By Ken Hansard
Webb City High School senior guard and student / athlete Kirra Long spoke to VYPE SPORTS in a recent interview. Unfortunately, Kirra recently suffered a season ending injury, tearing both her ACL and meniscus.
VYPE SPORTS: What are your personal goals for the year?
Long: My personal goal this year is to get through surgery strong and have a solid and helpful rehabilitation time to get back to playing again.
VYPE SPORTS: What is your favorite athletic memory?
Long: My favorite team memory was our first summer float trip with the whole team.
VYPE SPORTS: What teammate has left the biggest impression on you and why?
Long: My former teammate, Kate Brownfield, left the biggest impact on me as a player. She took me under her wing when I was a freshman and sophomore and made me a better player and person.
VYPE SPORTS: What is your favorite part of being on this team?
Long: My favorite thing about this team is the love we have for each other. It doesn’t matter about the outcome of the game, we never get harsh towards each other. We learn, adjust, and keep a respectful relationship with one another.
VYPE SPORTS: What clubs, community groups, or campus groups are you involved with and why?
Long: I play volleyball, basketball, and soccer. I am also a part of National Honors Society, Student Council, Cadet Teaching, and I am the Student Body President of Webb City High School.
VYPE SPORTS: What accolades (in any sport or activity) are you most proud of?
Long: The accolade I am most proud of is receiving All Conference honors for my junior year of soccer. I was proud of this because soccer is fairly new to me and not my first sport, so receiving this honor meant a lot to me.
VYPE SPORTS: What has your sport taught you that you use in your daily life?
Long: This sport has taught me to never take things for granted. There have been days I’ve complained about practice and being tired. However, now that I’m out for the rest of my senior season, I’d give anything for one more minute on the court. This is why basketball has taught me to appreciate every aspect of life and enjoy it while I have it.
VYPE SPORTS: What is the best advice that anyone has given you?
Long: While that would be pretty difficult to narrow down, just about anything my mom tells me is good advice.
VYPE SPORTS: Who inspires you and why?
Long: Coach Stauffer inspires me because she has always had more belief in me than I had in myself. She constantly encourages and supports me while also being real with me. I am a better player and person because of Coach Stauffer, and I am very blessed to have been coached by such an inspiring person.
VYPE SPORTS: Here is your chance to give a shout out or say thank you to anyone you wish.
Long: Thank you to my whole family. They constantly support me, especially my mom and dad. I love you guys!
