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 baseball's Blake Thiesse. Blake is a sophomore from Trempealeau, Wisconsin who came to Fayette two years ago from Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau High School. He is majoring in sports administration.

PETE: How would you describe yourself in three words?    
BLAKE: Passionate, caring, and stubborn.

PETE: What made you want to be a collegiate student-athlete?    
BLAKE: I wanted to play baseball as long as possible.

PETE: What have you learned about what it takes to be a student-athlete?    
BLAKE: It takes a lot of hard work and dedication.

PETE: What advice would you give to your 14-year old self?    
BLAKE: Think smarter not harder.

PETE: What is something most people don't know about you?    
BLAKE: I used to bowl in a league.

PETE: What is your favorite thing about your hometown?    
BLAKE: Boating on the Mississippi River.

PETE: What is your favorite thing about Fayette?    
BLAKE: It is about the same size as my hometown.

PETE: How do you want to be remembered?    
BLAKE: As a hard worker.

PETE: What's the best thing that has happened to you in the last week?    
BLAKE: Getting a job at Target.

PETE: What are the top three things on your bucket list?    
BLAKE: To travel to the west coast, to travel overseas, and to attend the World Series.

PETE: What is your dream job if money wasn't a factor? Why?    
BLAKE: Owning a professional baseball team because I love baseball and I want to be around it my entire life.

PETE: Who are three people (dead or alive) you'd love to have dinner with? Why?    
BLAKE: Kobe Bryant, Christian Yelich, and Ryan Braun because they are my biggest idols.

PETE: What is your most memorable sports moment?    
BLAKE: Going to the state basketball tournament during my sophomore year of high school.

PETE: What fictional character (movie, TV show, book, cartoon, etc.) would you want to be for a day? Why?    
BLAKE: Spencer James from All American on Netflix. He's a football star and I would like to be on the show.

PETE: What is your favorite home-cooked meal?    
BLAKE: Homemade pizza.

PETE: What is your dream vacation spot? Why? What would you want to do there?    
BLAKE: Hawaii because it looks very nice and I would relax on a beach.

PETE: If you were president for a day, what would you change?    
BLAKE: I would increase the speed limit.

PETE: What is your favorite restaurant in the world? What do you order?    
BLAKE: McDonald's... I get a Big Mac Meal with NO ONIONS and a Powerade.

PETE: What does your dream life after retirement look like?    
BLAKE: Moving down south and relaxing on the beach.

PETE: What is your favorite non-sport hobby?    
BLAKE: Hanging out with friends.

PETE: What are three things you cannot live without? Why?    
BLAKE: My phone, my car, and my TV because these are the things I use the most on a daily basis.

PETE: If you could sing a duet with someone, who would it be? What song?    
BLAKE: Juice Wrld and Lucid Dreams. 

PETE: What is one cause that you hold dear to your heart? Why?    
BLAKE: Youth sports because I think it's very important to help kids try and pursue their dreams.

PETE: Do you have a secret talent?
BLAKE: Sleeping for very long periods of time.

PETE: If you had a podcast, what would it be about?    
BLAKE: My favorite sports; baseball, basketball, and football.

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