By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
Grace Krause is a recent graduate of Bay Port High School.
She played varsity soccer for four years and basketball and tennis for three each.
In her spare time, she likes to water ski, lay out, fish, hunt and run.
Krause will attend St. Norbert College to study nursing and play soccer.
Name: Grace Krause
Nickname: Krause
School: Bay Port
Sports: Soccer, basketball, tennis
Parents: John and Kathy
Twitter: @gracekrausee2
Tell me about your family.
“Isaac graduated from Bay Port in 2017 and attends UW-Madison, Emma will be a freshman at Bay Port, my mom is from Pulaski and my dad is from Owen-Withee.”
Do you come from a sports family?
“Isaac played football, basketball and ran track, Emma plays volleyball, soccer and basketball, my mom played volleyball and my dad played football, basketball and ran track.”
How difficult was it being a three-sport athlete?
“It was all about balancing my time. Obviously, I missed out on some things that others didn’t if they weren’t in sports, but I wouldn’t change anything about it.”
Is there a high school sport you wish you would have done?
“Volleyball would have been fun.”
During your time at Bay Port, you won a state championship in soccer, another in basketball and finished runner-up another time in soccer. Four years ago, did you think that was remotely possible?
“Anyone wishes that. It started slowly, but as the years wore on, I definitely thought it was possible.”
You’ve had a lot of memorable moments – which is the most memorable?
“That’s really hard to answer. Soccer was the first championship [2018], so that was special. Basketball was huge, too, because it was so intense and for the community as well. I can’t pinpoint one.”
Does an embarrassing sports moment come to mind?
“In basketball, everyone made fun of me because I was always on the ground.”
Speaking of that, you’re small in stature but known for being a fierce competitor on the court/field.
“I always give maximum effort in everything I do. I got after it, and that’s my mentality.”
You lost in the state semifinals this year in soccer – what happened?
“The factors didn’t go for us. We were a second-half team, but we had to go into the wind after intermission. We also had some injuries. We wanted to go back-to-back, but the experience of getting there again was fun.”
Congrats on being named Bay Port’s most outstanding senior female athlete this year.
“Me being a three-sport athlete helped. I definitely grew over the years, and I think the coaches recognized that. It was an honor to receive that award.”
You’re playing soccer at St. Norbert for Bob Rickards, who was the former coach at conference rival Notre Dame Academy.
“It’s going to be a new experience, but I’m looking forward to it. Coach Rickards and I will be learning a new situation together.”
Could you have played college basketball?
“I could have played at St. Norbert. I thought about it, but I think it would be too much to handle for my first year.”
What is something about you most people wouldn’t know?
“My mom’s dad [Fred Kestly] was the longtime basketball coach at Pulaski, and the fieldhouse is named after him. My dad’s dad [Neil Krause] is a Vietnam Vet with two Purple Hearts, two Bronze Stars and a Silver Star.”
What three words describe you?
“Sarcastic, aggressive, loyal.”
What would your dream job be?
“A professional shopper.”
Tell me where you will be in 10 years.
“Hopefully, I will have a nice job in the nursing field in a hospital – that will definitely help me shop. I hope to be doing the adulting thing.”
Cats or dogs?
“Dogs.”
Near the water or near the mountains?
“Near the water.”
Hot coffee or iced coffee?
“Iced.”
Red or blue?
“Blue.”
Pancakes or waffle?
“Pancakes.”
Favorites
Food: T-bone steak
Candy: Airheads Extremes Soft Filled Bites
Phone app: VSCO
Holiday: Christmas
Board game: Yahtzee