place.”
Making the grade
In addition to working a part-time job at a tanning salon, Kramer has a 3.4 cumulative grade-point average. She takes calculus and chemistry, participates in student government and is in leadership class. Said Kramer, “I take pride in being a student-athlete. I put being a student before being an athlete.”
Favorite movie
“The Dark Knight” (2008) starring Christian Bale as Batman and Heath Ledger as the Joker. Unlike plenty of other films, this one was constantly exciting, Kramer said: “I didn’t get bored. The whole two hours I was just like, ‘No way can this end right now!’ It was awesome.”
Mike Cane, Herald Writer
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