Suburban Life Athlete of the Week: Sophie Sullivan, Willowbrook, basketball, senior

Name: Sophie Sullivan

School: Willowbrook, senior

Sport: Basketball

Why she was selected: Sullivan scored 21 points in a win over her former team Montini and 22 points in a win over Plainfield East.

Sullivan was voted by readers as the Suburban Life Athlete of the Week. Here is her interview with Sports Editor Joshua Welge.

Welge: How did you control your emotions facing your old team for the first time?

Sullivan: I kind of expected the chants, all the noise from the crowd before the game started. I was excited. I know all the old people there. I wasn’t going to take it personally. In big games, I zone all the stuff out. But I’m not going to lie, I was up all night thinking about the game afterward.

Welge: Was it extra fun playing them, or did you just treat it like any other game?

Sullivan: It didn’t feel like a playoff game but the environment, and for who we were playing, it was the biggest win for me. Obviously getting a chance to play against my old team and winning on our home court in front of a huge crowd was fun. I don’t think Willowbrook has ever beaten Montini, so the fact that we made history the second game of the season is pretty cool.

Welge: You had a very successful season last season in your first year at Willowbrook. How is this team looking?

Sullivan: I think we have a lot of potential. We are not the tallest team but the speed and skill is there.

Welge: You committed to SIU-Edwardsville. What made you choose that school?

Sullivan: The campus was beautiful. It had such a home feeling to it. Coach [Samantha] Quigley, I’ve known her since I was younger. She always came to open gyms at Montini when she was coaching at Lewis. She was a point guard in college, so I felt I could learn a lot.

Welge: If you could pick four pro players to join you on a starting five, who would they be?

Sullivan: Derrick Rose. Michael Jordan. Blake Griffin and Lonzo Ball.

Welge: Is there a favorite meal a family member makes?

Sullivan: My mom makes a really good lasagna.