Alden-Conger ace pitcher hopes to make impact teaching

By Heidi Sampson
tribsports@albertleatribune.com

Q: What year are you in school?

A: I am a senior.

Q: What school do you attend?

A: Alden-Conger High School.

Q: Who is your immediate family?

A: I live with my dad, Mike and my mom, Kris. I have two younger brothers, Jacob who is 14 and Caleb is 8.

Q: What sports are you involved in?

A: I am in involved in both volleyball and softball. I am a setter in volleyball and a pitcher in softball.

Q: What is your favorite part of softball?

A: I think we are successful because we work together as a team and we have a great coach, Gary Nelson. I like pitching, because I like to keep control of the pace of the game. I also like being the leader. I think the girls really look up to me and that is a good feeling. When I’m hitting, I’m a left-handed slapper, so putting down the bunt and heading to first is my job. My hit is often-times confused as to who is going to take it: the pitcher, catcher or third base player, which means I typically have time to get to first. It’s tricky, but I like it.

Q: What number are you?

A:  I’m a number three in both sports. It has always been my number.

Q: How did you get started in softball?

A: I have been playing softball my whole life. I’ve spent a lot of time in summer camps for softball. During the winters, I go to hitting and pitching camps which are generally held in Mason City and Mankato.

Q: What sports did your family members play?

A: My brother Jacob is more into hunting rather than sports, so he likes to trap shoot. My brother Caleb is just getting started, but he will most likely be in football and baseball. Actually, he’ll start football this next year, but he does the youth baseball league right now. Since I coach the first and second grades, this will be my second year coaching my little brother’s team. It’s a lot of fun and I really like it. The team is coach-pitched and everyone gets to play.

Q: What are your sports-related achievements? 

A: I’ve been able to earn my 1,000 set assist in volleyball, and I was the captain of the team my junior and senior years. For softball, my sophomore year I received All-Conference honorable mention and All-Area second team. During my junior year, I got All-Area first team and All-Conference for softball.

Q: What are your sports-related goals? 

A: I plan to play softball for Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato next year. I met with their coach my junior year, and we finalized things this spring. They have a good program and a very good team. I plan to pitch and really just grow as an athlete while I am there.

Q: What are your college plans? 

A: I plan to pursue elementary education. After I graduate with a degree from that program, I would like to get my master’s in special education. Right now, I peer tutor in a couple of classrooms, and I really just love working with special education children. I want to be that teacher who makes a difference in those kids’ lives.

Q: Who is your favorite professional athlete? Why?

A: I’ve always had a thing for Christian Ponder, the quarterback for the Vikings. I like that he came in young, inexperienced and that he stepped it up this season especially after struggling as a quarterback for quite some time.

Q: What is your favorite school subject? 

 A: I like English. I think English comes easier to me verses science classes. Right now, I am taking an advanced placement class in English, and we just wrote a 10-page paper. I wrote mine on special education, and I really enjoyed it.

Q: Who is your favorite teacher? 

A: Melissa Wasmoen is my favorite teacher. She was my ninth-grade volleyball coach. Melissa has a positive attitude about everything, and I love that she always smiles. She’s taught me a lot both on the court and off, because she is also a physical education-health teacher here as well. I currently have her in my weight and aerobics class.

Q: What are your hobbies? 

A: Softball. I will find any opportunity I can to grab a glove and get out on the field. I play the trumpet in band, jazz band and marching band. I also like taking pictures and making slide shows on the computer for me and other people.

Q: What is your dream job?

A: My dream job is to be a special education teacher. I feel those children need positive motivation and inspiration, because I believe they can be successful. They just need that extra little boost.

Q: What is your favorite TV show?

A: “Pretty Little Liars” on ABC Family. It’s a newer series. It has a winter season and a summer season. The summer season will be starting on June 11. A lot of us girls get together for it, so we are really excited. It’s like a teenage drama with crime and murder but dramatic like teenagers.

Q: What is your favorite food?

A: For treats, I like sour gummy worms but for an actual meal, I like pasta and Italian.

Q: What is an interesting fact about you?

A: I’m always smiling. I am also growing up on the family farm. My grandpa and my dad were both raised there. Our house has a lot of history.