Feb. 15, 2011
CHICAGO - With the snow covering Chicago slowly beginning to melt and the first pitch at Flames' Field now a mere six weeks away, the UIC softball team returns to action this weekend in Orlando, Fla. for the UCF Invitational. The 2011 squad features four new faces, including freshman outfielder Courtney Heeley. The Glendale, Ariz. Native took a moment to reflect on the first weekend of competition, looking ahead to this weekend's action and her the learning curve involved with surviving a Chicago snowstorm.
How did it feel to be out playing this past weekend?
It was really exciting and exhilarating. We've been working so hard in this first month and then you finally get out on the road for these tournaments...there's such a build-up. But once you get out there, it's really fun.
Being from the West coast, did you have any fans in attendance?
My mom, sisters and a couple of my cousins and some of my previous coaches were out in Vegas. It was really exciting.
How did it feel to be playing outdoors after only practicing inside?
I'm pretty sure every girl on the team would agree with me; just putting on your cleats and being able to step into actual grass is so nice.
How do you refocus on this weekend's contests after opening the season so well?
I think our team is pretty good at getting down to business and doing what we need to do and accomplish what we set out to do. I think that's what helped us the most in the fall. Preseason was really about getting done what we need to, and that was a really helpful thing to learn before going into the winter.
What are your goals for this season?
I want our team to win conference. To get past that and move on to regionals would be awesome. We have a lot of competition on the team, both in the infield and the outfield, so hopefully I keep competing with my teammates and push them while pushing myself and ultimately get on the field.
How did you fare in the blizzard a few weeks back?
I loved it! I was actually expecting more snow, because there is nothing comparable to that in Arizona so I was really expecting the worst. Back in the fall we had a tornado warning one night, and the winds were really crazy. Jenna (teammate Jenna Marsalli) and I have a corner dorm room and I thought the walls were going to snap! So then with the blizzard, I thought it was going to be at the same intensity as the night of the tornado, but with a bunch of snow.
But even with all that snow, it was so much fun. My roommates and I had a huge snowball fight. I made a huge rookie mistake though--I took off my gloves to really pack in the snow really tightly. All the guys we were with were like, "Rule Number One: never take off your gloves!"
Do you have any nicknames?
A lot of people call me "Court".
What's your most prized possession?
My state ring from my sophomore year when my team won the state championship.
Who is your biggest influence?
One of my sisters played softball and I've always strived to be better than her, so she always pushed me to be the best I could be athletically. As a person, she's really genuine and I look up to her a lot. I also admire my previous coaches and my mom and my dad.
In the movie about your life, who would the actress playing you be?
I'm kind of quirky and outgoing, so someone along those lines. I'm not sure who, though!
What's something people don't know about you?
I'm a really competitive person. I love playing racquetball and badminton -random games like that. I also love playing board games; my sisters and I have game night where we invite friends over and it gets really competitive. I'm the little sister that they tell to chill out!
If you were stuck on a desert island, what are the three things you couldn't live without?
Good music, some water...well, I guess I could go without that...but probably a raft, so I could get off and go home!
What's your favorite movie?
I absolutely love Tommy Boy. It's one of my favorite movies ever. That, and Scary Movie - one and two.
What TV shows are you watching?
I recently got really into Its Always Sunny In Philadelphia. It's hilarious, I love it. I almost can't stand to not watch it. That, and the new 90210.
