The winter season for sports is just starting up with some great Spartan athletes looking to make it a season to remember. From great basketball games to intense wrestling matches, here are some of the athletes to watch this winter season in sports. Following in the footsteps of his brother is senior boys basketball player Colin Hepler; another Spartan from a family well known for great athletes is Makenzie Schierding, who is also a senior basketball player, but on the girls team; Weston Klein, a senior and a wrestler is making waves with his tremendous success this season; Elizabeth Skelly, a senior swimmer who has left all of her competition in her wake; Last but not least is Corey Moats, a senior hockey player who has been a star player in the recent past. The last season for these stellar Spartans has come, here is a closer look into what drives these athletes and what their plans for sports in the future are.

 

Corey Moats

 

Q: How long have you participated in this sport?

A: Since I was about 3 years old.

 

Q: Why did you start?

A: Because my brother played and influenced me. I thought it would be a good idea.

 

Q: Expectations for this season

A: I expect us to win a state championship.

 

Q: How has it gone so far?

A: We started off pretty shaky, but now we are beating a lot of teams that beat us in the beginning. We are about .500 right now. (Which means they’ve won about half and lost half of their games.)

 

Q: Plans for college?

A: I’m going to go to Mizzou, I do not plan to play hockey. I may play for a select team with my brother. I don’t have or plan on getting any college offers.

 

Q: How does this season compare to previous seasons?

A: I’d say, my freshman year we were really good, we got 4th in state, the year after that we almost won the wick, then the year after that we moved to the founders, which is the worst division, so we are doing about as well as last year. Actually I’d say we are doing better than last year.

 

Colin Hepler

 

Q: How long have you participated in this sport?

A: Since I was like 6 years old.

 

Q: Why did you start?

A: My family has been around basketball their whole life. My older brother played.

 

Q: Expectations for this season

A: I expect to win districts and state!

 

Q: How has it gone so far?

A: We’ve got a winning record! Our record is 6-5.

 

Q: Plans for college?

A: I plan to go to SCC and use my A+ hours. I’m not going to play basketball anymore.

 

Q: How does this season compare to previous seasons?

A: I’m a senior now, I’ve got power now! I feel like we are better as a team, though. We play together and don’t ball hog.

 

Elizabeth Skelly

 

Q: How long have you participated in this sport?

A: I’ve been on the school team for all 4 years of highschool. Before that I was on a summer team, that was in, like first grade.

 

Q: Why did you start?

A: So we moved around first grade, and our neighborhood had a swim team, so I decided ok, I’ll swim.

 

Q: Expectations for this season

A: We have a lot of new swimmers who have never swam before. We go up against some pretty difficult teams, so with new swimmers in consideration we might not do as well. But we have done well against smaller teams.

 

Q: How has it gone so far?

A: We have done well individually, I don’t know the exact number of meets we’ve won, but I think we’ve lost more than we’ve won

 

Q: Plans for college?

A: I’d like to keep swimming, but it’s not my priority.

 

Q: How does this season compare to previous seasons?

A: So, compared to last year, I think that we are more positive. I think my freshman year was the best year, placement wise, we also had some really good swimmers, but we are about the same as last year.

 

Makenzie Schierding

 

Q: How long have you participated in this sport?

A: Since I was 7 years old.

 

Q: Why did you start?

A:  Ashley Roland’s dad told my parents that I should come out and try, and I did, and I ended up loving it.

 

Q: Expectations for this season

A: We want a winning record and all, but we aren’t a team that has expectations. We take it day by day and do the best we can. I expect some pretty good things though.

 

Q: How has it gone so far?

A: It’s gone well! Of course there were games that we lost that we thought we should have won, but I think that we are on the up stride at lest.

 

Q: Plans for college?

A: I don’t know, I think I do, but I don’t know if I want to. I have three places looking at me. I think my top choice right now would be St. Louis College Of Pharmacy, I’m just trying to decide, trying to figure it out.

 

Q: How does this season compare to previous seasons?

A: I think we are better in every way: more commitment, people have more buy-in, I also think people work harder, and I think that we are better both talent and skill wise.

 

Weston Klein

 

Q: How long have you participated in this sport?

A: Since about 5th grade.

 

Q: Why did you start?

A: My oldest brother wrestled, and I just followed in his footsteps.

 

Q: Expectations for this season

A: I expect to place at state.

 

Q: How has it gone so far?

A: It’s going how I want it to. I think it’s going well. I’m at 21-10 [21 wins, 10 losses].

 

Q: Plans for college?

A: I’m going to college in Alaska. I’m not going to wrestle there, sadly.

 

Q: How does this season compare to previous seasons?

A: I haven’t gotten injured yet! Last year I was out for three weeks with a concussion.

 

The vast majority of high school athletes do not go on to partake in college sports, about 2% even make it to college sports. Plans regarding college sports do not make or break the success of an athlete and they don’t tell the whole tale behind their success. These are five of the most successful athletes and only one of them is possibly playing sports at the next level, which proves that you don’t need to play in college to be successful. As this final season draws to a close, many of these legends of Spartan nation will be gearing up for the last time, sealing their legacies forever in this school.