The Kent Reporter Athletes of the Week for Oct. 17 are from Kentwood High School; Chance Savini (Jr.) football and Diya Thomas (Sr.) soccer.
What do you value in your sport or about your team?
Savini: One thing I value about football is it helps others get out of their shell and become a family. The team became my family when I stepped on the football field.
Thomas: I value hard work, the ability to take feedback and grow from the feedback.
What have you learned from your sport that you can take with you throughout your life/future?
Savini: The best teacher in life is your own experience. Never take these moments for granted. Time is always ticking.
Thomas: I have learned that no matter how good the opposition is, a group that works together can win on any given day.
What do you do when you aren’t motivated and what helps you stay motivated?
Savini: I think of my future and how much it could help my family. One thing that helps me stay motivated is my Grandparents and how they didn’t get to see me and my siblings grow up.
Thomas: Lacking motivation has never been a problem for me because the idea of winning is what motivates me.
Do you have a favorite pre-game meal?
Savini: My pregame meal would be a 4-for-4 from Wendy’s because it is quick and easy.
Thomas: I usually don’t eat before games.
What advice would you give to a teammate that is struggling?
Savini: If you are struggling don’t give up. Keep fighting until you can’t no more because “We didn’t come this far to only come this far,” Coach Q.
Thomas: Pray about it and play with confidence.
From the sidelines:
Savini: Chance is a great leader on and off the playing field. Not only is he a 3 sport athlete but he also does a lot of community work with his church. Chance had a huge game for Kentwood football, he had 15 tackles, two tackles for loss and an interception. He also plays tight end and quarterback on offense. Chance has really good grades and has shown major improvement in the classroom. Chance is also a varsity captain on our team as a junior
Thomas: Diya is one of the Offensive leaders for our KW Girls soccer team, every game provides an opportunity for Diya to display her dynamic moves that makes her so difficult for defenders to “Try” stop her drive towards the Goal, then once in those dangerous spaces she makes the opposition pay for it. This is shown by her ability to continue being one of the 4A- Leaders in Points and Goals for the second consecutive year and recently broke the Kentwood Hs Girls Scoring Record that was at 39 and currently is at 43. She continues to rewrite history each time she steps on the field!
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