Senior spotlight: Makayla Krall a personality and leader for Stratford volleyball team
STRATFORD - The Tigers made a deep postseason run last year, reaching the WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinal.
Stratford begins this season with lofty expectations, ranked No. 2 in Division 3 in the first Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association state poll, which was released earlier this week.
Makayla Krall is a reason for the optimism with the Tigers program.
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The middle hitter was a unanimous all-Marawood Conference-South Division selection last fall and is part of a talented returning group for Stratford.
"She is one of our captains but has been a leader for us even before this year," Stratford coach Brooke Kafka said Wednesday. "Her ability to keep things light while still pushing her teammates to be their best is probably one of her best abilities. She is kind of a 'good' but she gives 100 percent. She is not really tall but can jump through the roof, so she plays really, really well in the middle for us."
Krall recently sat down with USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin to talk about her top sports memory, her interest in astronomy and her pregame rituals among other topics.
Do you have a nickname or what do your friends and/or teammates call you?
MK. It started in freshman year of volleyball. There were two Makaylas on the team and I was known as MK.
Is there something that most people might not know about you, or any hidden talents?
I love looking at the stars.
What would you say is your most memorable sports moment?
Winning regionals last year (in volleyball) because we had never done that before. There is a (team) picture from that (night) that is in the entrance to our locker room. It was one of the greatest moments ever.
What would you say your most embarrassing sports moment is?
In basketball, during my sophomore year, we were doing the 6-minute layup (drill). It was a full-out sprint ... the ball got under my feet (off a pass) and I ended up falling and slid about 7 feet on the ground.
Do you have any interesting pregame rituals or traditions?
Before every game, I have to eat two bananas and drink four water bottles in order to be good for the game. Every single game I will know if my mom is there or not, I will look for her.
Who is your celebrity crush?
Channing Tatum.
Where is your dream vacation?
Hawaii. My brother went last spring and said he absolutely loved it.
What is your dream career?
I want to be a nurse practitioner. My mom is a home hospice nurse and she has always been my inspiration for that.
Favorites
Sport: Volleyball
Pro or college athlete: (Former Wisconsin volleyball player) Haleigh Nelson. I went to the Badgers camp last summer and she just helped me a lot with my swing, approach, back row and everything.
Musical group or artist: Charlie Puth.
TV show: "Pretty Little Liars"
Movie: "The Best of Me"
Food: Anything that is pasta, so I love spaghetti. I also love mashed potatoes