Bay Port’s Caitlyn DeValk (Total Image Photography)
BY RICH PALZEWIC
CORRESPONDENT
Caitlyn DeValk, a 5-foot-9 senior at Bay Port High School, is a member of the track and field team where she throws the shot put and discus.
Caitlyn plans to attend UW-Whitewater and eventually becoming a high school math teacher. She is also planning on studying Spanish and history.
Name: Caitlyn DeValk
Nickname: Caty, Dee, DeValk
Parents: Grant & Missy
School: Bay Port
Sport: track & field
Events: shot put & discus
Twitter: @CaitlynDevalk9
How do you pronounce your last name? “Da-Valk … just how it’s spelled.”
Any siblings? “Nope … I’m an only child.”
Do you come from a sports family? “My dad actually graduated from Bay Port and played football. My mom is from Suring and was a cheerleader.”
Have you ever done any other sports in high school? “I played volleyball my freshman and sophomore years, but it was just too hard on my body. I still like to play when I can.”
How many years have you been in track? “I started with the Bay Port Track Club starting in fifth grade and have been doing it ever since.”
What’s the hardest event in track & field in your opinion? “That’s tough but I’d say shot put for one. We had (my teammate) Jenna Hoffman come and do it for a single meet and she told me it was really hard. It’s not as easy as it looks. There’s a lot of technique that goes into it. I’d also say the pole vault or hurdles would be hard.”
If you could do one event that you currently don’t do, which would it be? “Hurdles would be fun … just a short race.”
How about an event that you’d like to see added? “The javelin would be pretty cool. I know it’s a safety concern. Coach Krause was telling us that in De Pere a few years ago an errant discus went over the fence and hit somebody in the back of the head. I’ve hit the fence before!”
What’s it like having Coach Murphy as your coach? “Murph is awesome and super-supportive of everyone. He pushes us to be the very best we can. I feel like we have the best coaching staff in the FRCC.”
How about a sport you wish you could have tried? “Basketball. I’ve never played and that surprises a lot of people.”
What would be your most memorable sports moment? “I’d say winning conference my sophomore year. We had been underdogs to win it (on paper), but we still pulled it out. Last year was great, too. We want three in a row this season.”
Do you have an embarrassing sports moment? “Probably just getting hit in the face with a volleyball when I played.”
What is something about you that most people wouldn’t know? “My grandpa went to Green Bay East and I think was all-state. Then he went on to play for the Marines.”
What are some of your hobbies? “Reading, movies and spending time with my dog.”
What three words best describe you? “Dedicated, hard-working, caring.”
What people have influenced you the most? “My parents. They’ve always been there for me and push me to do my best. I wouldn’t be where I am without them.”
Would your recent vacation to Florida be your favorite place you’ve gone to? “It’s my favorite family vacation for sure. We saw manatees, alligators, sea otters and dolphins.”
I see you’re a huge Milwaukee Brewers and sports fan in general! “I’m a big sports fan! I like the Brewers, the Cardinals and Wisconsin football. I’d rather watch college football than professional. I grew up with (Wisconsin football player) Alec (Ingold) and threw shot with Cole (Van Lanen), who also plays football for the Badgers.”
What will the Brewers record be this season? “I think they will have a good year and finish above .500.”
How will Caitlyn DeValk be remembered at Bay Port after graduation? “I want to be remembered as someone who put their academics first and was nice to people. I’ll be remembered as a quiet person who cared about everybody and contributed to athletics.”
What will you miss most about Bay Port? “Probably the sports and the academics. We have so many awesome opportunities at Bay Port for everything. I’ll miss the teachers, too.”
Tree house or tiny house? “Tiny house.”
Tent camping or camper? “Camper.”
Lie on the beach or ski down the slopes? “Lie on the beach.”
Watch TV or read a book? “Read a book.”
Fruits or veggies? “Fruits.”
Favorites
Food: pizza
Subject: math
TV show: SEAL Team, Bones
Candy: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Holiday: Christmas
App: Twitter, CBS Sports
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’s Erin Ross.