FEATURED SENIOR ATHLETE: DJ Wells, Greencastle

DJ is a senior at Greencastle and participates in one sport, baseball.

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

DJ Wells: “Sports is probably the only thing that keeps me going through school. I definitely learned how to lead. When I came in freshman year, it was all upperclassmen, so I was always playing with guys above me. I’ve learned how to manage time, so it’s not like basketball where you have 25 games in three months, instead having 27 games and sectionals into a month and a half.

BG: Talk about your sports.

DJ: “I’ve been playing my whole life; it’s my sport of choice. Mom and dad got me started when I was three or four. They bought me a bat and whiffleball. I started playing travel ball when I was nine and went from team to team. Then I entered high school and now we’re here.”

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

DJ: “I sat on chocolate before a game one time and had to play in white pants.”

BG: What does your game day routine look like?

DJ: “I wake up and eat breakfast. I come to school, look forward to baseball all day and do my work. When I get to the cage, I hit and do some band work. Then I go play.”

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

DJ: “Yadier Molina. My all-time favorite.”

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

DJ: “Sports are the only thing I really do.”

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

DJ: “Hang out with friends, which is my No. 1 thing since I’m going to college in Pennsylvania. I have to get that time in.”

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

DJ: “Anything comedy or action. I don’t care what it’s about. If it’s funny, has sports or has action, I’ll watch it. As for music, I like country and rap.”

BG: If you’re home for the night and can’t go anywhere, are you a person that wants to watch TV shows and movies with Hulu and Netflix or stream something from YouTube, Twitch, TikTok etc.?

DJ: “Probably Netflix or Hulu because they have ‘Forensic Files,’ one of the crime shoes.”

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

DJ: “Skydiving.”

BG: What is your biggest fear?

DJ: “Heights. Which doesn’t make sense but if I’m moving, I don’t think about it. Rollercoasters are my favorite thing.”

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

DJ: “Steak. Definitely that and mac and cheese. Also, an easy vegetable and bread and butter.”

BG: Do you have any pets?

DJ: “I have a dog, Sophie, and a cat, Jewels.”

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?

DJ: “Probably my Xbox because it has Netflix and you can get all kinds of things on it you would use in multiple different scenarios.”

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

DJ: “Extroverted. I’m never quiet. I’ll stand next to the guys and talk with them for two hours about random stuff.”

BG: What has been your favorite place to visit?

DJ: “Busch Stadium in St. Louis.”

BG: What was your favorite school field trip?

DJ: “We went to the Indianapolis 500 and it was the best one because it was the 100th anniversary, so there were as a bunch more stuff going on.”

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

DJ: “It’s really important because there’s a lot of people who have pushed me through high school to get my work done and do the simple things. There are times, when I get a bad grade, I’ll shut down and that’s where a teacher or coach comes in and pushes me to learn and get things done.”

BG: Describe your overall school experience both academically and athletically

DJ: “Fun. It’s an experience. There’s nothing else like high school and high school sports. Like football. That’s something you have to experience know how it feels. The adrenaline and family you create is crazy.”

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

DJ: “Probably a DNA class. I know in biology you touch on DNA but something that goes in deeper and teachess how the human body works.”

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

DJ: “I’ll be attending Westmoreland County Community College to study forensic science and criminal psychology. I either want to be a cop or a forensic scientist when I’m done.”

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

DJ: “There are some points like finals week because in baseball, we have multiple games and you have to wake up in the morning determined to get good grades on four tests.”

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

DJ: “Mrs. Coons. She is the freshman biology teacher and human anatomy for juniors and seniors. She’s helped a lot. She pushed me through freshman and sophomore year as I didn’t really have a work ethic then. She has done anything she possibly could to help me.”

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

DJ: “The beach. Definitely the beach. I love water and the sand. It goes with my social personality as there’s a lot of people.”

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

DJ: “I’m definitely going to miss it and it’s gone by way too fast. I feel like tomorrow, I’m going to be getting up for work. I specifically remember walking in the locker room for the first time as a freshman. It’s an experience you’ll never get back.”