We take a closer look at Rhinelander Hodags’ graduate and multi-sport standout student-athlete Ava Lamers, with our world-famous interview: ‘Pancakes or Waffles?’
OnFocus: What subjects/classes have been your favorite, and why?
Lamers: Math and science because I understood the material and always had enjoyable classes.
OnFocus: What are your hobbies?
Lamers: Reading, water skiing/ wakeboarding, and watching and playing sports
OnFocus: Who is/was your first favorite teacher and why?
Lamers: Mrs. Goldsworthy because she taught me how to learn at a higher level and that struggling is a part of any process that results in future success.
OnFocus: What is the most unusual food you have eaten?
Lamers: Assorted meats served on bamboo at a roadside stand in Hawaii.
OnFocus: What is your favorite music to listen to?
Lamers: Zach Bryan and Noah Kahan.
OnFocus: What are your plans after high school?
Lamers: I will be attending the University of Montana to pursue a doctoral degree in physical therapy.
OnFocus: If they made a movie about you, and your life, what would it be called?
Lamers: Ava’s Unseen Hours
OnFocus: What sports did you play throughout your high school career?
Lamers: Volleyball, basketball, and soccer
OnFocus: Which teammate would you not want to be stranded with on a deserted island?
Lamers: My other senior basketball teammate, because then I’d be on an island alone.
OnFocus: What are some memorable moments you have had as an athlete?
Lamers: Winning my first high school soccer game after my freshman season was canceled due to COVID in a shootout where I got to shoot the game winning PK, scoring 42 points in Rice Lake to break our girls basketball single game scoring record, and scoring the lone goal to win regionals against a rival team.
OnFocus: Who are your favorite athletes and/or teams?
Lamers: Caitlin Clark and Carli Lloyd.
OnFocus: What do you enjoy most about competing in front of family, friends and fans?
Lamers: I enjoy the feeling of being a part of a program that people will come to support. Watching athletes compete is entertaining but being one of those athletes is such an amazing experience. Having amazing media coverage, student sections, spotlights, cheering crowds, and everything else that comes with sports in a smaller town is definitely something I will never forget.
OnFocus: Do you have a funny or unusual moment(s) you have experienced in sports?
Lamers: Since I played club sports, I ended up playing against a lot of my club teammates in high school sports. There were multiple times when one moment we could be laughing during a game then the next moment fighting each other for possession of the ball or guarding each other. These experiences were always funny and unusual but always made games more fun and entertaining.
OnFocus: What’s the best thing about being a student-athlete?
Lamers: The best thing about being a student-athlete is that you are given the opportunity to have experiences that other students might not have. You learn time management, teamwork skills, and build relationships through shared experiences all while having your peers and the community support you.
OnFocus: What words of wisdom can you give to other student-athletes?
Lamers: My advice for other student-athletes is to put in the unseen hours. Small details can result in the biggest outcomes and although everyone might not see the extra work, it makes the most difference in the long run. We can not control others, but we can control our own actions and beliefs. Not everyone will understand the process but the only thing that matters is that you do. We are more limited by our beliefs than anything else, so exceed your own expectations through hard work and leading by example even when no one is watching.
OnFocus: Lastly, pancakes or waffles?
Pancakes
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
