Athlete of the Week: 10 questions with Graham Mastros, New Trier baseball

Graham Mastros just finished his senior season with the Trevians. The third baseman led the Trevians in hits (38) and runs scored (36) while hitting .380 with five home runs. He will play for Saint Louis University next year.

1. Do you have any pregame or pre-at-bat rituals?

I have a lot of pregame stuff. Just to name a few: On game day, I have to walk on the left side of the stairs going up and down — at the school, at my house. Before the game, I try to listen to my playlist of songs in a row, no matter how long the drive is. I have to get in at least 30 seconds of each song. Pre-at-bat, I like to lay out all my batting gear in the dugout. Some of my teammates made fun of me through the season for that.

2. Why Saint Louis University?

When I went on my visit, I really liked the coaches. I liked the school and really liked everything about it. It’s a great fit for me. I just loved it when I went on my visit. I found a true connection with the coaches, which is something I looked for from the start of the recruiting process.

3. What do you hope to accomplish as a college baseball player?

I don’t really know right now. I just want to get there, earn a spot my first year or get some starts in my first year. I want to win a conference tournament and play in a regional. And make a whole new band of brothers like I already made from New Trier. I’m looking to do that again.

4. What is your dream job?

I kinda wanna stay around the game of baseball. My dream job may be owning a team or being the (general manager) of a team. It’s pretty stressful, but would be pretty fun. I think being a GM would be pretty cool.

5. If you could try another sport, what would it be?

Maybe hockey. I never really got into hockey. I wasn’t that good, but it looks pretty fun. It’s pretty physical.

6. What is your favorite thing to do off the field?

I like going to the gym. It’s pretty relaxing. I also play a lot of video games — “MLB The Show,” “Call of Duty.” That really takes up most of my time.

7. Would you rather hit a walk-off homer or make a game-saving defensive play?

Homer for sure. That’s the stuff you dream about before the game or before the season. I’ve never hit a walk-off homer. That would be pretty cool, pretty electric in a big game.

8. If you’re in Walgreens with a couple bucks, what are you buying?

You can’t go wrong with a Vitamin Water. Any of the flavors are pretty good. And a Payday bar.

9. What is something people don’t know about you?

I can solve a Rubik’s Cube. One day me and my brothers figured out the formula online and put our minds to doing it. Now we all can pretty much solve a Rubik’s Cube in about a minute or so.

10. Thirty wins and third place in the state: How would you summarize your senior season?

It was very memorable. There was a lot of anticipation going into the season about how it was going to be based on the year before. To do what we did, especially coming back after last year, is pretty remarkable to me. What the team put in to the offseason paid off. Even though we didn’t win, I think third place is pretty dope. I wouldn’t really want it any other way with any other team.

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