FEATURED SENIOR ATHLETE: Gracie Haga, Cloverdale

Gracie is a senior at Cloverdale and participates in three sports, golf, basketball and softball.

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

Gracie Haga: “It gives you good discipline, team exercises, bonding, new experiences and relationships and most of your school highlights are your sports and what activities you do.”

BG: Talk about your sports.

GH: “I wanted to try something new for my senior year. I was introduced to golf through some friends during the summer, found myself getting better and enjoying my progress as well as a new experience. I was on the softball team last year and will play basketball this year.”

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

GH: “In golf, every time I hit the tree and the ball bounces back in the wrong direction.”

BG: What does your game day routine look like?

GH: “I wake up, pack myself some snacks so I’m not really hungry, go to school, come to the place we’re playing, get a little nervous and then I’m ready to go.”

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

GH: “Not really.”

BG: You decided to pick up golf this year, which is not the easiest sport to jump into, especially as a senior. What was your biggest takeaway from making that decision?

GH: “It was really eye-opening in terms of not taking things for granted and taking your opportunities. I wish I would have done golf sooner as moving out to (Cloverdale) has helped me break out of my shell with sports. It’s helped me a lot.”

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

GH: “I do JAG, PIE Coalition, am a representative for Leader in Me and work concessions quite a bit.”

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

GH: “I like to hang out with my friends, swim, golf with my friends, drive out, watch movies and play a lot of board games.”

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

GH: “I love music. It gets me through everything. Specifically, Harry Styles. I love movies and watch them all the time, mostly romance movies.”

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

GH: “I’d do laundry.”

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

GH: “I want to see Harry Styles in concert.”

BG: What is your biggest fear?

GH: “Losing the people that I love.”

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

GH: “Pasta. It’s yummy.”

BG: Do you have any pets?

GH: “I have a cat named Harry.”

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’d grab my grandpa’s hoodie.”

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: “I’d probably buy my mom a new house or buy my grandparents’ old house.”

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

GH: “I would say light. I’m easy to talk to and be around, an easygoing, kind, calm and understandable person.”

BG: What has been your favorite place to visit?

GH: “Tennessee, up in the mountains.”

BG: What was your favorite school field trip?

GH: “When I was really little, in elementary school, we went to a veterinary place. We brought our own little stuffed animals and performed surgeries on them.”

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

GH: “It’s special to me because sometimes, you just need others to offer words as sometimes, you can’t do certain things yourself. My thoughts pertain to how I get talked to by the ones I love. They are a tremendous help to me.”

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

GH: “It’s been really challenging as I haven’t done three sports in a year and have just moved out here, so it’s been a new experience with new challenges. I’ve been pushing myself more than I ever have before and I’ve made so many new friends. I have a great sense of support around me that I’ve never had.”

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

GH: “Sign language so you can learn to communicate with someone who can’t speak. It’s very unique.”

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

GH: “I plan to go to Ball State for social work.”

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

GH: “It’s difficult. It’s all about managing your time well, being disciplined, knowing when you have to get stuff done and when your time is relaxed. It’s challenging when you’re tired.”

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

GH: “Mr. Turk. He’s not just a regular teacher as he’s helped with personal issues, goals, helps us in filling things out for our futures and other stuff that you wouldn’t expect teachers to do.”

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: “I would like to live in a rural area, with a big yard and my own garden with fruit and veggies.”

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

GH: “It went by really fast. I moved around a lot in high school and I’m going to miss high school here. If I had spent my entire high school years here, it would have been better, so I’m really going to miss it.”