STEELE SPORTS

One of the favorite parts about my job is interviewing athletes right after a big game.
Watching the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat unfold before your eyes and finding out where everything went right or went wrong is a privilege.
I’ve seen my fair share of tears, whether they be happy or sad, and have lived through many moments that I can tell will stay with athletes, coaches, friends and families forever.
However, there is one moment in interviewing an athlete that always brings a smile to my face: the realization.
Athletes are my favorite interviews because they tend to always have the same reaction when approached.
No matter the age of the athlete – and I’ve interviewed new teenagers to adults – everyone’s initial response is a look of shock and excitement.
An athlete could score four touchdowns in a football game or hit the game-winning shot on the basketball court, yet when approached after the game, their eyes still get wide as they try to hide a smile and mentally prepare for my questions.
As an athlete who is now on the other side of the interview, I know that there is no pressure in this situation; there are no right or wrong answers.
However, sometimes it seems as if we’re in a game of high stakes poker where every word that makes up an answer is a critical decision.
It will never fail to make me smile listening to these athletes.
Some athletes remain reserved and humble, much like NRHEG’s Quinn VanMaldeghem in one of my first interviews in Steele County.
Just an eighth grader, VanMaldeghem spoke very humbly and genuinely about her love of running and competing with her teammates.
It was easy to respect the passion and drive of a young athlete with a very bright future, while also being impressed at the level of maturity she exhibited in a moment.
Some of my favorite interviews have been with the Steele County Blades, where locker-room trips for interviews become not only a one-on-one style interview but a kind of one-on-five circus with athletes making jokes in the background; trying their best to get their friend being interviewed to crack a smile and laugh.
These are the elements that make interviews special, it’s the idea that you never know what to expect.
At the very least, you hope that you’ll get some answers to your questions but, more often than not, it’s the moment that makes the interview special.
Whether the moment is a great quote, even a blooper or the occasional profane word, you know that everyone involved is just excited to be a part of a special moment.