Charlie Carr, soccer, centerback:

What are your goals for this season?

“Individually, I want the other team to score no more than one goal a game. Maybe if I am lucky get up there on the Sunflower League teams, if I have a good year. As a team we think we can win a couple playoff games at least because we have a lot of returning starters and we have good chemistry.”

What made you start playing soccer?

“Oh, that was way back. I know I used to play soccer and baseball as a kid and I was better at soccer, so I stuck with soccer. I didn’t get on the good baseball team, so I quit.”

What are your pregame rituals if you have any?

“I’m really superstitious. If we win, I’ll probably do the same pattern of what I did. I try and get to the game 45 minutes early. Also, it’s a light meal before the game, a snack. Never anything big.”

If you could play any Olympic sport, what would it be?

“I would probably be one of the swimmers, those races are pretty hype.” “The group swim with Phelps, what is it called? The relay!”

Kevin Nichols, football, offensive lineman:

How can you replicate your success from last season?

“Just doing our assignments.”

What effects do you think the platoon system will have for the team?

“The players not being as tired as going both ways.”

Do you prefer to play on the offensive or defensive side of the ball? Why?

“Offense mostly because I know what I am doing and who I have to block.”

If you could play any Olympic sport, what would it be?

“Curling, it seems interesting.”

Beatrice Lopez, golf:

What do you think lead to a greater turnout of girls this year?

“Me. No, just kidding. I think Coach Schmidt talked about it a lot and made it sound like a lot of fun and cool and then like a lot of the girls talked about it.

How do you think having a second year of varsity experience will improve your game?

“I definitely know a lot more about golf, like I have a lot more knowledge about it. I practiced over the summer a lot.”

What is your favorite club to use? Why?

“My 7 Iron and my 3 Wood. It goes super far.”

If you could play any Olympic sport, what would it be?

“If I was good I would do gymnastics. It’s so cool, they do crazy stuff.”

Josie Hickerson, gymnastics:

How do you think the United State’s gold medal performance at the Olympics this summer affected the turnout of gymnasts this year?

“Because people watched it and were like, “That’s cool! I want to try it!”

What made you decide to join the team this year after not doing it last year?

“I had done gymnastics for ten years and I was not able to do it last year because of club, so I was able to do it this year and I decided to do it.”

What is your favorite event to compete in? why?

“I have two. Vault because it is one of my better events and then floor because I like to perform the dance.”

If you could play any Olympic sport, what would it be?

“I would do Track and Field and do Pole Vault.

Chisato Kimura, tennis:

How do you plan to go forward this year with the loss of many seniors from a year ago?

“We have a lot of freshman, who with the right training would be really really good in the future years. That’s what we are focusing on right now. We have really strong JV and a lot of our upper JV from last year moved up, including me, so we are trying to keep it going the best we can and practice really hard.”

Do you prefer to play doubles or singles? Why?

“Definitely singles. The court is narrower and I think it is a lot more fun to play.”

What do you enjoy the most about tennis?

“I think the team spirit is really awesome because the girls are just always there for you and it is a really fun team.”

If you could play any Olympic sport, what would it be?

“[Other than Tennis,] Swimming, the 100 fly.”

Amelia Dunlap, volleyball, right side hitter:

How do you think the younger girls who made the move up to varsity this year will help the team?

“I think it will bring a fresh start to the team. They will bring fresh faces to the team and a new energy and intensity that we didn’t exactly have last year.”

Which team do you look forward to playing the most this year?

“Free State. It’s my last city showdown ever, so I want to make the most out of it.”

Does the team have any pregame rituals to help get ready for the game?

“Our fire warm-up playlist.”

If you could play any Olympic sport, what would it be?

“Swimming, because that would be really cool.”

Leslie Ostronic, cross country:

What’s your favorite thing about cross country?

“The people. Everyone has such a positive attitude, unlike some of the other sports.”

What’s your favorite song to listen to while running?

“Invincible by Machine Gun Kelly.”

Can you describe the feeling you have, right before a race?

“I’m kind of nervous, but I’m also kind of excited, so I’m more anxious. Ready to go.”

If you could do one Olympic sport what would it be?

“The decathlon because women don’t run the decathlon in the olympics and I think that’s unfair”

Darius Hart, cross country:

How many miles per week do you run on average?

“Probably 25 to 35.”

What is a 5k time you hope to run this season? How far are you away?

“Probably in the 17’s. Two minutes.”

How has the coaching transition affected the program as a whole?

“The pace has picked up. We have gone faster, we have trained harder and I think we have been more organized with how we go about running and stuff.”

If you could do any Olympic Sport, what would it be?

“Racewalking. The farthest distance possible.”