Ali Matys, Octorara, junior, catcher
What do you like about catching? Is that where you want to play? Is that your favorite position?
Matys: I do love it. Like when I started in seventh grade playing softball, catching was my first like, Oh, you're really good at this. Why don't you just keep going? And I was like OK. So when I started travel, they were like, Oh, you're really good at catching. So I kind of just stuck with catching as I've grown to high school. And then freshman year, I was like, oh, you can't catch. (Octorara had a senior catcher, and then another the next year.) And I was like, oh, so I have to be better at something else. Oh, OK, yeah, so it's definitely different, but different from playing in the field compared to catching. But I do love catching. It was kind of like catching chose me.
How do the three sports -- field hockey, basketball, softball -- help each other out?
Matys: Basketball definitely gives me the agility for moving my feet quicker and getting to a spot quicker, for fielding for softball. I think the running aspect of field hockey definitely helps me with all three, because I'm constantly moving, constantly running, like I'm always on my feet. It helps me kind of, in a way, for all three
What are you excited about with this year's team?
Matys: This year, I'm mostly excited for, we have a lot of younger girls. So I'm more excited for the new team atmosphere in a way, like we're bonding really well already, and it's only been a week. So I'm kind of excited to see how far this team can go as a group, in a way, because last year we had seven seniors, and we definitely did have this nice, tight-knit family. But since they left, it's kind of like us juniors, because we only have two seniors, have to step up and help, too.
So what is your favorite part of softball?
Matys: I think just having the team, being a part of it. It's not just on me, it's also like the team's there. I got your back, like, you make an error, someone's there for it, to help you. In field hockey, if you mess up, it's your fault. But with softball, I feel like someone's always there to lift you up and help you.
A couple of fun questions. What did you learn in class last week?
Matys: Oh, gosh, we're learning about poems in ELA and I I'm trying to think about what in particular. We're also learning how to do taxes.
How about this coming week? What do you have besides your big week of softball practice.
Matys: I would say we have a really light week this week because we have off Friday. So it's very light normally when we have a day off. So I think it's just going to be like on-your-own stuff. I'll give you this worksheet. You just do it.
Do you have a favorite class and why?
Matys: Probably accounting, because I think I want to go into financial stuff. That's what my dad does. So kind of like, oh, OK, following him. I'm good with math. I'm good with numbers. So anyway, I can make good money.
Do you have a favorite quote or slogan that picks you up when you need some inspiration?
Matys: I've never thought of that. I do have one. One of my friend's mom during travel, always says, Don't suck. Like, in a way it makes you giggle and laugh like, don't suck. When you go up to bat, oh, don't suck. I would say I kind of just live off of that. In a way, it makes me laugh every time I think about it.
How about a favorite childhood toy? What did you play with that led to playing all these sports?
Matys: My brother's younger than me, but when he was old enough to walk and stuff, we had these nets, like little knee hockey nets and hot little hockey sticks that we would always play with and mess around. I think that's kind of what sparked my love for field hockey, in a way, so it's really cool, that led to something down the road.
