University of North Texas Athletics
Swingin? Away With Kelei Walker
1/29/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
DENTON (1/31/06) - The North Texas softball team opens the 2006 season on Saturday, Feb. 11 at the Sam Houston Invitational in Huntsville, Texas. The Mean Green has 10 returning letterwinners and welcomes six newcomers to the squad. The team has been training at a new practice facility and is waiting for its new home, the Mean Green Softball Complex, to be completed.
Kelei Walker was part of the first signing class when North Texas brought back softball for the 2004 season. As a the team's lone senior, she has stepped into a leadership role. The centerfielder leads the team with 44 career runs scored and is first among all returning players with 27 career walks and 21 stolen bases.
The senior answered some questions after practice on Monday.
Q: When did you start playing softball?
A: Four
Q: What is the best part of being a collegiate athlete?
A: How much little kids admire us
Q: If you could play another sport, what would it be?
A: Basketball
Q: What position would you like to play other than center field?
A: Shortstop
Q: Do you or your team have any pre-game rituals?
A: As a team, we keep the same routines.
At away games, I like to go swimming in the hotel pools.
Q: What is your favorite part about the new facilities?
A: We have definitely made use of our locker room. It’s a great entity for us. We will go in there after practice at 5 pm and stay there till 6, playing jokes on each other. It’s the coolest thing. We want to have a slumber party there. We love it.
Q: What are the upsides and downsides to playing in a new program?
A: The upside is that no one knows what to expect. Same with the downside. People who aren’t associated with the team don’t have confidence in the program. One of the best things I have been able to experience is starting traditions. You get to determine how practice is being run or how we are going to do our warm-up. We started out three years ago with things and it’s maintained the same now. Last week, we picked all the new kids’ songs to hit to. We want the songs to be funny but still pump them up.
Q: If you didn’t have to be at practice right now, where would you be?
A: I would probably be at the rec center playing basketball.
Q: Have you had any memorable road trips?
A: The best one was when we went to
Q: As the team’s lone senior, what advice do you give to the younger players?
A: Being a senior, I can look back at my time at UNT and realize the mistakes I made. So, I try and guide them away from things that affected me. Being the only senior, I can kind of outline how we are going to be emotionally. I have been real goofy this year, and I think it has been good for us because it keeps us lighthearted. My biggest thing is keeping everyone positive.
Q: Do you have a CD you are listening to in your car?
A: Today, I was listening to a bunch of CDs because we are working on our warm-up tape. I was trying to figure out what song to bat to. So, I have a bunch of songs I was listening to like,
Q: Have you had a favorite class at
A: Yes. Criminal Law with Peggy Tobolowsky. She’s a great teacher. She has inspired me to want to be a lawyer.
Q: Last movie?
A: I watched The Interpreter this weekend. It was disturbing.
Q: If you had to perform karoke, what song would you sing?
A: I’m a maniac, maniac, maniac on the floor
Q: What teammate are you most often with?
A: My roommate, Monica Garcia
Q: What superlatives what you give your teammates?
A: Christen Jonse would definitely be class clown. Sarah Jones epitomizes a freshman. Monica is the most serious, Heather Bostic and Katya Muller would both be most random. Angie is the most positive. The freshman and sophomores all have the most eager to learn eyes. Whenever the juniors and I have something to say, their eyes light up. I love to watch them respond.
The Mean Green has its first home game on Wednesday, Feb. 15 against Texas State at Denia Park. The first game of the doubleheader is set for 3 pm.
