Local Athlete/Coaches Q&As: March 26, 2020

During this time of uncertainty, one thing I am certain about is that we have terrific student athletes and coaches in this area.

Over the next few weeks or months, I’m going to spotlight as many of them as I can through online Q&A’s. Any high school or middle school student athlete or coach in Brunswick, New Hanover or Pender counties interested in participating should email me at tim@coastalpreps.com.

Today’s participants are: West Brunswick senior Cecelia Vergara, Coastal Christian sophomore David Berne, Surf City eighth grader Gracie Mabrey and Hoggard baseball coach Tommy Bowker.

Cecelia Vergara

Senior at West Brunswick

What sport(s) do you participate in at your school? Lacrosse

If you have committed or signed with a college, where will you be continuing your career and why did you choose that school? I committed to the University of Detroit Mercy on February 1st of my junior year. I chose this school because it is one of the top private schools in Michigan and will be a great place for me to study pre-law. They also have an awesome lacrosse program.

What is your favorite food? Pasts

What is your favorite restaurant? Taco Bell

What is your favorite movie? The Maze Runner

What is your favorite TV show? Pretty Little Liars

Who are your favorite teams (college or professional)? I always pull for Detroit Mercy in basketball … Go Titans! I also pull for Virginia because I have a friend who plays on their basketball team.

Who is your favorite athlete? Molly Hendrick and Alex Morgan

What is your favorite memory from your career? Beating Terry Sanford in the first round of women’s lacrosse state playoffs my sophomore year and advancing to the second round for the first time in school history!

Do you have any superstitions or pre-game rituals? Yes, I have many. My hair has to be in a high ponytail with a braid and I have to listen to the song Intro by Meek Mill. I also have to have eye black on.

What hobbies do you have outside of participating in sports? I play the ukulele and surf.

What app on your phone do you use the most? Snapchat

What is your dream job? Work for Google on their law team.

What is your favorite milkshake flavor from Cook Out? Cookies n’ Cream

On a scale of 1-10 how much do you miss going to school? 10

On a scale of 1-10, how good of a singer are you? 10

If you could have dinner with any 3 people (dead or alive), who would they be? Dylan O’Brien, Barack Obama and Alex Morgan

How are you passing the time during this time of social distancing? I am playing lacrosse and working out a lot, while also doing homework and sleeping.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Greece

If you could only listen to one song the rest of your life, what would it be? The Other Side of the Door by Taylor Swift.

Which local restaurant has the best burgers? Beaches Burgers in Ocean Isle for sure.

What is your favorite Disney movie? Aladdin

David Berne

Sophomore at Coastal Christian

What sport(s) do you participate in at your school? Basketball

What is your favorite food? Pizza

What is your favorite restaurant? Provision Company 

What is your favorite movie? The Mighty Ducks

What is your favorite TV show? A.P. Bio

Who are your favorite teams (college or professional)? UNC, New England Patriots, Boston Celtics

Who is your favorite athlete? Tom Brady

What is your favorite memory from your career? My first high school bucket.

Do you have any superstitions or pre-game rituals? I always pray a personal prayer before games and I roll my socks down.

What hobbies do you have outside of participating in sports? Going to the beach.

What app on your phone do you use the most? Snapchat

What is your dream job? Something in the game of basketball.

What is your favorite milkshake flavor from Cook Out? Orange Push Up

On a scale of 1-10 how much do you miss going to school? 10

On a scale of 1-10, how good of a singer are you? 8

If you could have dinner with any 3 people (dead or alive), who would they be? Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Tom Brady

How are you passing the time during this time of social distancing? Doing homework and watching basketball videos

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Toronto

If you could only listen to one song the rest of your life, what would it be? No Role Modelz by J. Cole

Which local restaurant has the best burgers? Merrit’s Burger House

What is your favorite Disney movie? The Mighty Ducks

Gracie Mabrey

8th grader at Surf City

What sport(s) do you participate in at your school? Softball and basketball

What is your favorite food? Pickles

What is your favorite restaurant? Blaze Pizza

What is your favorite movie? Grease

What is your favorite TV show? The Vampire Diaries 

Who are your favorite teams (college or professional)? Oklahoma, Boston Red Sox

Who is your favorite athlete? Mookie Betts

What is your favorite memory from your career? Winning the championship with both my softball and basketball teams.

Do you have any superstitions or pre-game rituals? I have a lot! I eat an RX bar, a stretch routine, the way I enter the box to hit, wear the same necklace (a cross). Also if I’m doing really good, I keep similar clothing items but if I’m struggling, I change things up.

What hobbies do you have outside of participating in sports? Reading and drawing

What app on your phone do you use the most? Nexflix

What is your dream job? Biochemist

What is your favorite milkshake flavor from Cook Out? Chocolate 

On a scale of 1-10 how much do you miss going to school? 5

On a scale of 1-10, how good of a singer are you? 7

If you could have dinner with any 3 people (dead or alive), who would they be? Mookie Betts, Patty Gasso (Oklahoma softball coach) and Jackie Robinson

How are you passing the time during this time of social distancing? Working on art projects with my sister, practicing my sports and lifting weights/working on speed.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Germany

If you could only listen to one song the rest of your life, what would it be? Any song by Post Malone

Which local restaurant has the best burgers? Red Robin

What is your favorite Disney movie? Moana

Tommy Bowker

Hoggard baseball coach

What is your favorite food? Steak and fish

What is your favorite restaurant? Sailfish

What is your favorite movie? The Natural

What is your favorite TV show? ESPN – what else is there??

Who are your favorite teams (college or professional)? Duke, Boston Red Sox

Who is your favorite athlete? Past: Bo Jackson. Current: Mike Trout

What app on your phone do you use the most? MaxPreps

What is your favorite milkshake flavor from Cook Out? Cookies n’ Cream

On a scale of 1-10, how good of a singer are you? 10

If you could have dinner with any 3 people (dead or alive), who would they be? “Rain Man” (the real guy, not the movie), Mickey Mantle and Walt Disney

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Fenway Park

If you could only listen to one song the rest of your life, what would it be? The Greatest by Kenny Rogers

Which local restaurant has the best burgers? Burger King without question

What is your favorite Disney movie? How to Train Your Dragon

What is a skill you are bad at that you wish you could master? Winning the Lottery

What was the first car you owned? ’84 Blazer

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.