Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 116
Katherine Choe Hinsdale Why did you join bowling this year? I kind of just decided to join off of a whim to have something to do during her winter. It's been really fun. What do you enjoy most about it? I really enjoyed meeting all the new people, and there's a bunch of seniors, but there's also a bunch of underclassmen, so it's been fun to get to know all these kids I never would have gotten to talk to. What is most challenging for you? Probably the footwork. I feel like I...
Jacob Villanueva Senior Westmont When did you start bowling competitively? Junior year. I was inspired by my dad because he really urged me to do bowling, and he's a really good bowler. At one point he was semi-pro, and he said, "You should learn from me." What do you enjoy about the sport? I enjoy it because it's a laid-back, relaxed sport. We're all friends, almost like family, because the team is really small. How have you improved over the last two years? I think I've...
When did you first start playing basketball? I started playing basketball in the second grade with a couple of my friends. We joined the Jodie Harrison League at The Community House. Third grade came around, and we tried out for the Hinsdale Inferno. My love of the game exploded from there. What do you love most about the sport? I would say I love the competitive nature of it. Every single possession there's something going on. It brings out the best in you. Are you stronger...
Vija Barber Oak Brook What is your earliest memory of a swim meet? I started swimming when I was 5 years old. My earliest memories were of meets at Oak Brook Bath and Tennis with my friends from Oak Brook. What do you love most about the sport? My favorite part about the sport has to be the people and getting to do something that I love next to some of my best friends and having each other to race and having my teammates to push and motivate me every day. Do you have any...
Denis Altman Hinsdale How has your senior soccer season been different? Consistency is big for me, and being on varsity last year has helped build that consistency with a lot of my teammates. I've been putting the work in the summer to come into the season ready to compete. What do you enjoy about the sport? It's a versatile sport, so the ability to adapt is really important. You can't predict anything and you have to adjust to whatever is in front of you. How have you...
Abigail Gambla Hinsdale How did you get started playing tennis? I started playing when I was around 6 years old, just kind of hitting with my dad, going to the local club. I would say probably when I was around 9 years old, that's when I started playing more tournaments. What do you love about playing for Central? I just love being on the team. I've met so many great people and we've established so many traditions. The tennis team has made such a great impact on my life. What...
Ashley Ashbaugh Hinsdale What made you want to play flag football? I've always wanted to play a school sport. I've been playing hockey my entire life. I do play on a high school team that is considered the school team, but there are six other teams that are part of it. When I saw flag football was coming in, I thought that would be awesome. I think girls that play sports grow up to be good leaders. I think it's awesome how girls sports are evolving from where they were. What...
Elyssa Abdullah Hinsdale How does it feel to start your senior campaign? I'm just looking to end on a strong note. I'm just working hard to improve for college but also have fun this year. I've been very hard on myself with golf up to now, so I want to play well and enjoy it as well. What's your earliest memory of playing golf? When I was in elementary school practicing next to my older sister (Isabella) and trying to model her swing. How have you developed as a competitor?...
Owen Stamer Clarendon Hills When did you first start playing football? I started playing football as early as you're allowed to play tackle football - probably third of fourth grade - with the Falcons. What do you love most about the sport? It's taught me everything. It's taught me a lot about teamwork, leadership, hard work, determination, moral values. You have to put in a lot of hard work to get the results you want. It's taught me so many life lessons beyond it being a...
Aidan Hernandez Hinsdale How was finishing your Central tennis career with a state title? It feels good. A team title is really great, and especially since it was (head coach John) Naisbitt's last year and a great way to send him off. What do you remember about freshman season? It was a very new experience for me. We had a shortened season because of COVID. I was playing football, too, and football was moved to spring so the two seasons overlapped and it was pretty chaotic. Wh...
Annie Mayer Hinsdale How old were you when you started playing softball? I was 9. I started playing softball because some of my friends did and my dad is a really big baseball fan and has always loved baseball. I started on multiple travel teams around the area. What do you love most about the sport? I just love the friendships that you make through softball and all the memories, whether that's in the dugout or at practices or at dinners. What is most challenging part of...
Parker Matthews Hinsdale How long have you played lacrosse? I started playing lacrosse in fourth or fifth grade, and I've been playing ever since, My older sister (Riley) played, too. I did club lacrosse for a little, and then I stopped when I started playing high school. We have a lot of offseason activities, so I feel like it's just been pretty constant play, with just a couple months off. What do you enjoy about the sport? I enjoy the teamwork aspect of it. I'm also a...
Ana Hodneland Hinsdale When did you start running? I ran in seventh grade at HMS. I didn't have a season in eighth grade because of COVID. I joined the track team my sophomore year because I did soccer freshman year. What has kept you involved? I like the team atmosphere and being able to compete with and against all the girls on the team. I've been playing club soccer all my life. It's been fun to switch it up with track the past three years. What is your favorite event?...
Matt Ruth Clarendon Hills What goals have you set for your senior year in volleyball? My goal for our team is I want us to win regionals again this year, If we win that, it would be our fifth year in a row as a school. Personally, I want to make at least Second Team All State. What do enjoy about the sport? I really enjoy how much of a team sport it is and getting close with my teammates. How long have you played? I started playing in eighth grade. That’s when my older b...
Yaseen Halabi Hinsdale When did your water polo journey begin? I lived in California before moving here as a sophomore. (Water polo) is really big out there - it's like football in Texas. I started playing club around sixth grade year-round. How have you evolved as competitor? I've seen a big improvement in my swimming. I never learned how to swim, but during COVID I watched YouTube videos and learned the techniques. That was a tough adjustment at a big swim school like Hinsda...
Marc Cihlar Clarendon Hills How did get started in gymnastics? I started when I was really young, maybe 4 years old, because my older brother was doing it and I thought it was cool. What do you enjoy most about the sport? I think it’s everything a sport should have. There’s a team aspect. There’s an individual aspect. What is your favorite event? Horizontal bar. I think it’s the most fun event where you can just do as many flips as possible. It might be the highest risk event, but I think it’s just the most fun because it’s t...
Luke Jurack Hinsdale What are you looking forward to in your senior baseball season? A lot more people will be looking up to me now for guidance. It will definitely be a change of pace. It's pretty good to be in this role now and help shape the team and win some games. How have you grown as a player? I was more focused on myself and my recruiting process as a freshman. Now I put the team first and just try to help the team out in any way possible. When do feel the greatest rew...
Nate Harris Willowbrook What's the mood as the team enters the postseason? Definitely a lot more excitement. We've really started swimming a lot faster and doing a lot more sprinting and fast-paced work rather than yardage. It helps boost our morale. When did you start swimming competitively? I joined a summer team at a really young age, maybe 5 or 6. My older brother was doing it so I kind of just followed in his footsteps. I just stuck with it through all these years. What...
April Wu Hinsdale When did you start bowling? I started during COVID. My dad is actually a bowler, so I would bowl with him and then just decided to join the bowling team. What do you enjoy about the sport? I like the social aspect of bowling and how it can bring people together while also being competitive. When I'm bowling with friends or playing in a league or on the Central team, it's a fun and relaxed environment. I've also made a lot of friends with players from other...
Marko Ivanisevic Hinsdale When did you start wrestling? Wrestling wasn't big to me until my sophomore year in high school. As a kid I wasn't very good, and I didn't have a lot of wins. I stuck with it, thanks to my mom and dad, and I ended up taking fifth at state my sophomore year. That's when I really fell in love with the sport. What do you love about it? Just the grind. I love working hard in the sport. I gave up football my senior year to wrestle more, and that was a...
Hazel Hamelka Clarendon Hills When did you first start competing in gymnastics? I started doing gymnastics at the age of 2, but I didn't start competing until I was 10. What is your favorite event? That's a tough question. I'd probably say vault because I'm the best at it. What is your least favorite event? Probably beam, only because I'm a big worrier and I think sometimes it's kind of hard to be positive, especially if you fall, because it's pretty easy to fall off a beam. H...
Daniel Orozco senior When did basketball grab your interest? In middle school, I was more of a runner. During the pandemic I started picking up the basketball and shooting and playing with friends. I kind of went fully into basketball after that. What do you enjoy about playing for Central? I love going to practice every day and competing with everyone. I'm excited to play with my brother, Dillon, a junior, and watching him getting better every day. What position do you play?...
Grady Hyland Clarendon Hills When did you first start bowling? I've played in the past, just recreationally, for fun. This is the first year that I actually got on the team and have been taking it seriously. Why did you try out? Some of my friends were doing it, and I just finished football, and it was my last high school sport that I was ever going to play. I just wanted something to do with my time. How do you stay in a positive mindset? I play baseball as a pitcher, so it's...
Oliver Pohlenz Hinsdale Have you enjoyed your senior season? The season's gone by really fast for me. I really wanted the team to be the best it can be and win another regional and sectional championship. When did your soccer life begin? Probably when I was 6 playing with my buddies through AYSO. My dad was a coach for a long time. I just fell in love with the sport and the environment. How have you evolved as a player since freshman year? My freshman year I started off...
Evan Kurimay Clarendon Hills When did you first start running competitively? My sophomore year in track and field, which was the spring of 2022. I was a (club) soccer player. I was playing and I decided to come run some distance to try to get in shape for soccer. Why did you stick with it? I had to travel far away for competitive club soccer. I didn't know anyone from the club. At the same time, I got immersed in the community of running, meeting fantastic coaches and...
