XI with… Vanna Reitsma

Welcome to XI with… where I ask the same 11 questions to high school soccer players from across the state. Today it’s XI with… Vanna Reitsma of Bellevue West.

*The following has been edited for clarity.*

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1. Of course, in Nebraska, we have all sorts of weather in the spring. Do you have a least favorite element to play in, whether that’s rain, snow or wind?

I would say, honestly, if I added heat to that, heat is probably the worst thing ever, especially since I rely on my speed a lot. I just think when you’re running so fast, it’s really easy to get super hot, and you can’t really keep your energy. So definitely heat.

So you enjoyed the 90 degree day we had last week?

No. We played over the weekend. It was terrible. 

2. Outside of soccer, what’s something you’ve gotten way too competitive about?

I would say my other sport, basketball. Basketball is just such a competitive sport. It’s so fun to play, and since I’ve been playing it my whole life, it’s something I’m always competitive in, just like soccer. 

3. What usually is a good indicator that it’s going to be a good night for you?

I feel like for me, it’s the team and me. But personally, for me, I would say when I can get past defenders early in the game, and we’re able to pass through their defenders as well. But also, if our team can connect passes well, that’s when we know it’s going to be a good night for our team. 

4. What’s something you do differently than most people?

I feel like it’s more of a hobby related to sports, but something I like to do is sports photography. It’s just one of the things I’ve always enjoyed. I actually take pictures for our boy’s basketball team, and I’ve got to follow them throughout the season. It’s been super fun because I get to capture their memories. Honestly, whenever I play, I think if there are other people taking pictures too, it’s just a fun way to capture them. I’m actually going to minor in it at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, so that’ll be fun.

What’s it like to go to school with a legacy like that?

Bellevue West basketball is honestly just one of the best sports we can get at Bellevue West. I feel like there are always people to watch us. I don’t know. It’s just such a great environment. 

5. What’s just a player team you actually got your way to watch, and what do you like about them?

I just really like this past week of March Madness because I’m an Iowa Hawkeye fan, but yeah, but if I had to pick a soccer team, I haven’t got to watch them, but I would really like to watch the Blair team because of how much I’ve heard of how they’re like, kind of like Bellevue West. Even though I haven’t gotten to really watch any of theirs, I would be excited to watch them, and I’d want to go to a game this season. 

6. What’s something special about high school soccer in Nebraska that people outside of the state wouldn’t expect?

Honestly, I wouldn’t be able to answer this question until last year because that’s the first time we made it to Morrison. It’s just such a great audience and crowd. And coming from Bellevue West, we usually don’t have anybody in our crowd besides family. So when you get to Morrison, you get to see all the people, and it’s just so special. Plus, if you make it to Morrison, every good team is bringing their best, so it’s always a good game.

7. What’s a game or moment from your time playing soccer that you’re probably going to remember for a long, long time?

Probably winning Metros last year after we lost to Omaha Westside in the regular season. We got to beat them in Metros, and my teammate had a really good goal off of a corner kick, so that’s always super fun to think about.

8. Over the last couple of years, what’s something you’ve changed your mind about?

It’s definitely gonna be sports-related. That’s like my whole life. I would probably say that during my underclassmen years, I was really dead set on playing basketball in college. I think the thing that this past year, like junior year for soccer, I realized my speed and skill are just really utilized for soccer, and I was able to get better at it faster. It just became more fun, especially with all the new teammates that we got. So, I would definitely say switching from basketball to soccer.

9. Typically, with these all spring long, we’ll be asking 11 questions. Nine of them will be exactly the same. One of them I picked specifically for you. What’s the best part of being a multi-sport athlete?

Oh my gosh, I think honestly the best part of it is being able to incorporate both skills because for defense on basketball, it’s kind of like defense on soccer, but since you’re working on them in different seasons, as you get better in one thing, you get to also incorporate it in the next season for the next sport. They’re completely different sports, but they also have so many similarities. But I think that they’re just so connected in some ways.

10. What is the best school lunch that Bellevue West has to offer?

Actually, I’ve never had Bellevue West school lunch. I always bring my own lunch from home, so I couldn’t answer that question.

Okay, what is the best lunch that Vanna Reitsma has to offer?

My go-to would probably be a chicken rice bowl from my house.

11. Finally, this is what I call the pass-along question. This one comes from Cadence Field of Blair, and she wants to know, Do you have any pregame superstitions or something you do before every single game?

Yes, I do. Actually, shout out to my teammate, Maddy Morgia. Every single time we’re done with warm-ups, we check our first touch by throwing the ball in the air. It’s just something we’ve always done. It helps us feel ready and confident for the game.

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I want to thank all of you for checking out the latest edition of XI with… Today is the last day our online store is open, so be sure to check it out and buy some “Chasing Morrison.” merch, and give us a follow on social media. Until next time, have a great day, and I’ll catch up with you on Thursday for XI with… Hayden Schwartz of Kearney.