Posted 03/09/07
Kiersten Henn is a senior outfielder for the UW-Platteville softball team. She is a major who comes from Sauk City, WI, and last season, Henn had a .300 batting average.
What was it like to have (Olympic Gold Medalst) Cat Osterman here and helping with the December clinic at UW-Platteville?
"It was exciting for us to bring in some who is so well known throughout the nation and has had so much success in softball, and in and off the field as well. It drew a lot of different people. We had people coming in from all over the state who wanted to have her there to look at them pitch. It was nice to have her come in and provide that opportunity to the community and for us to see and get to meet her as well. We even had people coming in that day to see if someone called in sick so they could participate."
You are one of two seniors on the team. What is it like to lead such a young team?
"I'm excited. Maggie (Digman) and I have been together for four years now so we have a special little bond with each other and we both play outfield so we are next to each other in the field. I enjoy playing the girls and we are a young team but we are experienced as well, so I fell like we are going to have a good season. In terms of leading them, its not very hard to have to lead them because we don't have to do a lot for them because they have the skills and knowledge of the game. We can sit back and play ball with them and its really nice."
The season starts March 10 in California. How well is the team prepared and how well do you think you'll do?
"We are very excited to go! I think we are pretty prepared to go. It's going to be a change because we are used to going to Florida and its going to be a different caliber of play, which will be our biggest shock. Once we settle into that I think we will play just fine."
You have close to a 4.00 grade-point average. How do you maintain that as well as play softball?
"Time management. I try to maintain a relationship with all of my professors so that if I'm gone, they know I'm gone and they know two weeks ahead of time. Its a lot of time management."
What are your future plans?
"I'm an elementary education major with a special education minor. I will graduate in December of 2007. Future plans… I just got engaged over Christmas, so we are working on a wedding for the summer of 2008 plus finding jobs in an area where we both can work and live."
Interview by SID student assistant Heather Schaufenbil