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NewsTribune Athlete of the Week: Putnam County’s Sarah Wiesbrock · Illinois Valley - Shaw Local

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  News Tribune Athlete of the Week, Putnam County Sarah Wiesbrock. Written by
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  Kevin Schlum. This article is being read by an automated voice brought
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  to you by Everlet. Putnam County senior Sarah Wiesbrock has been a
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  strong defender and steady presence in the Panthers back row throughout her
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  varsity career. Wiesbrock had another strong week to close the regular season
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  and she reached a milestone in the process. With 30 digs across
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  two matches, Wiesbrock surpassed 1,500 digs for her career. Sarah
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  was the backbone of our team, and 1,500 career digs is a
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  testament to her skill and hard work the past four years. Putnam
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  County coach, Amy Bell said, she was the leader of our defense.
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  She is a positive leader, always working hard and trying to support
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  her teammates. She made huge growth throughout high school and she will
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  thoroughly be missed next year. For her performance, Wiesbrock was voted the
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  News Tribune Athlete of the Week, sponsored by SOQ and Grassers Plumbing
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  and Heating. Wheesbrock answered some questions from News Trideune sports editor Kevin
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  Schlum. When did you start playing volleyball and how did you get
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  into it? Wiesbrock I started playing volleyball in third grade for a
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  kids league that included girls from all over the area. I had
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  always been interested in playing volleyball because of my older sister, Megan
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  Wiesbrock, who has always been an inspiration to me. After my first
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  year on the court, I was immediately hooked. What do you enjoy
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  about playing volleyball? Wheesbrock, I enjoy being able to drown out everything
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  that is happening with my life and being able to just dial
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  in on the game. For me, volleyball is relaxing in its own
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  way. It's the time where I know there is a job to
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  be done, and you really have to put all your focus and
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  effort into the game. As my former coach Aaron Polte says, it's
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  the best sport in the world. I 100 agree with that. What
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  makes you a good volleyball player? Wheesbrock, I think what makes me
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  a good volleyball player is my ability to read the hitter, anticipate
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  What
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  the ball is going to do next, and react quickly. However, being
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  a good volleyball player is not just about the fundamentals and skill.
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  I also think my ability to be a positive communicator to my
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  teammates contributes to me. Being a good player. What did it mean
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  to reach 1,500 dig Wiesbrock, being able to reach 1,500
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  digs meant a lot to me. It was such a big accomplishment
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  that helped me prove to myself that all my hard work was
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  paying off. It also showed me how much my teammates and coaches
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  appreciated me. Everyone kept it a fun secret and would silently cheer
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  for me to get a dig before I reached my 1,500. What
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  is your favorite memory from playing Putnam County volleyball? Wiesbrock, my favorite
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  memory was my junior year during the regional semifinal when we played
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  number one seed Henry, being the number seven seed. We were able
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  to work together with relentless effort and defeat the Mallards in three
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  sets, advancing to the regional championship. It was such an exhilarating experience
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  and was one of the most memorable moments of my entire volleyball
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  career. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you
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  go and why? Wheesbrock, I would travel to Disney World in Florida.
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  Disney has always been my favorite place, and for me there is
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  truly no better destination. I have created countless memories with my
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  family, and it is 10 where I am happiest. With what food
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  would you win an eating contest? Wiesbrock:
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  I would have to say my mom's chocolate chip cookies. No matter
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  what time of day, if I see them in the kitchen, without
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  hesitation I will snag three. What is a movie or TV show
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  you never get tired of watching? Wiesbrock, Cars. It is a nostalgic
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  movie for my family, and I am confident I.
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  Could recite half the dialogue by memory. It would be hard to
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  guess how many times I have seen it. What are your plans
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  after high school? Wiesbrock. I plan to attend the University of Illinois.
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  I have wanted to attend this university since I was a kid.
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  I plan to double major in accounting and ag business, giving me
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  the opportunity to explore my career path. Even though I will not
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  be continuing my volleyball career, I hope to play intramural and hopefully
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  club at U of I. What are your thoughts on your individual
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  performance last week? Wheesbrock, I thought I played well. Being the week
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  before regionals, I knew it was time for the team to regain,
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  focus, and rebuild our winning streak. I hoped to contribute to this
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  not only by the look of my stats but by being a
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  team player on the court, which I think I did achieve.