Winter Sports Q&A – Part 3

Winter sports have arrived in the Ellwood City area.

Basketball, Swimming, and Hockey are among the popular sports for students this year. We caught up with the athletes of those teams to see what they are doing to prepare for the upcoming rivalries, to offer some perspective on the season ahead and their plans for the future.

This is part three of a three part series featuring area athletes in winter sports.

Yesterday we published Winter Sports Q&A – Part 2 and on Wednesday, we published Winter Sports Q&A – Part 1

Craig Patterson

School you attend? Lincoln High School

Sport? Ice Hockey

Grade? 12th

How many years have you have participated? 7 years on Wilmington

What do you feel is your biggest strength? Ability to let things go and clear my mind

What is your favorite part of it? Family aspect of being a team

Who do you feel is your biggest rivalry this upcoming season? Neshanock for sure

What has been your favorite memory been over the years? Beating Burrel in overtime my sophomore year

What is one thing that you have learned through your participation in sports that will carry with you through your life? What you put in is what you get out of things

What are your future plans after graduation? Attend a 4-year school for finance

Do you plan to continue to play sports after high school? Yes, if the opportunity presents itself.

Nicklas DePaoli

School you attend? Lincoln

Sport? Swimming

Grade? 12

How many years have you have participated? 4

What is your favorite part of it? Competing at meets

Who do you feel is your biggest rivalry this upcoming season? Beaver Area

What has been your favorite memory been over the years? The bus rides from meets after winning the section twice. But states was a fun experience

What is one thing that you have learned through your participation in sports that will carry with you through your life? That there’s going to be someone better than you no matter how hard you try. It’s just going to be if you try to get them or let them have it.

What are your future plans after graduation? Either the Airforce or a four-year college

Do you plan to continue to play sports after high school? Yes, I’d like to continue running in college if I get the choice.

Aiden Baker

School you attend? I attend Lincoln High School

Sport? Swimming

Grade? 12th Grade

How many years have you have participated? I’ve participated in swimming for 3 years, but I have been on the club team for longer

What do you feel is your biggest strength? My biggest strength is my faith in Jesus

What is your favorite part of it? My favorite part of swimming is the sibling like bond I’ve made with everyone.

Who do you feel is your biggest rivalry this upcoming season? Our biggest rivalry this year is likely Beaver.

What has been your favorite memory been over the years? My favorite memory is finally making my first ever MAC time in the 500 freestyle, after missing the time by a hair multiple other meets.

What is one thing that you have learned through your participation in sports that will carry with you through your life? One thing I’ve learned: Talk to people. You never know how someone could be feeling until you say something to them.

What are your future plans after graduation? My plans for after graduation are mostly undecided. I would like to go to trade school to practice welding however.

Do you plan to continue to play sports after high school? I would like to swim after high school, but I will not be able to if I do not attend a college