By Murray Gleffe
Correspondent
Name: Korrin VanLaanen
Nickname: Korn
School: Ashwaubenon
Parents: Nicky and Shannon VanLaanen
Activities: Golf, softball
Twitter: @Korrinvanlaanen
Korrin VanLaanen is a recent graduate of Ashwaubenon High School and participated in softball and golf.
She said making long putts in golf is the hardest aspect of the game.
VanLaanen’s celebrity crush is Patrick Dempsey, and she got Starbucks coffee before every golf practice and match.
How did you contribute to the team’s success?
“My biggest attribute is leadership. Whenever a teammate made a mistake, I picked them up because I knew how it felt. I wanted my teammates to know someone had their back at all times, both on and off the field.”
Who were the toughest opponents you faced?
“Pulaski and Green Bay Preble. In my sophomore year, Pulaski was good with a talented left-handed pitcher and good depth hitting-wise. I liked playing those programs because they pushed our program.”
Talk about your father, Shannon VanLaanen, who’s also your softball coach.
“Having my dad as a coach was unique. At softball, he was my coach, and at home, he’s my dad. It was an experience of a lifetime when my sister and I both played for him together at the varsity level. Ever since we were little, he took us to the baseball diamonds where he used to be the varsity baseball coach. We grew up loving the game of baseball and softball, and it was special all our hard work throughout the years paid off. We won a conference championship under our dad’s leadership. I will never take those memories for granted.”
What was the hardest part about playing softball?
“The mental piece. You practiced the physical situations time and time again, but during the game, when you made an error in the field or struck out at the plate, your mental aspect must have been in the right place to pick you up. In addition, you couldn’t let your highs get too high or your lows get too low. You had to think about the next play or next at-bat to fully succeed.”
What’s something about you most people don’t know?
“I worked lots with the special education program at the high school. It was a humbling experience to become friends with these amazing and unique individuals whom I learned so much from every day.”
What’s the best softball field you’ve played on?
“The turf complex in Wisconsin Dells is neat and makes you feel like you’re playing at a high level.”
What are your college aspirations?
“I will be attending the University of Minnesota and majoring in biology and pre-medicine. Afterward, I will continue to medical school and hopefully become a pediatrician.”
Who’s your favorite softball player?
“Haley Cruse.”
What four words describe you?
“Kind, outgoing, intelligent, humble.”
The coast or the mountains?
“The mountains.”
What’s another hobby of yours?
“I’m into chess.”
How do you want to be remembered at Ashwaubenon?
“As a leader, both on and off the field. I hope people looked up to me on how I did things, both academically and athletically.”
What’s your biggest sports achievement?
“Winning conference for softball my sophomore year was special to my sister and I. Being the middle infield duo on a championship team was special.”
Smoothie or coffee?
“Coffee.”
What three cities would you like to visit?
“New York, Paris, Barcelona.”
Favorites
Food: Sushi
Book: “Wonder”
Vehicle: White Range Rover
Sports editor’s note: To read last week’s Nicolet National Bank Senior Spotlight on Vince Vanmieghem, CLICK HERE.