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frankfortstation.com sports
the frankfort station | May 9, 2019 | 41
Athlete of the Week
10 Questions
with Wil McPhillips
Wil McPhillips is a senior
on the Lincoln-Way East
boys volleyball team.
How long have you
played volleyball
and how did you get
started?
I started in eighth grade
for Summit Hill. I started
playing club halfway
through my freshman year.
My sister (Sarah) used to
play, so I thought it’d be
cool if I started playing,
too.
So, you got a pretty
late start then, not
playing until eighth
grade. Were you just a
natural at the sport?
In eighth grade, I actually
didn’t play at all. I
sat on the bench for my
team at Summit Hill. Playing
football my freshman
year I think helped with
my conditioning and then
I played on the sophomore
team my freshman year
and that’s when I started
getting good.
What was it like
being part of a state
champion team last
year?
It was awesome. Being
the runner-up the year
before was a good experience,
too. I got to play
with a lot of great guys on
those teams and I learned
a lot. The biggest thing is
to not dwell on anything
and just worry about the
next point.
You’ve moved to
outside hitter this year
and are putting up
huge numbers. What’s
that been like?
It’s been fun. Middle
is what I’m going to play
in college and it’s what
I’ve played the most, but
outside gives me some
opportunities to get more
touches on the ball, so it’s
been fun.
You guys had a huge
tournament win at
your own Lincoln-Way
East Invite (on April
25). Do you feel like
the team is starting to
play at the level you
want to be at?
Yes, absolutely. Practices
are getting a lot more
competitive and that helps
a lot, too.
If you could be anyone
else for a day, who
would you want to
be?
I’d probably be (Lincoln-Way
East coach Kris
Fiore). I’d just want to see
what he deals with on a
daily basis.
What have you
learned playing from
coach Fiore?
He always preaches, especially
when it comes to
playoff time, ‘Next ball’
and the three-second rule.
You have three seconds to
celebrate and then it’s on
to the next point.
Steve Millar, 22nd Century
Media
You’re stranded on a
deserted island and
can have an endless
supply of one food.
What do you pick?
I’d go with chili cheese
dip and lemon-lime tortilla
chips.
If they were making a
movie about your life,
who should play you?
LeBron James. He’s a
freak athlete and I want to
be a freak athlete like him
when I’m like 30 years
old.
Do you have any
hidden talents?
I play the drums. I’ve
played since I was 5 or 6
years old. I’ve never really
had lessons or anything
like that. I just have fun,
messing around, playing
what I feel like playing.
It’s cool.
Interview conducted by
Sports Editor Steve Millar