Dennis Semrau covers prep sports for 100.5 ESPN and ESPNWisconsin.com

Kiana Schmitt, Waunakee High School

Year:Senior.

Sports: Volleyball, track and field, basketball.

Sports highlights: Kiana is a three-time letterwinner in volleyball and a three-year starter as a middle blocker. She is a three-time recipient of Badger North Conference first-team honors and is a team-captain as a senior. The Warriors won the Badger Conference title and have advanced to the WIAA Division 1 sectional finals. She earned Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association All-State second-team honors and was named the team’s Most Valuable Player as a junior and helped the Warriors advance to the WIAA Division 1 state tournament. She earned the team’s ‘Most Improved’ award as a sophomore. She is returning letterwinner in track and field, competing in the triple jump and high jump. She is planning to try out for basketball as a senior.

Pre-game ritual or superstition: Before each game, Kaleigh Roepke, Sarah Malone and I hug each other and get ready for the game.

Cumulative GPA: 4.03.

Favorite subject/class: Biology.

Favorite teacher: Madame Thompson, my French teacher.

Quick quote: “You need a lot of hard work and dedication if you want to do really well at something. Also, you should never give up on something that you want.”

Three words to describe me are: Determined, hard-working, kind.

I got my start in sports: Playing soccer in kindergarten and volleyball in fifth grade when I played for the local youth club, Court Time.

I wish I could play: Since eighth grade I have wanted to play basketball again, and this year I am going to play again.

My most memorable moments in sports: Winning the JVA cup in Louisville, Kent. with my club volleyball team.

I like about high school sports: I love that you get to meet people that you may not have without sports. Some of these people end up becoming your closest friends.

I enjoy playing volleyball because: It is a team sport and you rely on your teammates, which is one reason I think our team is so close. You need everyone to win.

Advice: “Do not take anything for granted. Now that I am almost done playing high school volleyball, I realize how fast the seasons have gone.”

My role model is: Maddie Farnsworth.

Most inspirational teammate: Bailey Neuberger.

My family includes: My mom, Shawn, my dad, Aaron, and my sister, Kyla.

Nickname: Ki.

Words to live by: “Life is a gift. Wake up every day and realize that.”

Favorite athlete: Hannah and Paige Tapp.

Favorite team: Creighton volleyball.

Favorite opponent: Hartland Arrowhead.

Favorite facility/site to compete in: Resch Center.

Favorite movie: ‘Mama Mia’.

Favorite TV show: ‘This Is Us’.

Favorite food: Ice cream.

Favorite fast food place and/or restaurant: Panera.

Favorite sport on TV: Volleyball.

Favorite place to visit: Paris.

I want to visit: Nice, France.

Top three favorite songs: ‘Happy Man’; ‘Personal’; ‘Girls Like You’.

Primary news source: Twitter.

Favorite website: Magnolia Market

I drive: A Nissan Murano.

Dream car: A White Range Rover.

I can’t live without: Pasta.

I like Waunakee High School because: There are a lot of opportunities to choose classes and join clubs that pertain to things that you are interested in.

If I could change anything: I would make it so there is no more homework.

I wish we could play: Neenah.

I wish I could meet: Sarah Wilhite, Hannah and Paige Tapp.

Dream date: Going out for a movie and a nice dinner.

Dream gift: Plane tickets to any beach.

Preferred brand of shoe: I love my adidas tennis shoes.

My perfect day: Exploring a European city with my family.

I like to read: Books by John Green.

This and that: Member of National Honor Society and ‘Pay it Forward’ … works part-time at the University Book Store … volunteer work includes vacation bible school, Madison Marathon, Garden of Dreams, taking mission trips with my church in the summer for four years, Food For Kids and Waunakee Neighborhood Connection … member of Superior Honor Roll throughout high school … played for Capitol Volleyball Academy club program for four years … earned an Academic Letter and pin.

Hobbies: I love to paddleboard and kayak on the lake in the summer, and bake with my friends in the winter.

Post-high school plans: I plan to attend Creighton University to continue my volleyball and academic career.

Did you know? I am the tallest girl in my high school

Career goal: I plan to work in the medical field.