Varsity - The Official Digital Magazine of Wisconsin Athletics

Varsity - January 3, 2013

Varsity is the free Official Digital Magazine of Wisconsin Athletics, covering Badgers football, basketball, hockey and more each week.

Issue link: https://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/i/101925

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 25 of 55

BADGERING... SAM DEKKER »» MEN'S BASKETBALL A freshman forward from Sheboygan, Wis., Sam Dekker spent last summer helping Team USA's U-18 team earn a gold medal in the 2012 FIBA Americas Championships in Brazil. The Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year and Mr. Basketball has seen action in all 14 games this season for the Badgers, making three starts. After a successful high school career, what motivates you to want to be even better? "It's been a wild year, but you've got to realize that there's always someone better than you and you can't be content. I do put a lot of pressure on myself to perform and I do think that sometimes hurts me but at the same time, it drives me to keep going and wanting to be better. I just have to stay humble and come in and work every day. I have to come in when no one else is in the gym, and those are the times you get better when no one is watching. But it's an honor to have all that success. It's been fun ― it's been a crazy year, but hopefully we can make even better years here." What's been the biggest adjustment for you as a freshman? "Time management has been the biggest adjustment by far. A lot of times you want to go do something but you can't because you've got school or basketball. You've just got to learn how to balance those things and just get used to living on your own and being dependent on yourself. You can't call for mom when you're hungry and you can't have her bring a load of laundry down or anything like that. It was an adjustment at first, but after living here for a summer, you really get used to it and you accept it." After growing up in a smaller town, how has it been living in Madison? "I've adjusted pretty well ― I've been on the go the past 3-4 years so I kind of got used to the city life and living on my own for a little while. I love this city. (Zak Showalter) and I talk all the time about how we wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Madison has everything you need. It's not to the point where it's too big, and it's not small by any means." What's it like being able to say you earned a gold medal playing for your country? "That's the pinnacle of my high school career: a huge arena full of people chanting 'U-S-A'. It's a whole different setting. Different crowds, different venues, a different type of basketball even when you play internationally. Having the confetti come down when you win is really cool, and you're standing with those guys in your USA jersey with a gold medal on ― that's something you can't really take away from someone." 26 » VARSITY JANUA RY 3, 2013

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of Varsity - The Official Digital Magazine of Wisconsin Athletics - Varsity - January 3, 2013