Editor’s note: This is a regular feature profiling senior athletes at Bryant High School.
NAME: Bailey Gartrell
PARENTS: Stormy Gartrell and Jennifer Gartrell
SIBLINGS: I have a twin sister, Shelby, and an older brother, Blaine. He’s 25.
FAVORITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL: English
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME? I like to go to the lake with my family.
FAVORITE FOOD: Bavarian cream pizza
FAVORITE MUSIC ARTIST OR GROUP: I like country.[more]
FAVORITE MOVIE: The Notebook
FAVORITE TV SHOW: Chicago Fire
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A KID? I didn’t have one. I just played outside.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL? I plan to go to ASU and get by Bachelor of Science then I want to get my Masters in Occupational Therapy.
OTHER THAN YOUR PARENTS, WHO HAS HAD THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR LIFE? Probably my brother, he’s a good mentor.
FAVORITE THING ABOUT SOCCER: The girls, they’re all my best friends.
POSITION: Forward
WHAT DO YOU FEEL LIKE IS YOUR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY ON THE FIELD? When we’re on defense, I drop back to the midfielders to help. Then, when we’re on offense, I get up as far as I can and, when I get a chance, I score.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE SEASON SO FAR? I think we’re doing pretty. I think we’ll go far.
WHEN THE TEAM’S PLAYING WELL, WHAT’S IT DOING? We’re all focusing on everything Coach (Julie) Long has told us and we’ve put it into play and it starts working. Then once you get going it just kind of sticks.
WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE SEASON SO FAR? Our winning streak.
WHAT’S IT GOING TO TAKE FOR THE TEAM TO BE SUCCESSFUL THE REST OF THE SEASON? To keep focusing; just thinking about what’s to come, focusing on the State championship and how much we want it.
INDIVIDUALLY, WHAT ABOUT YOUR GAME ARE YOU MOST CONFIDENT ABOUT? When I start to play I know that most likely I’m going to be able to out-run the defense so I use that as an advantage.
WHAT DO YOU WORK HARDEST TO IMPROVE? Dropping more to the midfielders because the only way they’re going to get the ball up the field is if I drop and I give them help.
AFTER YOU'RE THROUGH PLAYING SOCCER AT BHS, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'LL REMEMBER MOST FONDLY ABOUT IT? Just the girls and how great they are. They’re not just the team, they’re all my best friends and they make soccer so much more fun than just playing in the games. I love it.
