Q-and-A with Trevor Stumpe, Plainfield North
January 15, 2013 7:38PM
Trevor Stumpe, Plainfield North. Fall sports photo day at Andrew High School in Tinley Park, Illinois, Sunday, November 18, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun Times Media
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Updated: February 17, 2013 6:17AM
Stumpe, a 6-foot-4 point guard, is like a quarterback on the floor. He’s in charge of making sure each member of his team is doing the right thing, “and it’s a job you definitely have to get used to.”
Stumpe, who is averaging about 14 points a game and is a solid three-point shooter, is helping the Tigers remain competitive in the Southwest Prairie, where they are in the middle of the league at 3-2 and 5-10 overall.
What was it like coming up as a freshman?
It was definitely an eye-opening experience and it just gives me that much more experience this year to lead our team and contribute more. In the back of my mind I kind of expected it but I wanted to stay humble.
Did you get nervous before that first game?
Yeah, I definitely had butterflies and my palms were sweaty. But as soon as the ball went up, it was just basketball.
Do you still get anxious?
Of course. Every time you play you get butterflies before a game. There are some points or times in games where you block everything out and you just focus on making the free throw or the pass.
For someone who goes to a fairly new school, how do you and your teammates want to help build athletic traditions at North?
Our first couple of years we were really successful with some first-place finishes in tournaments, but the last couple years we’ve had down years. Our coach (Nick DiForti) always talks about living up to the Plainfield North tradition and it was set really high. We always have goals or expectations to get that high or higher each year.
Where do you see yourself in about five years?
Hopefully, playing college basketball or having a stable job.
As told to Tina Akouris
