By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
DE PERE – Calvin Battle, a West De Pere High School senior on the boys’ soccer and tennis teams, is one of the few area players going to school full-time and playing sports.
Unlike the majority of schools in the Fox River Classic Conference, the Phantoms, members of the Bay Conference, are giving fall sports a go.
“School is going well,” said Calvin, the son of Melissa and Christopher Battle. “It’s a big responsibility and privilege to keep our soccer season. There’s lots of trust both ways. The school trusts the players and everyone at school to wear their masks and try to stay socially distanced. With that, we get the privilege to play our sports, which is big.”
Battle said he hasn’t seen any students not wearing a mask at school.
“The teachers are doing a good job breaking apart big groups, while still letting us be a little social,” he said.
Battle has been a member of the varsity tennis squad since his freshman year, but he’s not sure what next spring will bring.
“I love tennis as well, but If I put the same passion into tennis as I have for soccer, I think I could have tried for a college scholarship there, too,” said Battle, who is looking at Division I Northern Illinois University to study kinesiology and play soccer. “My sophomore year, I played at No. 1 doubles and made it to the second round of state. I’m not sure if I’ll play another year of tennis next spring or get more serious about finding a job to help pay my college tuition.”
Battle said he has a passion for weightlifting and nutrition and hopes to become a personal trainer someday.
“Opening my own gym is a goal of mine,” he said. “I have studied French and can hold a basic conversation in the language, so going overseas is a possibility. I can be a personal trainer anywhere.”
Battle was second-team all-conference in the Bay for soccer last season and garnered first-team honors in tennis as a freshman and sophomore.
His soccer coach is Joe Rollin.
“Coach busts our butt,” Battle said. “He doesn’t accept laziness or giving up. Even if you’re tired and need a break, he will get on you. He pushes us to go the extra mile so we know we’ll get better than many other teams. Off the field, he’s caring and understanding.”
He said his most memorable moment came his sophomore year during the conference soccer tournament.
“We were losing against Seymour, and seeing my favorite seniors in their last game crying was difficult,” said Battle, who describes himself as compassionate, goofy and hard-working. “My most embarrassing moment was during a game against Kaukauna last season. I was the reason we lost 1-0. I turned around and kicked the ball back to our keeper, but it was too short of a pass and Kaukauna scored.”
Battle’s mom was born and raised south of Green Bay in Wrightstown, while his dad was born in New Mexico, moved to California and then to Wisconsin.
“We recently moved back into my mom’s childhood home,” he said. “My parents weren’t much into sports, but I grew up with two older brothers, Kyle and Quinn, who were into tennis and gymnastics. My parents threw me into a bunch of different sports when I was younger, and I realized my freshman and sophomore year, I loved soccer.”
Battle participates in the concert choir at West De Pere and is a singer and a songwriter.
“Most people probably wouldn’t know that about me,” he said. “My best friend is good at producing things technologically, but I write the lyrics. I know how to play the guitar, the piano and the ukulele. I feel everyone should have some music skills.”
Battle also likes eating salads, the month of October, boxing and carrots.