Shortly is an example of a three-sport athlete who can still thrive at the high school level.

Which sport do you prefer? Softball, then probably basketball. Tennis is probably my least favorite, even though I still love it. I just think I enjoy team sports more.

Why play three sports? I like having every season be different. If I played the same sport all year long, I'd get bored. I just got done playing softball all summer and now I'm excited for tennis. When tennis is over, I'll get really excited to play basketball.

Have people ever ask you to specialize? I've gotten that a lot in tennis. Coaches say things like, "If you committed yourself to tennis all year, you could be one of the best players in the state." I've heard that in softball, too.

Are you hoping to play a sport in college? Yes, I'd like to play softball. I decided this past year that I wanted to play in college.

Why? What decided it for me was when I started catching. That's what I love the most. I love being in a position where I can touch the ball on every play and being one of the leaders on the field.

Your sister Taylor recently graduated. You qualified with her in doubles for the tennis state tournament two years in a row. How different will this year be without her? It will be very weird. Every year since first grade, except for maybe one basketball season, I've played with her. To not be playing any sports with her, that's been something of an emotional drain.

Best athletic memory? Making it to the state tournament [in tennis] with Taylor two years ago. They seeded us No. 2 in the section. In the finals, we came back from a 5-0 deficit in the first set to win 7-5, 6-2. It was just the two of us.

JIM PAULSEN