Winchester Star Athlete Spotlight: Eleanor Kent

September 6, 2011

ELEANOR KENT

James Wood High School 17-year-old senior

Position: Rightside

Hometown: I moved from Round Hill when I was seven to Winchester

Nickname: Some people call me "El" or "Elle G" because my middle name is Grace.

When you started playing volleyball :I started playing in fifth grade. My mom wanted me to try a volleyball camp and I didn't do so bad at it. Some of my friends were there and I just started playing after that.

What you love about volleyball: I'm a very competitive person, so I really enjoy that aspect of the game. And it's all about teamwork. Without the other five players on the court or the other 10 players on the bench there is no volleyball, so the team aspect is really great.

Biggest strength and weakness in volleyball: I think my biggest strength is I work well with others and I'm a natural-born leader. And probably my weakness is sometimes I let things get to me and I get frustrated with myself.

Sport you always wanted to try: Football. My brother played and my family is a big football family.

Most memorable moment in volleyball: It was a game against Millbrook my sophomore year when we beat them at their place on their senior night. The game went to five games and I think the fifth game was 16-14, so it was really close and we all cried when it was over. It was pretty crazy.

Most embarrassing moment in volleyball: During the first day of practice last year coach was having us shuffle from one direction to the other and about two minutes into the drill I stepped on my foot and went down like a tree falling in the forest.

Favorite athlete: Michael Jordan

Favorite sports team: Green Bay Packers

Three people you would have dinner with, dead or alive: Clay Matthews (Packers linebacker), Jason Aldean (Country singer) and Tom Hanks (actor).

Favorite quote: "If you don't stand for something you'll fall for anything"

Favorite subject in school: Sociology. I'm very opinionated, so I like to talk about it.

What's on the iPod: Lots of country and there's some rap for volleyball season.

Pregame routine/ritual: Our team is kind of crazy, we sing the song ["Shout"] at the top of our lungs in a little circle in the hallway while the JV is still finishing and then we go into singing "Ain't No Mountain High Enough".

Plans after high school: I do plan on attending college. Not sure where at this moment, but I'm looking at Virginia Tech and JMU. I want to go to a big school.