FEATURED SENIOR ATHLETE: Keiara Allen, Cloverdale

Kieria is a senior at Cloverdale and participates in one sport, golf.

———

Banner Graphic: How important are sports to you, and what have you learned from them?

Keiara Allen: “Sports are pretty important. It’s a good way to bond and better yourself as an athlete. I don’t know what I’d do without them.”

BG: Talk about golf.

KA: “I started playing over the summer and got addicted to it. I’ve been playing for the team and really fell in love with it. I have also managed football, basketball and baseball before.”

BG: What’s the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you in sports?

KA: “I tripped over a table. I hit the leg of a table and everything fell over.”

BG: What does your game day routine look like?

KA: “I go to school, eat, come to the course, stretch, warm up and crack a couple of jokes before going out to the tee.”

BG: Do you have any favorite college/pro sports teams or athletes you follow?

KA: “I’ve watched Butler basketball and have been watching their golf recently.

BG: Golf isn’t the easiest sport to just jump into yet you’ve done that as a senior and played pretty well, even if injury has curtailed part of the season. What’s the experience been like?

KA: “It was amazing. I’m happy I did it. Six weeks wasn’t long enough but playing it every day helped me progress and have a good time.”

BG: What else do you do at school besides things involving sports?

KA: “Last year, I took photography and fell in love with it. This year, I have an internship with Cloverdale for pictures. I do FCA and am part of JAG, along with Leader in Me.”

BG: What do you like to do outside of school and sports?

KA: “I like taking pictures. If it’s a good day, I’m out golfing until it gets dark.”

BG: What are your favorites in reading, movies, TV and music?

KA: “Music is a big part of me and I listen to a lot of music. I don’t watch a lot of TV but I do listen to a lot of podcasts.”

BG: Are you a person that wants to watch TV shows and movies or stream something from YouTube, Twitch, TikTok etc.?

KA: “I usually hang out with my family but I would invite my boyfriend over to watch movies.”

BG: What is something you have never done before that you would like to do someday?

KA: “I want to go skydiving.”

BG: What is your biggest fear?

KA: “I’m really scared of snakes but also scared of how it would play out if someone brought up the topic of death.”

BG: You’ve been placed in charge of making dinner. What’s on the menu?

KA: “Salad and breadsticks.”

BG: Do you have any pets?

KA: “I have two cats, Simba and Jasper. a dog, Jammer, and a couple of fish, just named Goldfish.”

BG: If your house were on fire, all living things were already out and you have your keys, cell phone, wallet/purse etc., what is one thing you would go back and get?

KA: “I have a three-foot tall teddy bear my boyfriend gave me. It also has a necklace that my grandmother gave me before she passed, so I would get that.”

BG: A family member has hit the lottery. After everything is paid off and money is set away for the future, you’ve been asked to buy something you have always wanted to get. What are you asking for?

KA: “I live on 40 acres; I’d go to the back of the property and would build a house to live my future out in.”

BG: If you were to describe your personality in one word, what would that word be and why?

KA: “Heartfelt. I am a genuine person and take in a lot of emotions and feelings.”

BG: What has been your favorite place to visit?

KA: “Phoenix, Ari. It’s beautiful out there.”

BG: What was your favorite school field trip?

KA: “In fourth grade, we went to the Indians game. That was a big field trip for me. I loved it.”

BG: How important is support from your family and classmates to your success?

KA: “My family and classmates are everything. They support me, are always giving me good advice and are there when I need them.”

BG: Describe your overall school experience both academically and athletically.

KA: “I’ve had a pretty good experience. It was a little rocky freshman year but, as I got used to Cloverdale and saw that people were here to help me, not spread rumors or be mean, it’s gone pretty well.”

BG: If your school was to offer a class it currently doesn’t, what would you want to see taught?

KA: “Two months ago, I would have said Italian as we had a foreign exchange student and the way she spoke was very beautiful. Now, however, it is psychology as I’m taking the class at Ivy Tech. Learning about the way people think and act is pretty cool.”

BG: What are your plans for after high school, and what career are you headed toward?

KA: “I want to attend Butler to study business management. I’d like to golf there now. After college, I want to be a photographer for an NBA team.”

BG: Is it difficult to keep up with your school work being an athlete?

KA: “Yes. When you get done with a match or a game and you want to go to sleep, you still have homework, so you have to do that. Sometimes the nights are late and you don’t get much sleep.”

BG: Which particular classes and teachers have helped you the most in high school?

KA: “My answer may be biased but since I’ve been around sports, it’s the teachers that coach. They’re more connected to me on an athletic and educational level. Mr. Turk has helped me the most but Mr. Rady and Mr. Varnes have helped me a lot.”

BG: In the future, once you’ve established yourself, if you had your choice, would you want to live in the mountains, on the beach or in the neighborhood?

KA: “I want to move to Georgia after I get things settled but I’m split on being in a small neighborhood or secluded yet still near people.”

BG: Do you think high school has gone fast, and are you going to miss it?

KA: “It’s gone fast to an extent, more towards the end of junior year into this year. Early, it was kind of slow and while I’ll miss the moments, memories and people, I won’t miss high school.”