Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the cancellation of the spring season, the Upper Iowa Athletics Department is spending the next few months spotlighting many of our Peacock student-athletes whose spring seasons came to a premature end.
 
In today's virtual interview, Pete the Peacock gets to know UIU softball's first baseman Katie Crogan. Katie, an All-NSIC performer, is a junior from Watertown, Wis. who came to Fayette three years ago from Watertown High School. She is majoring in exercise and sport studies.
 
PETE: How would you describe yourself in three words?   
KATIE: Hardworking, sarcastic, and kind

PETE: What made you want to be a collegiate student-athlete?   
KATIE: I loved the game too much to be done after high school and I knew it was a way I could continue my education

PETE: What have you learned about what it takes to be a student-athlete?       
KATIE: It boils down to hard work and time management. Working hard in the class room, the weight room, practices, and everything you do while finding the time to manage all the responsibilities that come along with being a student athlete.

PETE: What advice would you give to your 14-year old self?         
KATIE: Enjoy the little moments and the good times while they are happening and don't stress too much about anything, nothing is worth it at 14

PETE: What is something most people don't know about you?     
KATIE: I know all 50 state capitals because I had to learn a song about them in middle school

PETE: What is your favorite thing about your hometown?  
KATIE: I love all the small local businesses we have

PETE: What is your favorite thing about Fayette?     
KATIE: The fact that everyone here feels like a family

PETE: How do you want to be remembered? 
KATIE: As someone that worked hard in everything they did and was a great teammate

PETE: What's the best thing that has happened to you in the last week?
KATIE: I have been able to spend time with my family

PETE: What are the top three things on your bucket list?   
KATIE: Travel out of the country, attend a Super Bowl (preferably one the Packers are playing in), and go skydiving

PETE: What is your dream job if money wasn't a factor? Why?     
KATIE: A coaching position of some sort, I have loved being an athlete and being able to work in sports for the rest of my life would be ideal

PETE: Who are three people (dead or alive) you'd love to have dinner with? Why?       
KATIE: My grandma and my uncle because they both died before I was born and I would love to get the chance to get to know them, and JJ Watt because I have been a big fan of him ever since he played at Wisconsin

PETE: What is your most memorable sports moment?        
KATIE: Hitting a walk-off grand slam against Southwest Minnesota State University last year in front of a home crowd

PETE: What is your favorite home cooked meal?      
KATIE: Anything on the grill, preferably brats or burgers

PETE: Do you have any collections? If so, what?      
KATIE: I have slightly more sock monkeys than I'm sure most people do but I don't think I would call it a collection

PETE: Do you believe in aliens or ghosts? If yes, why?        
KATIE: Absolutely. The way I see it, if you believe in ghosts and they aren't real, no harm, no foul but if you don't believe in them and they are real, they hate you and they are coming after you; so I would rather just be on their good side.

PETE: What is your dream vacation spot? Why? What would you want to do there?   
KATIE: Greece because I have always thought it was beautiful, I would want to spend time on a boat and go snorkeling

PETE: What is your favorite restaurant in the world? What do you order?          
KATIE: Butterburger and cheese curds with a concrete mixer from Culver's

PETE: What is your favorite non-sport hobby?          
KATIE: Does golfing and not keeping score count?

PETE: What are three things you cannot live without?         
KATIE: Sports, coffee, and my mom's cooking

PETE: If you could sing a duet with someone, who would it be? What song?    
KATIE: Shania Twain, "Party for Two"

PETE: What is one cause that you hold dear to your heart? Why?
KATIE: Wigs for Kids - they provide wigs free of charge to kids who have lost their hair to either cancer treatments or other hair loss diseases. I have donated my hair to them twice and plan to do it again when it is long enough

PETE: Do you play any musical instruments?
KATIE: I can play Dirty Little Secret on the guitar almost perfectly with my eyes closed on Rock Band if that counts

PETE: What is your go-to karaoke song?        
KATIE: "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" by The Charlie Daniels Band

PETE: Do you have a secret talent?      
KATIE: No because if I had a cool talent I definitely wouldn't keep it a secret

PETE: If you had a podcast, what would it be about?          
KATIE: I would love to have different guests every show and talk about controversial food preferences like does pineapple belong on pizza (yes) and should fries be dipped in ice cream (no)

Special thanks to Katie for taking the time to chat with Pete! To view previous virtual interviews, please click here.