Three time all-area team member Feuerbach eschews focusing on one sport, wins athlete of year honor
SYCAMORE – In an era of increased specialization, years like the one Kylie Feuerbach had practically are extinct.
Already committed to Iowa State for basketball, the Sycamore sophomore also placed at state in discus and had a strong season on the volleyball court for the Spartans, as well.
She was named the 2017-18 DeKalb Daily Chronicle Female Athlete of the Year.
“It was really hectic, but it’s a lot of fun to be able to play three sports,” Feuerbach said. “To be able to balance it and not have to focus on one specific sport. It’s fun to switch it around and play with different girls.”
Feuerbach set school records for scoring and rebounding in a single season this year, averaging 17.4 points and 8.4 boards on the basketball court. But she also had 80 assists and 21 blocks for the Sycamore volleyball team and took sixth place at the state meet in discus with a toss of 115 feet, 3 inches.
She was named to the Daily Chronicle All-Area second team for volleyball and first team for track. She also was the Player of the Year for hoops.
“I think it was a tremendous year, not just for her individually, but just how all the pieces fit together and made the individuals that much better,” Sycamore girls basketball coach Adam Wickness said. “Everybody knew each other’s strengths. Then you look at Kylie individually, and it was a monster year. The jump she made from her freshman to sophomore year was huge. She’s already putting the work in, and I expect her to do the same between her sophomore and junior years.”
Feuerbach said she sees plenty of basketball players specialize in only the one sport as she spends her summers playing AAU ball.
“That could be me. I could be specialized in that one specific sport,” Feuerbach said. “I know if I were to focus only on basketball, I know it would make be better. But it’s so much fun to experience the other sports and play with the different girls, even. I get to expand my relationships with people, different coaches, stuff like that.”
Wickness, although he would potentially get an even better version of Feuerbach if she focused on basketball, said there are benefits to playing multiple sports that are getting lost.
“I’ve never been a proponent of limiting yourself,” Wickness said. “I tell girls all the time to compete in other sports. It’s great both mentally and physically. Different sports work different muscle groups. And mentally, it keeps you fresh. If you’re in the same venue over and over and over again, that’s where you burn out. Kids peaking in their freshman or sophomore year happens when they put all their eggs in one basket. When that’s all they’ve done for so long, it gets stagnant. It gets stale.”
As she heads into her junior season, Feuerbach said there’s one area she’s looking to improve upon in all three sports.
“I’m an upperclassmen now when I play all three sports, and I hope that I’m vocal and a lot of girls look up to me, listen to what I say,” Feuerbach said. “I know that I probably know some pointers that can help some girls. It will be fun to lead.”
Wickness said Feuerbach already is a leader by example, but he also expects her to become a more vocal leader as well next year.
“We have some vocal roles that need to be filled, so she’s challenging herself to take on that leadership,” Wickness said, “and I know she wants to do it. It’s a work in progress, but I know she’s up for it.”
Feuerbach said she also plans on playing all three sports again next year.
“If I focused on just one sport, I think I would eventually just get tired,” Feuerbach said. “Right now, in high school, I just want to explore different sports, be able to do all of them.”