MK_031419

34 | March 14, 2019 | the mokena messenger sports
mokenamessenger.com
This Week In...
Lincoln-Way Co-op
Athletics
Boys Lacrosse
■March ■ 18 - hosts Oak
Park-River Forest, 7:30 p.m.
■March ■ 20 - hosts
Minooka, 7:30 p.m.
Girls Lacrosse
■March ■ 19 - hosts Benet
Academy, 7:30 p.m.
■March ■ 20 - hosts Metea
Valley, 7:30 p.m.
Knights Varsity
Athletics
Boys Water Polo
■March ■ 14 - hosts Bremen,
5 p.m.
■March ■ 16 - at Hinsdale
South Invitational, 9 a.m.
■March ■ 19 - hosts
Sandburg, 5 p.m.
Girls Water Polo
■March ■ 14 - at Bremen, 6
p.m.
■March ■ 15 - at Naperville
North Invite, 4:30 p.m.
■March ■ 16 - at Naperville
North Invite, 9 a.m.
■March ■ 19 - at Sandburg,
5 p.m.
Boys Track and Field
■March ■ 15 - at SWSC
Indoor Invite (at Lockport),
4:30 p.m.
Girls Track and Field
■March ■ 16 - at SWSC
Indoor Invite (at Lockport),
10 a.m.
Boys Volleyball
■March ■ 20 - hosts
Minooka, 5:30 p.m.
Girls Soccer
■March ■ 14 - hosts Windy
City Classic, TBA
■March ■ 16 - hosts Windy
City Classic, 10 a.m.
■March ■ 19 - at Windy City
Classic TBA
■March ■ 21 - hosts Marist,
6:15 p.m.
Baseball
■March ■ 14 - at Plainfield
Central, 4:30 p.m.
■March ■ 15 - hosts Marist,
4:30 p.m.
Softball
■March ■ 16 - hosts
Naperville North, 10 a.m.
■March ■ 19 - hosts
Providence, 4:30 p.m.
■March ■ 20 - at Tinley Park,
4:30 p.m.
Badminton
■March ■ 14 - hosts fourteam
round robin, 4:30 p.m.
■March ■ 16 - at Addison
Trail Invite, 9 a.m.
■March ■ 19 - hosts Lincoln-
Way East, 4:30 p.m.
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Athlete of the Week
10 Questions
with Joan Buch
Joan Buch is a senior exchange student
from Gelida, Spain on the Lincoln-Way
Central boys basketball team
How’d you get started in
basketball?
I started when I was 9 years old. I decided
to start playing because one day I
saw on the news about LeBron James.
He’s why I play basketball. My whole
life I played soccer because in Spain it’s
the popular sport. So, I saw LeBron and I
started playing basketball.
What’s your favorite memory of
the sport?
When I was in Spain, my team went to
the finals. We almost beat the best team,
but we came in second place. Also, the
Senior Night from Lincoln-Way Central.
If you could switch places with
anyone for a day, who would it be
and why?
Dwyane Wade because he’s one of
LeBron’s best friends. So, the relationship
and how they play basketball together and
how the people admire the way they play
is amazing. I also admire Dwyane Wade.
What’s the biggest difference
between American and European
basketball?
It’s a huge difference. When I came here
the defense was crazy. It is still basketball,
but there are some rules that are different.
We don’t have 1-on-1 and the players can
call timeout. We have 44 seconds for possession
of the ball… It is more fast here
[in the U.S.]
What are you currently binge
watching?
I usually watch more NBA games.
When I was in Spain, I would wake up at
4 a.m. to see the games, and now I can just
stay up until 7 p.m. and watch the NBA
games. So, yeah, I’m just watching NBA
games every day.
22nd Century Media file photo
Who would you choose for a dream
3-on-3 team?
LeBron James and Kevin Durant.
If you could have dinner with
anyone, then who would it be and
why?
Barack Obama. When I was in Spain,
all of the people loved him when he was
president. I think he’s cool.
What would be the first thing
you’d buy if you won the lottery?
A huge house for my family, everything
that they want. I have everything because
of them, so I will give everything to them.
Do you have any superstitions or
rituals before a game?
I have a wristband on my arm, and before
the games I put it inside my sock. It’s
important to me. It’s from my best friend in
Spain. Another ritual I have is I don’t put
on my playing T-shirt before the game. I
warm up without my T-shirt and then 30
seconds before the game starts I put it on.
What advice do you have for
younger players?
Work every day, every single day. You
have to train your mind and be ready for
the season, for everything that’s coming
in the season. And always be happy and
enjoy the game.
Interview conducted by T.J. Kremer III, Editor