Athlete Spotlight: James Wood High School girls' basketball player Amanda Christian

Walt Moody The Winchester Star

Amanda Christian

James Wood High School 17-year-old senior

Sport: Basketball. Position: Shooting guard

Parents: Febra and Mike Christian. Hometown: Winchester

Nicknames: People call me Mander or Mander 9. That was my volleyball number and my lucky number, too.

What do you love about basketball: I love the team aspect and the energy with everyone playing together. We’re really reliant on the team aspect.

Most memorable moment in basketball: My freshman year when I was playing JV, we were playing Luray which was a tough JV team. We were down by 10 or 15 at halftime. In the third and fourth quarters, I hit a lot of threes and I finished with 32 points out of like the 40 our team had and we won the game.

Three people you can have dinner with, dead or alive: [New Orleans Saints coach] Sean Payton, because I want to pick his brain and give him some suggestions; Ellen DeGeneres, because she is a strong independent woman and a lot of fun to talk with and my dad’s mother [Barbara Christian], she passed away when I was in fifth grade and we were really were close. I’d like to talk to her again. We called her Mom-Mom.

Food you can’t do without: Cheesecake. It’s really good. I like baking and I like trying different types. I like crazy exotic types.

Favorite superhero: Captain America, I just really love the actor (Chris Evans).

Favorite teacher: Mrs. [Tracy] Tanger, she was my teacher for Spanish 2 and 3. I’m the Spanish Club president, so we’ve really maintained a great relationship. I talk to her all of the time and she gives me advice. I went to Costa Rica with her. She was one of the advisors for that. We have a personal connection outside the classroom, too.

Favorite athlete: Drew Brees

Favorite team: New Orleans Saints

Favorite movie: “The Notebook”

Favorite TV show: “One Tree Hill”

Favorite song: “Dancing With Myself” by Billy Idol

Favorite ice cream flavor: Vanilla bean

Plans after college: I’d like to attend James Madison and get a degree in communications with a concentration in public relations. I hope to have a career in a PR firm or with a sports team like the Saints.

— Compiled by Walt Moody