FEATURED SENIOR ATHLETE: Lilly Emmerich, South Putnam

Lilly is a senior at South Putnam and participates in three sports, volleyball, basketball and track. She is the daughter of Matthew and Rena Emmerich.

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

Lilly Emmerich: "Sports are pretty much my whole life. I revolve everything around them. I’ve learned a lot from sports, but pretty much just have fun. You only have four years of school and have fun and make the most of it when you can."

BG: Tell me about your sports

LE: "I love my teammates and everything about them. I love the team aspect. Warmups with all the music and things. It really gives me a lot of energy. It is just a fun time. Volleyball is probably my favorite right now. Pre-Warmup with my friend Danae (Cline) is really fun. We just make it fun and goofy. I love being around my teammates."

BG: What’s the most embarrassing thing that had happened to you in a sporting contest?

LE: "I really don’t know. I can’t remember anything that sticks out as embarrassing. I just have fun and really don’t have anything that I consider embarrassing."

BG: What does your game day routine look like?

LE: "It’s not much different than other days. Normal day as far as get up, get dressed and go to school. If it’s home game, eat with my team or just hang out."

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

LE: "I don’t really have a favorite team or player. I just kind of go with the flow and enjoy sports."

BG: Before you came into high school, South Putnam had a very good volleyball team that won county. As a freshman, the team won a sectional title but the following two years weren't as successful. How nice was it to get the program back up to a championship standard?

LE: "It's nice. It was a lot of hard work and pushing through. Our team is very close and tight-knit. It was about getting closer and trusting each other to get to that level."

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

LE: "I’m on Student Council. I am the secretary for student council. I am the vice-president for NHS. I keep pretty busy. I enjoy school."

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

LE: "I help a lot with my church. I do a lot of volunteer work there. When it is the Lent season or Advent I do a lot of stuff with that. I enjoy that. I’m Catholic and I go to St. Paul. Sometimes just be with my friends, but I stay busy with sports and the church.

BG: What was the last book you read?

LE: “I'm reading 'All That We Never Were' for class."

BG: ...the last television show/movie you watched?

LE: “I don't watch TV very often but I do love movies. The last one was probably 'The Lego Movie.'"

BG: ...the last song you had to listen to right that moment?

LE: “'Crazy in Love' by Rihanna."

BG: Your practice/event was canceled for the night. With free time in hand you didn’t anticipate having, what are you off to go do?

LE: “I'd probably ask to go into work and get a few extra hours. Either that or I'd do homework the rest of the night."

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

LE: “I really want to go scuba diving. That or skydiving."

BG: What is your biggest fear?

LE: “Losing one of my close family. I'd got into depression. It would not be good."

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

LE: “I'd make some sort of breakfast supper, like muffins, eggs, bacon, sausage, etc."

BG: Do you have any pets?

LE: “No."

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?

LE: “Either my baby blankets or a crucifix."

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?

LE: “I'd build a pool at my house. An outdoor, in-ground pool."

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

LE: “Loud. I like to talk, be loud, sing and dance. It's not that my voice is loud but my personality is loud."

BG: What has been your favorite place to visit?

LE: “I like going to my church."

BG: What was your favorite school field trip? (From any year, not just high school)

LE: “I remember going to the Indianapolis Zoo in elementary school and I love the zoo."

BG: How important is support from those around you to your success?

LE: “I would like people to support me. It's an important thing to support your friends. I definitely listen to the things my friends and family say. If they don't agree with something I say, then I'll think about it more and wonder if I really want to do that thing. If they full support me, I'm going headfirst into it."

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

LE: “I didn't really find myself for a long time. I was stressed out but going through high school will help me and it will have been worth it when I graduate. I love the social aspect of school. I love some of the AP classes I'm in but others not as much."

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

LE: “Home ec."

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

LE: “I really want to become a physical therapist and go into physical therapy."

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

LE: “It depends on what class and if I'm struggling in a class. Some classes I struggle in and it's difficult to keep up. But I persevere and it's OK."

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

LE: “The class I've been most excited to take this year is Anatomy and Physiology. I love learning about bones, muscles and that kind of stuff. My kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Rissler, is someone I always think of. I love her and even though she's not here, she helps me inside."

BG: In the future, once you’ve established yourself, and if you had your choice, what is your ideal living situation?

LE: “A two-story house. Not a huge one but one with three or four bedrooms, two bathrooms. Not a huge house but not a small one either. I'm going to put a piano in somewhere."

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

LE: “I think it has definitely gone fast. During the year, it goes by slowly, but looking back, it has gone by pretty quickly. I won't miss the getting up at 8 a.m. and some of the academic stuff but I'll miss the people and the opportunities I've gotten. I'll miss the constantly being busy part."