Nicolet National Bank Senior Spotlight

Parents’ names: Nicole Nooyen(mom), Craig Nooyen(dad)
Siblings: Maxwel Nooyen, Samuel Nooyen
Position or events: Captain of tennis team
Instagram: @quinn.nooyen

Career Highlight: Made Sectionals.

At what age did you start playing your main sport?
I started playing tennis at 12 years old or the sixth grade in middle school.

Who introduced you to the sport?
My parents had a tennis racket laying around and they lent it to me. With whatever tennis balls I could find I began practicing hitting against our garage door.

Has this always been your favorite sport? Why?
Tennis has not always been my favorite sport. I grew up playing basketball and baseball, alternating between the two. I enjoyed playing with my friends and the team sport aspect.

How do you balance schoolwork and your sport?
Luckily our teams’ courts are nearby and we’re the only team using them during the season so our practices run no later than 5 p.m. at night. After dinner and whatever needs to be done I often have a few hours each night to complete homework. On easier school nights I even have time to get a second evening practice in.

What is one school event or tradition that you will miss? Why?

Homecoming is one event I’ll definitely miss. It’s the one week where there’s always school events going on and there’s a buzz of excitement in the air.

While juggling athletics and academics, how do you stay motivated in the classroom?
I’m able to stay focused in the classroom because I’m blessed to have a schedule of really good and charismatic teachers. The teachers at Ashwaubenon do a great job at making the classroom engaging and it really helps me stay motivated.

What aspect of your sport do you think takes the most mental toughness?
The part that takes the most mental toughness is fighting self-doubt. It’s hard to shake the negative thoughts when you just double faulted the game away or dumped a few balls in the net.

Is there a favorite moment from your senior year so far?
My favorite moment from this year was attending our basketball team’s game against De Pere for the second time. In the end we didn’t win, but the energy and excitement in those final moments were probably one of the most exciting times of my life.

What is one thing people misunderstand or don’t appreciate about your sport?
Most people don’t understand just how many moving parts go into the simplest things. Tennis is a full-body sport using all your mind and every muscle. In general, I don’t think people have a good understanding of the complexity of all the things like serves, strokes, volleys, etc.

If you could have dinner with any athlete or historical figure, who would it be and why?

If I could have dinner with an athlete I’d choose Roger Federer. The first reason is he plays one of the most beautiful games of tennis out of everyone I’ve seen. I would love to ask about his technique. He’s also exceptionally smart with his business decisions and has mental toughness on the court. There’s a lot to learn from him for tennis, business and just making good decisions.

Is there a quote, motto or anyone that inspires you?
My coach before a game once told us to “win ugly”. It really resonated with me, because you cannot possibly play every game the way you want or as well as you want. Sometimes you need to get uncomfortable and gritty and do whatever it takes to win.

How do you spend your free time?

Whenever I have free time it’s spent practicing tennis, hanging out with friends or playing video games.

Do you have any pre game habits/rituals or superstitions?
Every gameday I always make sure to get the school nachos. They’re in my opinion the best entree from our school lunch and I feel like they give me the best energy boost for my matches.

Favorite music genre or song?
My favorite song is “Glad You Came” because it holds a lot of memories from my childhood. I remember hearing it on the radio after little league games or going out for ice cream and the song just reminds me of the great times of my childhood.

Favorite game day meal or drink?

My favorite game day drink is pedialyte. The electrolytes and benefits are really a game changer during a match.

What lessons from sports do you think you’ll carry into your life after highschool?
One of the biggest lessons that I’ll carry from sports into my life is the importance of responsibility and teamwork. It is vital to have integrity and humility to improve and grow. I have also gotten to learn just how effective teamwork is and how it can really achieve just about anything.

What excites, or scares you, the most about your future after high school?
The ability to go wherever whenever after high school is exciting, but the idea of having almost no structure set up in my life is a little daunting.

Future Plans? (college, major, career, etc.)
In the future I plan to pursue veterinary medicine at UW-River Falls and then go on to become a veterinarian.