Local high school senior athletes have been robbed of their final scholastic athletic seasons by the COVID-19 crisis. So, unable to write about their accomplishments on the fields, courts and tracks in Greater Fall River, The Herald News in upcoming weeks will profile some of these smart, pleasant and cooperative 12th graders in the long-awaited return of our Meet the Athlete question & answer. Enjoy.
NAME: Amber Arruda
SCHOOL/YEAR OF GRADUATION: Case High School/2020
TWITTER HANDLE: @amber_arruda
INSTAGRAM HANDLE: @amberlarruda
SPORTS: volleyball, basketball, spring track
Amber Arruda was, arguably, the area's top volleyball player last fall. During the winter, she was a rebounding machine for Case's playoff-qualifying basketball team. She was set to be one of Greater Fall River's top shot putters this spring.
Herald News: What person, living or dead, do you most admire and why?
Amber Arruda: I most admire my mom. She’s easily the strongest person I know, I don’t know how she does it.
HN: Who is your favorite athlete and why?
AA: My favorite athlete is definitely Rob Gronkowski because he’s always having fun on the field. I think it’s important that people are having fun with the sports they play a lot of times you see athlete that are just doing a sport and don’t have the love for it they once had. And he’s very good at football but never over plays his role, in interviews he always mentions that without his team he couldn't do what he is doing. I feel like that’s missed a lot to so it’s nice to see a professional athlete embrace the mentality that you can’t do these things by yourself because those so many different parts that go into being a good athlete like having other good teammates around that are constantly pushing you to be your best.
HN: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
AA: In 10 years I hope that I am working in a hospital at a Child Life Specialist.
HN: What has been your biggest moment as a high school athlete?
My biggest moment as a high school athlete would probably being voted to be apart of the volleyball All-state team. If you asked me when I was a freshman if I could see myself doing that AA: I would have definitely said no. But I worked super hard to get better day by day for my team and it was just really nice it was recognized.
HN: When not playing high school sports, how do you spend your free time?
AA: I’m usually napping, or eating.
HN: What is your level of concern/fear over COVID-19?
AA: My biggest concern at first was graduation and prom but we just got those plans from our principal. So now my biggest concern is being able to move into college and start that chapter of my life as soon as I can.
HN: What is your reaction to missing out on your final high school sports season?
AA: I’m honestly really upset because it was my final season at case and I really loved doing spring track last year all the people and coaches were super great. I know it was for the best but it stinks that I’ll miss out on my last sports banquet and last season because I was really looking forward to it.
HN: How do you hope to be remembered as a student-athlete?
AA: I want people to remember how much work I put into every sport I did and how much I truly care about the things I do. I want them to remember I was the athlete that was first and last in the gym whether I was helping clean up or getting extra reps. Sports was my whole life in high school and I just want people to know that’s what I dedicated all my time to no matter what I wanted to be a better player and I was the one on the team that would do anything that needed to get done. I hope they think I was leader most of all.
HN: What is your favorite subject in school and why?
AA: My favorite subject was definitely anything in Mr. P’s class, I never liked history before I had him and he made me actually like it. I even took economics with my friends the next year so I could have him as a teacher again. A lot of people did that we had like 32 students in that one class.
HN: If you won a million dollars, what would be your first purchase?
AA: My first purchase would be a new car.
HN: Tell us something most people don't know about you.
AA: Not many people know that I really like painting and drawing or any craft.
HN: What is your favorite dinner meal?
AA: My favorite meal is sushi.
HN: What is your favorite book?
AA: My favorite book is Big Little Lies.
HN: What is your favorite TV show?
AA: My favorite tv show is either Good Girls or Greys Anatomy.
HN: How long could you function without your smart phone?
AA: I couldn’t function without my phone.
HN: Whom in this world would you most like to hit in the face with a pie?
AA: Riley Fitzgerald.
Email Greg Sullivan at gsullivan@heraldnews.com. Follow him @GregSullivanHN.