Otto a Multi-Sport Star for SHS And Will Do So in College Too
Schulenburg senior Erica Otto has obtained quite the athletic career. She’s led her basketball and tennis teams to state championships and is currently on agenda to pilot her volleyball team to the same destination as captain.
“Erica does pretty much everything for us,” said Schulenburg head volleyball coach Donald Zapalac. “Whether it’s in the classroom, on the field, on the court, it’s as important for her in the classroom as it is on the court for us.”
Otto has spent all four years on varsity and she leads the team in kills this season with 79, which is a 40.7 kill percentage.
“She hasn’t had to be a leader as much until this year, so it’s kind of different losing some key players from last year,” Zapalac said. “Our schedule is really tough, so they’re learning as we go that we got to show up every night. Erica does a good job of showing up every night. She’s great. There’s no question about it. There hadn’t really been any teams that have been able to stop her this year. If you can get anybody to put the ball away half the time, you’re doing a really good job.”
Right now, Otto is first in the team hit percentage statistics at .330 as well. “Just like softball or baseball, if you’re a .300 hitter, you’re doing pretty dang good”, said Zapalac. Along with many other accolades, Otto has earned her spot as the Player of the Week nominee.
Question: What was it like playing in the Alamodome (last year at the state basketball tournament)?
Answer: “Playing in the Alamodome was a great experience being that it’s so much bigger than all the other gyms we’ve played in before. It’s also a little bit scary being that there’s nothing behind the backboards. Everyone’s watching you in these bright lights, but it’s really cool just playing where professional basketball players play.”
Question: Which sport do you prefer: basketball, tennis, or volleyball and why?
Answer: “I would say I prefer volleyball the most. It’s a little bit more relaxing than basketball. Not as high contact. Tennis is a really fun sport, but I just like how competitive volleyball can be.”
Question: How has COVID-19 affected your everyday life?
Answer: “With COVID-19 nowadays, everything is different being that we have to sanitize, wear our mask, and it’s definitely different from last year. We can’t even imagine that at one point we had the whole stands filled for our volleyball and basketball games. We’d get into such close huddles with the teams without wearing masks and also touch and high-five hands everyday on the volleyball court.”
Question: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
Answer: “I really love my small town of Schulenburg, Texas. But if I could move somewhere else, I’d have to move to maybe France, Italy, or Germany. Somewhere that’s going to have a pretty view everywhere I look.”
Question: What are you usually doing if you’re not in school or playing sports?
Answer: “If I’m not playing sports or in school, I would probably be seen laying on my couch resting because I don’t have much time for that. I enjoy fishing also.”
Question: Which phone apps do you use the most and why?
Answer: “I would say I use Snapchat the most. It allows me to connect with my friends and I actually get something out of it rather than TikTok nowadays.”
Question: What is your favorite sports moment of your career?
Answer: “I think my favorite moment so far would have to be winning the regional tournament for basketball. Just because we lost badly to Poth last year and it felt so good to go out and beat them and be on top even after everything we went through with so many injuries, and to finally make it to state, which is a dream of all of ours.”
Question: Are there any certain colleges you’re looking at or interested in?
Answer: “I recently committed to Southwestern University in Georgetown to play softball and also volleyball.”
Question: What is your next biggest goal in sports?
Answer: I would say this year, at least for volleyball, we want to make another appearance at the regional games, since we can’t have tournaments this year, as well as to make another run to the state tournament in basketball.”
Question: If you could start your own business, what would it be?
Answer: “I think I’d have to start some kind of outdoor sports business. Maybe like another sand volleyball court, outdoor basketball court, or tennis court just because I feel that kids nowadays spend so much time inside where as when I was little, all I did was go outside and play sports with my sisters.”
It’s safe to say Otto has proved herself as one of the best athletes in the area. As her senior year is in full swing, she will get to showcase her talents on and off the floor in order to prepare herself for the next level.
Fayette Co. Record’s Player of the Week
A Weekly Feature by BRIAN PIERSON