Joey Cleveland loves to build things with Legos.
The Smoky Hill senior has also built a pretty golf game for himself, one that takes him into the 2012 season as the team’s No. 1 player for the second year in a row.
The Buffaloes struggled last season at the bottom of the Centennial League, but the improvement of Cleveland and three other seniors plus the arrival of Cleveland’s freshman brother Paul has already paid dividends. Smoky Hill finished fourth Aug. 9 in the opening league tournament and has even higher aspirations.
Cleveland, 17, has an unweighted 4.0 GPA and is undecided on what college he will attend.
What is your favorite high school memory, athletically or otherwise?
My favorite high school athletic memory is making the varsity one spot my junior year. After that first year at the top of varsity, when the Smoky Hill team did not do as well as we hoped, I was really motivated to improve my game so I could actually compete. Seeing what it took to be a varsity contender was huge, and making varsity my junior year was my first step towards where I am now.
What is the biggest sacrifice you have to make to play your sport?
Golf demands so much time during the start of school that it is hard to stay prepared to play everyday while just starting the school year. The biggest sacrifice is staying ahead in my classes during the season. During the season, all I want to think about is golf, and it is tough to start the new school year on the right foot when you are missing 1-2 days a week for tournaments.
What’s the best piece of advice ever given to you in sports or in life?
The best advice I’ve ever received is related to golf. “Take each hole shot by shot, never get ahead or behind yourself.” In golf, you must stay in the moment, and I find that if you focus on what you need to do in the present, you tend to forget the mistakes of the past. Also, if you stay in the present, you don’t lose focus, which is key to a successful round of golf.
Are you a leader? If so, what do you think makes a good leader in yourself or others?
I think I am a leader on our golf team. Good leaders lead by example, treat everyone as equals, and encourage progress.
Do you have any quirks or superstitions when it comes to your sport or in life in general?
When I play a good tournament round, I like to keep everything the same. I will eat the same thing for breakfast, use the same ball, use the same spot on the range, and try to get to the course at the same time.
If you listen to music before a game, what gets you most ready for competition? If not, how do you get focused?
I am not crazy strict about a pre- game routine. When I am on my way to tournaments, I like to listen to 98.5 KYGO to take my mind off the golf. I really like to listen to country before tournaments because I think it relaxes me and gets me in the mindset I need to be in. When I prepare on the range, I just focus in on executing every shot to best prepare myself for the round.
What’s a sport you’ve always wanted to try, but haven’t and why haven’t you?
I have always wanted to try lacrosse. Since I played baseball for the first two years of high school, I never had the opportunity to try lacrosse because both baseball and lacrosse are spring sports.
If you could pick a person living or dead to spend a day with, who would it be and why?
I would spend a day with Will Ferrell. I have seen all his movies and I think he is hilarious! I love all his movies, and just saw The Campaign this past weekend. I think that if we spent the day together, I would never stop laughing.
Other than sports, do you have another true passion in life and if so, what is it and why?
Paddleboard and build Legos. While on vacation this year, my family discovered Stand-Up Paddleboarding. It is a ton of fun and a great workout. I’m now just beginning to paddleboard on the Colorado reservoirs. I also love to build Legos. Over the past 3 years, I have built the Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal, and the Tower Bridge out of Legos, totaling 13,637 pieces.
What do you see yourself doing in 10 years?
In 10 years, my plans are wide open. I know I want to either study business or engineering in college and could see myself as a Mechanical Engineer or a Financial Restructurer which rescues and rebuilds corporations in danger of bankruptcy.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555
