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Prior Lake's two-sport 'belieber'

By Star Tribune, 11/22/11, 6:25PM CST

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Molly Simpkins is set to begin her senior year as a guard on the Prior Lake girls' basketball team. Simpkins also played soccer for the Lakers in the fall.


Molly Simpkins

Molly Simpkins is set to begin her senior year as a guard on the Prior Lake girls' basketball team. Simpkins also played soccer for the Lakers in the fall.

Here is a closer look at Simpkins:

The best movie I've seen in the past year? " Justin Bieber: Never Say Never." I am an avid belieber. He is an awesome inspiration to me.

Three songs I never skip on my iPod are ... "Next to You" by Chris Brown; "It Girl" by Jason Derulo; "Whoomp (There It Is)" by Tag Team.

Three words my friends or teammates might use to describe me? Blunt, determined, goofy.

Favorite meal before a game? No. 9 Italian Night Club from Jimmy John's ... so good!

How do you balance school and sports during the year? I think being involved in sports actually helps me to manage my time better and more effectively, so that I am never cramming to finish an assignment or study at the last second. Being proactive and doing homework the day it is given and not the night before it's due (if it's a long assignment) is my best strategy.

How did you get started playing the sports you play now in high school? I have played basketball and soccer since I was about 4 or 5. I have always had a passion for these sports.

At my first varsity practice, I felt ... so intimidated and overwhelmed. Everyone was so much older, and it made me question my own abilities.

What did you work on in the offseason to prepare for 2011-12? The offseason for me has been a ton of strength work, especially in my legs because of my prior knee injuries. Our basketball team has really focused on agility and strength as well in the offseason. Our team has been playing basketball in the offseason really since school started in September. In preparation for the soccer season, we had a six-week workout packet that almost every player followed strictly. This paid off handsomely for our team because we did not have to waste precious time getting in shape during the season.

What are your goals for the 2011-12 school year as an athlete? I want to remember my senior season and just enjoy athletics. I would love to see our basketball team advance to state this year, so that will probably be the top of my priority list this winter. I also want to leave a legacy of great character and work ethic with my teammates and other athletes in the school.

If you could change one thing about high school sports, what would it be? That free admission would be given to all students. This would increase support for all sports, students just don't have an endless supply of money.

When you have time off during vacation, what do you like to do? I love just hanging out with my friends either on the lake or at someone's house. I also love to do scavenger hunts with my friends. It's dorky, but they're so much fun!

Do you have a secret talent -- and if so, what is it? I can talk in a really good Czechoslovakian accent, or at least I think it's good.

In 10 years, I hope I'm ... settled down with a loving husband and kids with a career that I love pertaining to some sort of engineering.

RON HAGGSTROM

 

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