BY RICH PALZEWIC
CORRESPONDENT
Kyle Thieme is a senior member of the Bay Port cross country and track teams, and he also skis on the Ashwaubenon Nordic Ski Team. His goal is to make it to state in both cross country and track this season. Kyle plans on going to college to study business, pre-med or both, but he’s not quite sure where he will attend yet. Thieme would also like to run at the next level if the opportunity presents itself.
Name: Kyle Thieme
Parents: Derik & Lisa
School: Bay Port
Sports: cross country, track, cross country skiing
Twitter: @kylethieme_
How do you pronounce your last name? “It’s tee-me.”
Do you come from a sports family? “Both of my parents cross country skied in high school and my mom ran in college at UW-Whitewater. Of course my younger brother Ryan runs as well.”
Speaking of your brother Ryan, what’s it like to have him on the team? “It’s someone to push me. He doesn’t quite go like me in practice, but he always does well in the meets. I was glad to see him qualify for state last season.”
I know you cross country ski with the Ashwaubenon Nordic Ski Team as well. How do you do there? “At state last year I got 5th in the classic race and like 12th in the skate race. I like to classic better.”
Have you thought about someday doing the Birkie, the largest cross country ski race in North America? “For sure. I’ve done the (shorter) Kortelopet starting in the first wave.”
Your teammate Abby Jarzin is a great skier! Can you beat her? “Yeah, she’s pretty close, though! She’s really good.”
How about a sport you wish you could have done in high school? “I like basketball, but I didn’t stick with that too long. I don’t play intramurals or anything, but I’m not too bad.”
When did you start running and when did you get serious about it? “I started in about third grade with the Bay Port Track Club, but I got serious in middle school.”
How many miles would you say you put in during the week? “Anywhere from 30-40 miles a week. It’s pretty consistent at that in the summer, but as we get into the season and closer to the bigger meets, we decrease our volume a little bit.”
What’s it like running for Coach Jameson? “It’s really nice. You know what he expects of you and he’s very understanding about everything. He’s a great coach.”
Does he ever get mad or raise his voice? “No!”
How about a most memorable running moment? “I hope my most memorable moment is yet to come!”
What is your choice of running shoes? “Recently I’ve been wearing Newton’s for training, but I like the Nike spikes.”
What is something about you most people don’t know? “I was born in Waukesha, then moved to Indiana and then came to Howard-Suamico in the middle of the first grade.”
What are some of your hobbies? “I like to draw, listen to music a lot and like to read and go to movies a little bit.”
What is one chore you dislike doing? “The dishes.”
Which teammate could survive in the wilderness for a week? “I’d like to say Caleb Rentmeester because he just seems like an outdoor person.”
Tiny house or tree house? “Tree house.”
Strawberries or blueberries? “Blueberries.”
Lie on the beach or ski down the slopes? “Lie on the beach.”
Chocolate or vanilla? “Chocolate.”
Fishing or eating fish? “Fishing.”
What three words best describe you? “Outgoing, creative, hard-working.”
How will Kyle Thieme be remembered at Bay Port? “Hopefully for being myself, spontaneous and being a hard worker.”
Favorites
Food: burritos
Subject: economics, anatomy
Candy: Snickers
App: Spotify
Singer: Kanye West
Coach Mike Jameson’s comments: “Kyle is very a competitive individual. He is a strong student in the classroom and a strong athlete in cross country, track and skiing. He has battled through injuries in the past and this season as well. He has been working hard to get healthy. He has handled the setbacks well and is focused on being the best runner he can be. I am excited for the rest of his senior season.”
Notes: suggestions for the Senior Spotlight can be submitted to Rich via email ([email protected]) or by Twitter (@richpalzewic)… all spotlights can be found online at thepress.media. Check out last week’s spotlight on Bay Port volleyball player Mady Schroeder.