By Murray Gleffe
Correspondent
Name: Alexa Blasczyk
Parents: Paul and Suzie Blasczyk
Activity: Softball
Twitter: @ablasczyk9
What is it like to be a leader on the softball team at Ashwaubenon High School? “Being a leader for Ashwaubenon softball is a huge responsibility. I have always looked up to the upperclassmen on the team and it was really weird to realize that I was someone people look up to as I became the veteran on the team. I’ve had to learn how to keep a positive attitude despite whether I am playing well or not and be a good role model for the program. It’s tough at times, but our team this year is very team oriented which makes it easy to lead.”
What is your most embarrassing moment ever in softball? “My most embarrassing moment was probably one of my first outside varsity practices as a freshman. I was extremely nervous to be practicing with the older girls and we were just taking routine fly balls in the outfield and throwing to the bases. I caught the ball and in the transition of throwing to the base, I tripped over my laces and face planted into the ground. I was mortified, because the whole team was watching.”
How many years have you been involved in softball? “I have been playing since I was six.”
What is your most memorable moment? “My most memorable moment was my freshman year when we lost to Bay Port to go to state. It’s not a happy memory, but definitely something I will never forget. I learned a lot from that game and I believe it helped me grow as a player.”
What’s the hardest part about performing in a softball competition? “Mental toughness is definitely the hardest obstacle in softball. If you can’t forget about a bad play or you overthink everything, you won’t be successful.”
If you could be somebody for a day, who would it be? “I don’t know a specific person I’d like to be, however, I think it would be cool to see how someone else thinks and what they deal with every day.”
What is your sports routine before a big game? “I have different routines for games depending on if we are home or away. For away games our team likes to blast music from a speaker and dance to get everyone hyped for the game, but for home games I have a Kid Rock playlist I listen to on my way to the field.”
Do you have a nickname or something a teammate calls you during a game? “Our outfield coach, Mr. Marcks, calls me Buzz. I wore sunglasses my freshman year that apparently made me look like the Georgia Tech mascot, so he has called me that ever since.”
What is one thing that other teammates or coaches don’t know about you? “I used to ride horses until freshman year.”
A game with a single, double, triple, and home run (cycle) or a big team win? “A big team win, definitely. All our games that year (sophomore) against Bay Port were really close and we were coming off a loss the previous year to them to go to state. Morgan Zirbel had the greatest catch I’ve ever seen that game to save us two runs and we had a huge team effort to get the win.”
What are your college aspirations? “I plan on attending UW-Whitewater to pursue a degree in accounting.”
What would your dream job be once you graduate? “I want to be an accountant and work with a company’s finances. I think it would be cool to work my way up and manage a bunch of employees for a large company.”
What are your hobbies? “I love to play any kind of sport, workout, read, and hang out with friends.”
What is your favorite event ever attended? “I really enjoyed going to Arlington Park race track in Illinois for the Fourth of July. They had fireworks, family activities and the race track was gorgeous. My family and I also like to pick horses for each race and see who has bragging rights at the end of the day.”
What is your favorite type of music? “Classic hard rock”
What is your favorite thing to do on your phone? “I like to do brain teasers on my phone.”
What three words describe you? “Honest, hardworking, reliable”
What is your favorite trip ever taken? “My favorite trip I’ve taken was in second grade. I was obsessed with horses, and my family went to Kentucky for the first time. We took a behind the scenes tour of Churchill Downs racetrack where the Kentucky Derby is held and also went to the Kentucky Horse Park. I had a blast because I was around horses every day and completely immersed in the bluegrass culture.”
TV or Outdoor Activities? “Outdoor Activities”
Favorites
Food: Chocolate
Subject: Science
Color: Blue or purple depending on the day
TV Show: “NCIS”
Athlete: Mike Smith
Board Game: Clue
Candy: Twix
Ice Cream: Mackinac Island Fudge
Holiday: Fourth of July
Season: Fall
Comments on Alexa Blasczyk: “Alexa has been a four-year starter for us,” said Shannon VanLaanen, Jaguars Softball Coach. “She’s always been very competitive and willing to do whatever it takes to win both from a preparation and performance standpoint. She’s given back to the program by working with the youth and being a positive member of the high school.”