Athlete Zone Podcast - Episode 39: Katy Wessels скачать в хорошем качестве

Athlete Zone Podcast - Episode 39: Katy Wessels

In this episode, we welcome Katy Wessels back to the show — a dominant middle blocker for the University of Washington Huskies and one of the most exciting rising names in college volleyball. Katy shares how she went from a small town in Lewiston, Idaho to competing in the Big Ten, balancing long travel days, high-level volleyball, and school — all while building a personal brand that reflects who she is on and off the court. She opens up about: -What life is like in the Big Ten: longer flights, more time zones, bigger crowds & higher competition -How she balances full-day travel, practices, matches, and academics with help from professors and team support -Going from a small-town Idaho kid to navigating Seattle city life and finding her place there -Her unexpectedly elite Lego collection 🧱 and how building sets helps her decompress from volleyball -Growing up doing outdoor adventures — cabin trips, boating, and small-town life in Idaho -Being a multi-sport standout in high school (volleyball, basketball, track & field, shot put) and how each sport sharpened different parts of her volleyball game -The moment she realized volleyball had overtaken basketball as her “forever sport” -Playing in her first collegiate match at just 17 years old, and what that felt like mentally and emotionally -Being selected twice to train at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center, what that environment is like, and what she learned from training with top college athletes from across the country -How she elevated her game between 2023 and 2024 — increasing kills, blocks per set, and becoming one of Washington’s leaders at the net -How a simple mindset shift — seeing mistakes as information instead of failure — helped unlock her growth -Breaking down the middle blocker role in plain language: responsibilities, footwork, reading setters, and why blocking is such a mental grind -Playing through a stress fracture in her shin that’s lingered for years, what that’s taken physically and mentally, and why quitting has never been an option -Her goals for the upcoming season: more improvement, more impact, and being the best teammate she can be Katy’s story is a mix of small-town roots, big-stage opportunity, and the quiet toughness it takes to keep showing up — even when your body hurts and the schedule doesn’t slow down.