Athlete Profile: Allison Linke

Senior helping Chargers find success this winter

The Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School girls basketball team is enjoying a strong winter season so far, winning nine of its first 10 games and sitting in the thick of the conference title hunt. Senior Allison Linke has helped the Chargers to that strong start, doing a bit of everything for the team while also providing leadership.

Through 10 games, Linke was averaging 4.3 points per contest. She was third on the team in 3-point makes.

Linke pulls down over three rebounds a game while also averaging 1.4 assists and 1.8 steals a contest.

Q: When did your interest in basketball begin?

A: I started playing basketball in third grade with a traveling team, I have played ever since then.

Q: What is your favorite part about the basketball season?

A: My favorite part of the basketball season would be our team meals, I love when our team gets together before the game. Our team this year is really close and it feels like a family, I love spending time with them.

Q: What is your favorite thing to do on the basketball court, and why?

A: My favorite thing to do on the basketball court is cheer my teammates on. I hate seeing anyone get down on themselves so I make sure everyone feels like they belong on this team.

Q: What has the game of basketball taught you over the years?

A: The game of basketball has taught me many things throughout the years, especially the importance of teamwork. We all lean on each other for support and are willing to help each other, I have found some really good friends through my sports.

Q: Do you have any individual goals you hope to accomplish this winter season, and how do you plan on achieving those?

A: I don’t have any individual goals specifically, however, I know we have many goals as a team. One being a conference title, we hope to achieve this goal by putting a lot of time in at practice and making sure we play every game to the best of our ability and just keep working hard.

Q: Right in the thick of the conference title hunt, what are some aspects of the game in which your team wants to improve?

A: Some aspects of the game I think our team wants to improve on is making sure we all attack the basket, and just widen our scoring throughout our team. We all need to make sure to take the opportunities we can get because every point matters.

Q: As a senior, how do you try to lead the rest of your team?

A: As a senior I try to lead my team in many ways, I always try to vocalize with my teammates on the court. I also make sure I help out when needed and I make sure I am a person my teammates can look up too.

Q: Before a game starts, do you or the team have any routines or rituals you go through?

A: As a team we have team meals before every home game. We also listen to music before the game to hype us up before we step out on the court.

Q: What’s your favorite memory of competing on the Wittenberg-Birnamwood girls basketball team?

A: My favorite memory is playing Marathon in the regional semifinal my junior year. We were the underdogs and ranked lower than them and it was a really good game and just the feeling after winning was so rewarding.

Q: Favorite movie, TV show and musical artist?

A: Movie — “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.” TV show — “One Tree Hill.” Musical artist — SZA or Morgan Wallen.

Q: Name one thing about yourself that not many people know?

A: I also play volleyball and I run track, in my free time I also like to read.

Q: What are some things you hope to accomplish after graduating high school?

A: I am planning to go to nursing school to become a pediatric nurse.

AT A GLANCE

Athlete: Allison Linke

Sport: Girls basketball

Position: Guard

School: Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School

Year: Senior