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 lacrosse player and member of the Peacock spirit team Amaya Dewald. Amaya is a sophomore from Grand Haven, Michigan who came to Fayette two years ago from Grand Haven High School. She is majoring in elementary education.

PETE: How would you describe yourself in three words?    
AMAYA: Caring, dedicated, loving.

PETE: What made you want to be a collegiate student-athlete?  
AMAYA: I felt like I still had a lot to give.

PETE: What have you learned about what it takes to be a student-athlete?    
AMAYA: To be very good at time management and cooperation.

PETE: What is your favorite way to de-stress?    
AMAYA: Playing cards.

PETE: What advice would you give to your 14-year old self?    
AMAYA: Don't worry about what others think of you. Just be the bigger person.

PETE: What is your favorite thing about your hometown?    
AMAYA: The beach and downtown Grand Haven.

PETE: What is your favorite thing about Fayette?    
AMAYA: Everyone knows everyone!

PETE: How do you want to be remembered?    
AMAYA: As someone who always tried to do the right thing.

PETE: What's the best thing that has happened to you in the last week?    
AMAYA: I was able to start getting physical therapy for my injured finger.

PETE: What are the top three things on your bucket list?    
AMAYA: To go to Japan, go skydiving, and get married.

PETE: What is your dream job if money wasn't a factor? Why?    
AMAYA: Some sort of performer.

PETE: Who are three people (dead or alive) you'd love to have dinner with? Why?    
AMAYA: My grandfather, mother, father. Family is everything to me.

PETE: What is your most memorable sports moment?    
AMAYA: Being asked to play two sports in college.

PETE: What fictional character (movie, TV show, book, cartoon, etc.) would you want to be for a day? Why?
AMAYA: Black Widow, she's not afraid to try something new.

PETE: What is your dream vacation spot? Why? What would you want to do there?    
AMAYA: A beach house in California.

PETE: What is your favorite restaurant in the world? What do you order?    
AMAYA: The stable inn, I love their beer-battered shrimp.

PETE: What does your dream life after retirement look like?    
AMAYA: Settling down with my husband and still doing all of the things that we love.

PETE: What are three things you cannot live without? Why?    
AMAYA: My family, playing cards, and sudoku books. All have a great way of relieving stress.

PETE: If you could sing a duet with someone, who would it be? What song?    
AMAYA: Shawn Mendez, "I know what you did last summer".

PETE: What was your first job?    
AMAYA: As a cook at a restaurant.

PETE: Do you play any musical instruments?    
AMAYA: No, but I do sing.

PETE: Do you have a secret talent?    
AMAYA: I can pinch really hard with my toes.

PETE: Who would your dream co-star be in a movie?    
AMAYA: Dwayne '"the rock' Johnson.

PETE: What would you bring on a one-way trip to Mars?    
AMAYA: An oxygen suit.

PETE: If you had a podcast, what would it be about?    
AMAYA: My schoolwork, sports, and life.

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