March 28, 2024
Sports - Kane County


Sports

Female Most Valuable Athlete: Zoey Kollhoff

Name: Zoey Kollhoff

School: Burlington Central, senior

Sport: Basketball

Why she was selected: Kollhoff had eight rebounds, four assists, three points, two steals and two blocked shots in the Rockets' regional final victory over St. Francis. Chronicle sports reporter Jacob Bartelson caught up with Kollhoff to discuss her performance and more. Below is an edited transcript.

Bartelson: You're not usually the high scorer, but you do a lot else well. How much pride do you take in that role?

Kollhoff: I take a lot of pride in being a player who does a lot of the dirty work. It doesn’t always look pretty and you don’t always get lots of attention for it, but those are the things that are important to helping my team win games.

Bartelson: Do you think it sets an example for others to follow?

Kollhoff: I think it sets a great example for how to approach each game. I’m not afraid to dive on the ground or throw my body at a rebound, and I want others to hopefully play like that, too. I like to focus on the little things and I think it shows that it’s OK to work behind the scenes while on the floor.

Bartelson: How has basketball made you a more complete athlete alongside soccer?

Kollhoff: Playing soccer and basketball at the same time really helped my quickness and agility, as well as becoming more composed in tight situations. I’m a pretty competitive and aggressive soccer player, and I think that basketball has really forced me to dial in on those qualities as well.

Bartelson: Is there a professional or college athlete you look up to? Why?

Kollhoff: I have been a New York Yankees fan my entire life and have always looked up to Derek Jeter. I think the way he carries himself on and off the field and his competitiveness is the perfect athlete to try and model myself after. He’s a great teammate and has just made a huge impact on the way I carry myself.