FEATURED SENIOR ATHLETE: Graci Hollis, North Putnam

Graci is a senior at North Putnam and participates in three sports, soccer, swimming and track.

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

Graci Hollis: “Sports are important for me, moreso to have a bond with people. I was new freshman year, and soccer was the way I made friends and was something I looked forward to. From the sports I’ve played, I’ve learned to be a team with whoever is in the group. Regardless of if there are disagreements, being a team is important because you all work together.”

BG: Talk about your sports.

GH: “I’m captain of the girls’ soccer team. I’ve swam since sixth grade, which was the first sport I ever played. Track is something I picked up freshman year as it looked fun.”

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

GH: “Getting hit in the face with a ball as a freshman, then crying on the field. That was embarrassing for me.”

BG: What does your game day routine look like?

GH: “My gameday routine is more like my night before routine. I make sure I have everything packed in my bag and make sure my water is filled up. On the day of the game, I eat the same sandwich from Subway, something I’ve done since freshman year.”

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

GH: “I like watching the Arkansas women’s soccer, the only team and sport I ever keep up with. It was something I saw on TikTok and just went from there.”

BG: Coming back after a bad injury that wiped out most of your junior year is one thing. Coming back with all three sports having different coaches is another things altogether. How do you feel you were able to handle easing back into soccer and doing so with a new coach at the helm?

GH: “It was definitely different at the start of the year. I had talked with coach Bender before last school year ended, talking about positions. I had voiced to coach Everman that I wanted to start in a forward position, easing myself back into it. Coach Bender was OK with that and worked with me, which was nice. I came back, have felt better and more stable.”

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

GH: “I am a member of FCA, NHS and am part of Pep Club.”

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

GH: “I try to go to church every Sunday. I make sure to make time to be with family.”

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

GH: “My favorite movie is ‘The Notebook’ and my favorite series is ‘Grey’s Anatomy.’ That said, I like watching TikTok because it talks to me and it’s short.”

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

GH: “I would definitely get on TikTok first, then go to sleep.”

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

GH: “I would like to go to a different country.”

BG: What is your biggest fear?

GH: “Re-tearing my ACL. That was the most painful thing ever and I don’t want to go through that again.”

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

GH: “Ramen noodles.”

BG: Do you have any pets?

GH: “I have two dogs, Winston and Charlie, and we’re housesitting a cat.”

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?

GH: “I would probably get my shoe collection. Or my Stanley cups. My dog is the most important thing to be out.”

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?

GH: “Probably to go on a trip. We don’t go on trips, so it would be nice to do that. It be a great experience for everybody, not just for me.”

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

GH: “Charismatic. I asked people about this and most people said I’m fun and somebody they want to be around. I’m social and always happy.”

BG: What has been your favorite place to visit?

GH: “Hawaii. My dad lives there, so it’s fun to visit family out there.”

BG: What was your favorite school field trip?

GH: “The only field trips I’ve ever really gone on were to Area 30.”

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

GH: “It’s really important because it fuels me. It helps me keep going. If I didn’t have it, I wouldn’t be very motivated to do much.”

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

GH: “It’s been great. I’ve had a lot of teachers that have helped me get through some hard things. Athletically, I’ve had fun playing on our teams, enjoy being part of FCA and enjoy being out at football games with friends. I’ve enjoyed playing soccer this year more because I understand the game more.”

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

GH: “A home ec or child development type of class. I took the latter as a freshman and those classes are life skill classes that everyone needs to know.”

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

GH: “I plan to attend college, though I haven’t decided on where to attend. I plan on going into nursing and later becoming a nurse practitioner.”

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

GH: “This year, no, because I have more space in my schedule, but in the past, it was more difficult as we had practice in the evening hours and it was harder for me to get it done after practice.”

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

GH: “Ms. Spencer helped me a lot while I was going through a lot of things last year. She helped me understand the material before I moved on with the rest of the class. When I was new here as a freshman, I didn’t have any friends yet and Mr. Vanhaaften, whose class I was in, made sure to talk to me and I talk to him every day now.”

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?

GH: “Most likely out in nature with land so I’m not right next to everybody. But it has to have a pool.”

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

GH: “It definitely has gone by fast. I’ll miss the atmosphere of high school as college will be a little bit more by myself. I’ll miss coming to events, to football games and other contests and having all the friends that I have made. I won’t miss high school itself, being there for eight hours, but I will miss the feel of it. And my lovely coach, coach Bender.”