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Prior Lake's Kleist wants 'crowd' to root on girls' sports

By Star Tribune, 04/21/15, 4:11PM CDT

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Senior Rachel Kleist is one of 10 returning players for the Prior Lake softball team.

Senior Rachel Kleist is one of 10 returning players for the Prior Lake softball team. It’s a group that reached the Class 3A, Section 2 finals a year ago before losing to New Prague.

“Our expectations are to win the South Suburban Conference, win the section and compete for a state championship,” Prior Lake coach Matt Haefner said in his season preview. “I believe we have the talent to do so.”

Here is a closer look at Kleist, who also was a member of the Lakers’ girls’ swimming team last fall:

 

Q What is the best movie you have seen in the last year?

A The last movie in the Hobbit trilogy was super good. I’m not even a diehard ‘‘Lord of the Rings’’ fan, but it was very impressive.

 

Q Three words or phrases your friends or teammates would use to describe you are …

A … dedicated, loyal and positive.

 

Q At your first varsity practice, you …

A … felt extremely nervous. I came up for the section team in 2013. I was surrounded by bigger, stronger, and faster athletes and I was afraid to make a mistake or say something stupid. It’s crazy how far I’ve come just in terms of confidence.

 

Q What is your most memorable moment as a high school athlete?

A I think some of the easiest moments of my past to remember are the times where I have lost or failed. The most memorable moment was the 2013 state tournament championship game for softball. I was pulled up for the section team and on the road to state we just kept winning. My first varsity at-bat was against the best pitcher in the state. I struck out. We get to the championship game and coach sticks me in right field for an inning, and after that I watched as our dream was stripped from our hands. That game is something we talk about often, and I think it’s our biggest motivator because we are hungry for redemption. [Elk River defeated the Lakers 4-3 in eight innings.]

 

Q What are your goals for the current softball season?

A As an individual, my goals are always to improve from the year before. But for this season, I strive to be all-conference. I know that’s a long shot, but goals are meant to be hard to attain. As a team, I want to win the conference, section and finally give us some closure and win the state title.

 

Q If you could change one thing about high school sports, what would it be?

A I think there is a lot of emphasis on boys’ athletics probably because those teams make the most money. I want to see a crowd. A crowd that isn’t just parents at a girls’ soccer game or softball game.

 

Q How do you balance school and sports during the year?

A Balancing school and sports is the hardest part of being an athlete. When it comes to school, I do my homework. If it’s game day or sections is coming up, my focus is only on the team and trying to win. For a visual, it’s more of a teeter-totter. Some days it’s all school, some days it’s all sports, and some days it’s both. It’s been working so far.

 

Q Name one sport that you wish you could play, and why?

A Hockey for sure. I live in the state of hockey, and I have always thought I would have been really good at it.

 

Q Who is your favorite college or pro sports team, and why?

A The Minnesota Vikings. Let’s just say it’s been a tough couple of years.

 

Q What is the best sports advice you have ever received?

A You can work hard in front of your coaches, and you can work hard in front of your teammates, but it’s how hard you work when no one is watching that defines you as an athlete.

RON HAGGSTROM