Author: Andrew Pekarek, USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Green Bay Press Gazette)
Toni Champion has an outgoing personality.
The Green Bay Southwest senior also has the tendency to shut people out when she takes her spot on the soccer pitch.
“There are not a lot of girls who will sign up to do what Toni does,” Green Bay Southwest girls soccer coach Tyler Thomas said. “There are not a lot of girls that are excited to have balls shot at them at 50 to 60 miles per hour, so she’s been great for us all four years.”
Champion, a four-year starting goalkeeper, was a big reason the Trojans finished as the WIAA Division 2 state runners-up last year.
When not occupying the net, the three-sport athlete is active in school, participating in DECA, French Club, Key Club and yearbook.
Champion discusses her team’s goal of returning to state this season, snowmobiling and what it means to be a champion in this week’s Senior Spotlight.
Do you have the heart of a champion?
Yeah, I guess so. It’s definitely a fun last name to have as an athlete. Even if I take second place, it always says Champion on the back of my (warm-up) shirt.
Why do you feel your team can return to state this year?
It’s a big advantage that we basically have our whole team returning and have additional players coming on with freshmen and other players that joined this year. I think they’re all going to be a major key in helping us this year get first instead of second. We all have the same goal. I think the biggest key is using everybody together instead of focusing on just the defense or just the offense or the midfield or me. We all work together.
How has playing your home games on a synthetic surface helped you?
I think most players like turf more than grass. But I especially like it being a goalie because balls don’t take weird bounces before they get to you. It’s easier to dive on because it’s a better surface to land on. It’s easier to slide. It’s a night and day difference playing on turf versus grass.
What’s your earliest sports memory?
Probably my first (penalty kick) shootout when I was 7 or 8. It was like in a big mud pit. It was probably my second game playing goalie. That’s when I knew I wanted to play goalie for the rest of my (career).
How did you become a goalie?
My club coach used to use it as a punishment because nobody really wanted to play back there. For some reason, I got put back there and since that game I’ve kind of loved it and went to camps and trained to be a goalie.
What’s your most embarrassing sports moment?
I think it was my freshman or sophomore year against De Pere. I whiffed a ball that got dropped back to me and it was a goal. The girl just got the goal from me.
Do you get lonely in net during games where you don’t face many shots on goal because your defense is playing great?
I try to talk to my defenders a lot to keep my mind focused because you can definitely easily get off track back there. I basically can hear everything from everywhere back there, like in the stands and from the coaches. I can hear everything they say, so it’s fun eavesdropping.
What was your best individual performance?
The (Appleton) Xavier game my sophomore year I (faced) a lot of shots on goal (24 saves). We ended up going into (double) overtime and at that point it was golden goal, so when a goal is scored the game ends. Paige Pierce scored on a header off of a cross, which is pretty exciting to know that many saves kept us in the game.
What was it like getting to play with your older sister, Sydney?
Since she was in the back line, I was always communicating with her. Even after the games, it was just another great bonding experience with my sister.
What side of the family did you get your athletic genes from?
Both my parents were pretty athletic in high school. … My mom was a basketball player. My dad was football, tennis and basketball. They are both from Upper Michigan. My dad went to NMU, and my mom went to Michigan Tech. As a kid, we would always go up to the (Upper Peninsula) for winters because there is so much more snow for like snowmobiling and stuff.
What’s your favorite brand of snowmobile?
My dad works for Ski-Doo. I’ve been riding since I was literally 2 years old. We would always go up (to the U.P.) every single Christmas and go snowmobiling up there. He works for like the more general of the company, so during the summer we get to ride Sea-Doos and ride four-wheelers and stuff.
What career do you want to pursue at UW-Milwaukee?
Nursing. I had an ACL tear my eighth-grade year and ever since that, I knew I wanted to go into something medical or something like that.
Clare Zakowski said you were the loudest person on the basketball team. Did you step up your game in that regard to replace the bubbly personality of Natisha Hiedeman at school this year?
I guess I’ve always been outgoing and loud. Natisha was on the basketball team, obviously, so we’ve always been close. We have a funny picture (from grade school) and we were playing against each other on the basketball court in some rec league. Ever since then, we’ve hung out and it’s always been a good time.
How would you describe your first and only season of high school golf?
I took golfing lessons when I was younger with my sister and my dad a lot. I work at the golf course at Thornberry, so I was always kind of surrounded by golf. When it came to senior year, I tried it. It wasn’t a good decision. It was memorable, but I definitely was not a standout athlete in that sport.
Which teammate should have their own reality TV show?
Katie Nelson, because you never know what you're going to get with Katie Nelson. She just has her own little way.
Who on the team would you bring on a road trip?
Montana Thomas. She’s fun and she’s my best friend, and we get along really well.
Which teammate could survive on a deserted island?
Probably Katie Rolefson because she’s good in situations like that. She’s very outdoorsy and like adventurous. She’s good at problem solving.
Who is the best-dressed person on the team?
Kaitlyn Schuurmans. She dresses well. When we have to dress up for game day she always has good outfits. Even when she’s not in a dress and heels, she still looks well put together with jeans and a T-shirt.
Who is the most polite person on the team?
Paige Pierce. She always apologizes for things people don’t need to apologize for.
Which teammate would you entrust to take care of your dog?
Our team mom, Connor Jones. He’s our manager. I would definitely trust Connor Jones with our dog. He’s very trustworthy. He’s been my friend since fourth grade.
Who is the messiest person on the soccer team?
Probably myself. (My soccer bag) is full of random stuff that shouldn’t be in there. I guess our whole group, like the seniors, are known for leaving stuff behind since our freshmen year. We’re always the group that leaves warm-ups behind.
Favorites
Subject: Science.
Food: Pasta.
TV show: “Grey’s Anatomy.”
Movie: “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”
Singer: Tha Prophet.
App: Twitter.
Athlete: Tim Howard.
Coach’s comment
“She always brings energy and fun to the team. There is not a girl on the team who doesn’t love Toni. She is very helpful to all the younger girls and takes them under her wing. She was one of the first players last year that embraced our three freshmen that were huge to our state run and became friends with them instantly. Girls have confidence when they’re on the field when they know one of our top players believes in them.”
— Green Bay Southwest girls soccer coach Tyler Thomas
CREDIT: Green Bay Press Gazette