Athlete Q&A: Princeton's Zach Anderson

In Brief:

Zach Anderson is a senior captain on the Princeton Tigers soccer team. The Tigers won a regional championship last year and are looking to improve on that postseason goal this year. Currently, the Tigers are 8-1-1 on the season with regionals coming up in one month.

CC: What do you like and enjoy about soccer?
ZA: I just love the fact that there's no breaks. You're always thinking. You're always on your feet. It can go one way or another. But usually in soccer, the better team wins. It's not always true for other sports.

CC: What do you think makes it better than any other sport?
ZA: I'd probably say the hustle of the people. It's similar to basketball, because people who play basketball hustle as well, but just the people give everything they got for almost every game, and it's great to play with them.

CC: How did you first get involved in soccer?
ZA: I've been brought up in soccer. I've been playing since kindergarten, since I was this tall (puts out hand face down next to hip). My older sisters played, too, so it just kind of came with it.

CC: This is your primary sport, isn't it?
ZA: It's my favorite sport. It's my best sport.

CC: Do you have college plans after high school?
ZA: Maybe intermurals, but I'm not thinking because I'm looking at going to a D-1 school. I'm probably not going to play D-1 soccer. Maybe for fun.

CC: If you had any one moment from your high school career to date that you are most proud of, what would it be?
ZA: Hopefully a future one, if I am valedictorian. I've got a 4.0 right now. Hopefully that will be good enough for valedictorian if I keep it up. I'll be most proud of that, to be honest.

CC: Balancing sports and athletics is a tedious task, but how do you go about doing it?
ZA: There's a lot of time to sacrifice with friends and stuff, because I'm either at sports or i'm doing homework.

CC: What are your goals for this season?
ZA: So far we've been doing real well this year. We played Sterling, and they beat us pretty badly last year; now we tied them. I'm optimistic. We played Rock Island (on Aug. 31) and competed with them pretty well. So I'm hoping at least being a regional champion, maybe sectionals hopefully? Maybe further.

CC: Describe your role on this team.
ZA: As a captain, my main job is to keep everyone cool. Some people get hot-headed sometimes, and I just try to keep people out of trouble.

CC: What's been the biggest improvement since your freshman year when it comes to playing soccer?
ZA: I'd say ball control. My ability to one-touch pass something pretty accurately has improved a lot for me.

CC: What's been the best soccer advice given to you?
ZA: Keep cool.

CC: Finish this sentence about yourself: Other than soccer, no one can beat me at ...
ZA: It sounds corny, but I'd have to say academics.

CC: If there was one rule in soccer that you would like to see changed, what would it be?
ZA: Maybe if people could go out-of-bounds when the ball is in the air and save it, as long as they keep it off the ground. I think that would be a nice rule to have.

FAVORITES

Favorite place to eat at - Los Ranchitos

Musical artist - Seether

TV show - House

Class in school - Anatomy

High school rival - Hall

Pro athlete - Cristiano Ronaldo
Pro sports team - Chicago Bears

Athlete Q&A: Rockford East's Sean Miller

In brief:

Sean Miller is a senior golfer from Rockford East. He kicked off the 2013 season with a win at the Boylan Invitational at Ledges Golf course in Roscoe on Aug. 19. Miller has been a sectional qualifier in each of the past three seasons, and qualified for the IHSA Class 2A State Meet during his freshman year.


CC - What do you like and enjoy about golf?
SM - Golf is a challenge. I'm always trying to improve. It's a lot of fun.

CC - What do you think makes golf better than any other sport?
SM - Because you can also be part of a team and compete as an individual. So you can have personal success and team success, which is more rewarding than just having the one.

CC - How did you first get involved in golf?
SM - My dad got me started when I was about five or six.

CC - What do you think is one moment from your high school career to date that you're most proud of?
SM - Making it to State in a 6-man playoff my freshman year.

CC - What was that experience like?
SM - It was unreal. Just so nervous. I had to hit last and ended up advancing on the first hole. It was great. I was feeling it.

CC - Do you have any goals for this season?
SM - Just to continue to improve and end up getting back to the State level.

CC - Describe your role on this E-Rab Golf team.
SM - I try to be a leader and to be an inspiration to the rest of the players.

CC - What do you think has been the biggest improvement in your golfing since your freshman year?
SM - Definately my mental attitude. I'm not beating myself up over each and every bad swing I make, and just knowing how I missed and how I can get away with it when I do miss.

CC - What has been the best golf advice given to you?
SM - Swing, go find it, and get it back in play.

CC - Finish this sentence about yourself: Other than golf, no one can beat me at ...
SM - Academics. I'm in the top 3% in my class. That's something I pride myself on.

CC - Balancing athletics and academics is tough. How do you go about doing that?
SM - It's always been academics. It's a priviledge to be able to play sports. If you don't have the grades, there's no chance your going to play.

CC - If there was one rule in golf that you'd like to see changed, what would it be?
SM - Being able to pat down spike marks on the greens. Someone could draw a circle around the hole with their foot, and you can't do anything about it.


FAVORITES

Place to eat at - Stone Eagle
Musical artist - Brantley Gilbert
TV Show - That 70's Show
Class in school - Math
High School Rival - Danny Gorman of Boylan
Golf Course (other than your own) - Illinois State University
Pro athlete - Rory McIlroy
Pro sports team - Cincinatti Reds