HS:How long have you played the current sports you are in?

DB: I have played soccer for about 14 years. I started out in soccer shots played for a few years after that. Then took 1-2 years off and picked it back up before middle school. I have also been riding horses for 9-10 years. I have competed for a total of 6 years.

HS: What is one piece of advice you would give to young athletes?

DB: One piece of advice I would give to young athletes is follow what your heart tells you to do. If you love the sport you’re doing, keep going after it. If you wanna try something new or different don’t ever be afraid to.

HS: Who is someone you look up to?

DB: If I had to pick just one person to look up to it would be Rachel Lexon. She has always been someone I looked up to when riding horses. When we would go to horse shows she was always there helping me get on my horse and always telling me to forget about everything just go in the ring and have fun. I can remember when I was younger I always wanted to have the riding skills that she had and still has. She overall has a kind and caring heart. She is also a great friend but more like a big sister I never had.

HS:What are your goals for the upcoming season?

DB:  My goals for soccer this upcoming season is to just have fun and make memories. My goals for riding this season/year are gonna be to practice hard and make it back to nationals again. I will also tell myself that I have worked harder than anyone else. I’m gonna go show them what I got and hope for the best!

HS: What do you enjoy doing outside of sports?

DB: . Outside of sports I enjoy spending time with my family, going fishing and hunting, going to my camp and going tubing on our boat. I also enjoy babysitting and being around kids in general.

HS: What are your plans after high school?

DB: . Outside of sports I enjoy spending time with my family, going fishing and hunting, going to my camp and going tubing on our boat. I also enjoy babysitting and being around kids in general.

HS: Is there a coach or teammate who has gone above and beyond and pushed you when you wanted to give up?

DB:  There are many people who have gone above and beyond for me and pushed me at my lowest level. I would have to say my coach/trainer Chris Mcelyea. He has always been there for me and has never told me to give up. I will always remember when I was in 2nd or 3rd grade I just started lessons with Andrea Tufo. Chris came up to Miss Andrea and said “I want a little kid right there”. Here we are years later now Chris is my coach and I am still riding horses and I wouldn’t trade it for the world!

HS: What is one of your weaknesses as an athlete? What is one of your strengths as an athlete?

DB: One of my weaknesses as an athlete overall is overthinking and constantly thinking I’m doing this or that wrong. I am constantly pushing myself so much that it ends up making me worse. One of my strengths as an athlete is that I never give up no matter what. I also always bring the energy up on the field or at a horse show. I constantly am laughing and trying to have a good time. I feel that if I’m in a quiet environment it brings me down and I feel like I don’t want to do anything.

HS:Do you ever feel overwhelmed balancing academics and sports?  What things do you do to balance the two?

DB: I definitely can feel overwhelmed at the beginning of the school year because I’m balancing school, soccer and riding all in one day. It definitely becomes a lot. What I do to try and balance it all out is trying to get all of my homework or whatever I have I try to get it finished in school. So then after soccer and riding I can go home, eat dinner and go to bed and wake up and do it all over again the next day. It’s definitely a lot to handle but as long as you stay calm and don’t overthink about it all too much it will be smooth and work out.

HS: How do you prepare yourself for a game?

DB: How I prepare myself for a game is by listening to music and trying to turn my brain off and just focusing on the game. How I prepare myself before I ride is by staying calm and breathing a lot but also having a mindset of just go and have fun and do your best!

HS: What strategies do you use to stay motivated during tough times?

DB: Some strategies I use during tough times is you only live once so don’t focus on whether she did that or he did this. Have fun in life while you can! Enjoy the little moments!