Q & A with Blair High School’s Katie Clayton
VYPE: Who inspires you? Explain.
Katie Clayton: I’d say that my mom inspires me. She may be my coach, but she will always be my mom first. She always keeps me on my toes and on the right path. She encourages me to keep going even when I don’t think I can.
VYPE: What grade are you in this year?
KC: I am in the 12th grade.
VYPE: Favorite subject in school and favorite teacher from any grade?
KC: My favorite subject is science. I just think that learning about life and the earth is just a lot of fun. I would say that my favorite teacher is my yearbook teacher. Her name is Mrs. Lou, and she’s a great teacher, but she’s also a very good mentor to everyone.
VYPE: Who is the best setter on the team?
KC: The best setter on our team is Abby Leach. She is a freshman, so she is still learning, but she has great potential and good spirit.
VYPE: What do you enjoy most about being a member of the team?
KC: What I enjoy most about being on the team is that I get to share my knowledge about volleyball and being able to share it with my teammates. Since Blair had just added volleyball last year, my teammates are still learning the ropes. I had played previously at other schools, so being able to be a leader is a great opportunity and privilege for me.
VYPE: What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
KC: In my free time, I enjoy hanging out with my boyfriend and my family as a way to relax and unwind.
VYPE: Which teammate is the most vocal and which teammate keeps everyone laughing?
KC: I’d like to say I am the most vocal, mainly because I am the loudest, but Stephanie Hamm, she is a very soft-spoken person, but she chants and is a great encouraging person as well. The teammate that keeps everyone laughing is Lexi Leach. She is a great friend and has a great personality.
VYPE: What has athletics taught you that you may use later in life?
KC: Athletics has taught me how to be a leader and, in general, just a better person. Especially since I’m a senior this year, I feel it’s a great time to step up and take responsibility for my team.
VYPE: Toughest gym to play in and why?
KC: The toughest gym I’ve had to play in is the old Navajo gym. If you have been in that gym, it is so hot even sitting in the stands. So when you’re playing and sweating, it’s a hot mess.
VYPE: What do you love most about your team and teammates?
KC: One thing I love about this team is, even though we haven’t been playing volleyball very long, we still have a lot of fun doing it, and that makes it all worth it.
VYPE: What teammate is always going to the floor for a dig?
KC: The teammate always going to the floor for a dig is Stephanie Hamm. She is a great hustler and is not afraid to get to work on the court.
VYPE: Jump serve or standing serve? Which do you prefer and why?
KC: To me, the standing serve is what I prefer, and it’s what I do. I just never learned how to do a jump serve, to be honest. A standing serve just seems to be easier for most.
