Katy Winge– a freshman Varsity basketball star and this week’s campus celebrity. Katy, originally from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, has been playing basketball for as long as she can remember. Her parents even got her a mini hoop set and she was playing with it before she could walk! Not only is Katy a freshman on the Varsity ISU basketball team, she also has to balance her school work and her sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha.
HC: How many hours a week are devoted to basketball, sorority, and studying?
Katy: My schedule really varies depending on what’s going on that week, but on average anywhere from 12-18 hours a week are spent devoted to my basketball. That includes practice, games, lifting, and film. My sorority is extremely understanding of my rigorous basketball schedule, and I am so appreciative for that! Normally 1-4 hours on average a week is devoted to my sorority. Studying is fit in whenever possible! I have study halls offered for both my sorority and sport, but on average 6-12 hours a week I spend studying or doing homework.
HC: How do you balance your sorority, basketball, and school?
Katy: Well, it’s really important to me that I keep my priorities straight. First and foremost, I am here to get an education and a college degree, so my school work is most important. In reality, I probably wouldn’t have chosen to come to ISU if it wasn’t for the basketball opportunity I’ve been given. I’m on scholarship on the team, so basketball comes right behind my school. My sorority is a wonderful outlet for me to get away from all the stress and pressure that comes along with school and basketball. I am so grateful for Zeta; they are such a wonderful group of young women and are so supportive of me. Zeta provides me with many opportunities and relationships I couldn’t find anywhere else, and in a sense, my sorority balances me.
HC: Are you in any other clubs or do any other activities?
Katy: No, but I would love to be! I love trying new things and getting to know new people. I wish my schedule wasn’t as crazy as it was. If I wasn’t playing basketball I would definitely be running for an executive position at Zeta, and being as involved with my sorority as possible. Otherwise I would love to be in the Honor Society, or do more volunteering. I feel as though I am very fortunate, and I strongly believe it is important to give back and reach out to those who don’t have as much. Keeping a good perspective in life means a lot to me.
HC: So, who inspires you?
Katy: As cliché as it is, my parents have been my greatest role models and have inspired me most throughout my life. They are my best friends, and without a doubt are the reason I am the person I am today. They have taught me so much about life and growing up, and I have no shame in admitting I want to be just like them when I’m older!
HC: Do you have much free time? What do you like to do in your time?
Katy: Sadly, I do not have a lot of free time. But being so far from home, it’s nice to stay busy and keep my mind off of missing home and my family and friends. On the rare occasion that I do have some free time, I Skype or Face Time family and friends from home, read, listen to music, watch movies, or browse Facebook or Twitter. I find myself just hanging out, relaxing, and doing nothing because I rarely get the opportunity to do that! Otherwise I try to always be productive with any free time I have. Some of my hobbies I wish I had more time for are baking and taking pictures! At home I used to bake all sorts of cookies when I found myself with nothing to do, but that’s difficult to do here especially living in the dorms. I also love photography, but it’s definitely hard to find time to go out and take pictures.
HC: What are your plans for the future?
Katy: As of right now I’m a marketing major with a communication (organizational and leadership studies) minor. I have a few very different ideas as to what I’d like to do with that, but I’m only a freshman, I’ll probably change my mind at least a few more times before I graduate! I know I definitely want to move back home to Minnesota after I graduate, and get married and raise a family there. Only time will tell I guess, but I’m so excited for what the future has in store!