Ashland Oredockers senior Austin Vyskocil is as successful in the classroom as he is on the fields, rinks, and courts where he competes athletically. With a discipline and passion that he will carry with him next fall as a freshman at The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Vyskocil made time to share some insights from his high school experiences and his future plans with the Ashland Daily Press.
Question: You’ve played tennis, hockey, and soccer. Tennis is an odd fit that you’re really good at. Which sport provided you with a great moment?
Answer: My favorite sports moment was at state last year for tennis. We were in Madison and we were playing Baldwin-Woodville in the first round. Two weeks before this moment we had lost to them pretty badly so it was really amazing when we were able to go beat them in front of a huge crowd and a lot of my family members. It was the best match we had ever played and the stadium we were at (UW-Natatorium) had a great atmosphere. That win showed that our hard work, dedication and practice was finally paying off. The moment was even better because when I was young I remember watching my sisters play in that stadium and I told myself someday I would make it there too. We were the first Ashland tennis team to win a match at state since my sister did six years before. I felt like I was really representing Ashland High School.
Q: If you could do anything different during your high school years, what would (those things) be?
A: I wish that I began taking college classes earlier in my life. The high school has a really great and supportive program that allows you to take college classes for free while you are still in school. Also — I would tell myself to enjoy every single day because it goes by much faster than you’d expect.
Q: Who inspires you, and why?
A: All of my youth coaches inspired me to become a better athlete and a better leader. They volunteered so many hours every week to help me and my teammates and often were never recognized for it.
Q: What is next for you, upon graduation?
A: Next semester I will be going to St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minn., to major in exercise physiology and pursue a doctorate in physical therapy. I am hoping to play sports there too. Before that, my goal is to finish the year off strong and return to state for tennis in this season — then make the St. Scholastica soccer team this fall.
Q: Let’s talk about training for three seasons of sports ….
A: During the summer I spend multiple days a week at the soccer fields or tennis courts and during my off-seasons I try to go to the gym every day of the week.
Q: Please describe what drives you ....
A: My competitiveness drives me every day because I hate losing or being bad at something.
Q: Please describe what leadership means to you, and how you demonstrate this ….
A: Leadership is someone who has a positive attitude, who stands up for others while still holding them accountable and someone who is willing to mentor and lead by example.
Q: how does it feel to be leaving AHS and the Bay Area?
A: This school has given me many great memories and I’m thankful for all of them. I am going to miss my classmates and the teammates I have grown up playing with. But I am looking forward to starting a new chapter in my life, meeting new people and creating new memories.
Q: Advice to adults working with kids?
A: They should find what type of teaching or coaching motivates a student-athlete the best and try to use that to get the best out of them. Everyone responds differently to different coaching and learning styles.
Q: Please use three words to describe yourself, and three words to describe what you value most in friends/others.
A: I would describe myself as motivated, hardworking and empathetic. I often look for the same traits in my friends.
Q: You’re a terrific student. How do you do it with your busy schedule?
A: I have been very lucky to have understanding bosses, teachers and coaches that allow me to have the time to balance everything in my life together.
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