LP_012419

34 | January 24, 2019 | The Lockport Legend sports
lockportlegend.com
Athlete of the Week
10 Questions
with Jackie Maka
Jackie Maka is a senior at
Lockport Township and a
guard on the girls basketball
team.
What are your impressions
of the Porters
basketball season thus
far?
I think we came into this
season knowing we had a
lot of talent and could be
good, but we’ve played a lot
of new people and in some
of the games, the chemistry
was crazy. But in other
games, we’ve come out with
the talent we’ve had since
the start. Now we want to
get where our potential can
take us.
How long have you
been playing basketball?
I started playing in the
third grade. I thought it
would be cool to join the
D92 team, so I did and I just
enjoyed it.
Do you play any other
sports?
I did, but not anymore. I
played volleyball in sixth
grade and that went until
freshman year. I played softball
for a couple of years
when I was young and even
did cheer for a year. But
since my sophomore year, I
only play basketball.
What is it about the
game of basketball that
makes it the sport for
you?
I love being aggressive
on the court. It’s fun to dive
for balls and get in people’s
faces on defense. It just lets
me be aggressive.
What type of car do you
drive?
A 2015 Honda Civic. It’s
the best car ever. She’s made
it through a lot, is reliable
and I named her Isabella.
That’s because the car is cute
and the name is cute.
Do you do anything to
pump yourself up before
a game?
I listen to my pump-up
music. That ranges from
rap, to country, to 80s pop. I
also get a lot of sugar in my
system. I know people say
that’s bad, but it helps me.
What have you learned
from Lockport girls basketball
coach Dan Kelly?
I’ve learned to never quit,
no matter how tired you are.
He tells me that hustle makes
Randy Whalen/22nd Century Media
up for everything.
What is your spirit
animal?
A panda. Because they
love to eat and sleep and, on
the weekends that’s what I
do. I’ve earned it.
Do you plan on playing
basketball in college?
Nope. I’m going for academic
scholarships. I haven’t
made up my mind where I’m
going yet, but my top choice
now is the University of
Texas in Austin. That is the
top accounting school in the
country.
What is the best thing
about being an athlete
at Lockport?
The pride that I have to be
on the team here. Everyone
knows Lockport Township
High School. It makes me
excited and happy to be a
part of that.
Interview by Freelance Reporter
Randy Whalen
This Week In...
Lockport Township
High School Varsity
Athletics
Girls Basketball
■Jan. ■ 24 host Lincoln-Way
East, 6:30 p.m.
■Jan. ■ 29 at Homewood-Flossmoor,
6:30 p.m.
Boys Basketball
■Jan. ■ 25 host Stagg (Veterans
Night), 6:30 p.m.
■Jan. ■ 29 at Joliet Central,
6:30 p.m.
Girls Bowling
■Jan. ■ 26 at Dixon Invite, 9
a.m. at Plum Hollow
Center
■Jan. ■ 29 at Minooka, 4 p.m.
at Channahon Lanes
Boys Bowling
■Jan. ■ 25 at IHSA State Championship,
TBA
■Jan. ■ 26 at IHSA State Championship,
TBA
Boys Swimming
■Jan. ■ 24 host Homewood-
Flossmoor (Senior Night), 5
p.m.
Dance
■Jan. ■ 25 at IHSA State Championship,
TBD
■Jan. ■ 26 at IHSA State Championship,
TBD
KG cheer team finishes first at state
Submitted by Kelvin Grove
The Kelvin Grove cheerleaders
began practicing
skills back in May to prepare
for the 2019 IESA State
Cheerleading Competition
that was held on Jan. 12 at
the Peoria Civic Center, and
it paid off as the Hornets
took home first place.
The girls worked hard to
gain new skills and improve
their routine performance.
They faced and overcame
many challenges during the
season. They were supposed
to be competing against 37
other teams in the Small
Routine Division at State,
but due to a severe snow
storm on Jan. 12, several
teams dropped out of the
competition. The Hornets
ended up competing against
22 other teams. They gave a
near flawless performance at
State and brought home the
first-place trophy.
The title gives the KG
Cheer program eight IESA
State Cheerleading titles to
date. The Hornets have performed
at all 18 IESA Cheer
Competitions, receiving a
Top 10 finish all 18 years.
The program has three second-place
finishes and two
third-place finishes.
The team’s competitions
this season included: Wilmington
Spiritline Competition,
fourth place; Reed-
Custer Comet Invitational,
second place; Northpole Invitational
at Lincoln-Way
East, first place; Joliet West
Cheerfest, second place.
The Hornets are coached
by Karli Morrone. Volunteer
coaches are Rachel Maida,
Lynn Krumlinde and Adri
Sosa. Jenny Krumlinde is
the team choreographer.
The Kelvin Grove cheerleading team took first place Jan. 12 at the IESA State Cheerleading
Competition at the Peoria Civic Center. Photo submitted