Athlete of the Week: 10 questions with Paige Engels, Loyola basketball

Paige Engels is a senior guard for the 19-0 Ramblers and a four-year varsity player. She is committed to play for Cornell University next year.

1. Do you have any pregame rituals or superstitions?

I have a couple. Kelsey (Langston) and I always give a handshake when we’re the last two to have our numbers called (during lineup announcements) and I have a handshake with Clare Weasler too.

2. Why Cornell?

When I visited, I could just tell. It was obviously a really beautiful campus and had everything I was looking for with academics and the whole team culture. I could tell it would be a great place for the next four years for me to have a lot of fun and both thrive as a student and athlete.

3. What is your favorite thing to do off the court?

I think to hang out with siblings (brother Matthew, 22, sisters Clare, 20, and Brooke, 16) and friends and do anything — watch a movie or show, just hang around. My favorite thing is spending time with people I am closest too.

4. What is your favorite TV show right now?

I’d say “Grey’s Anatomy.” That’s what I’m watching right now. I’ve just been binging it right now and it’s been entertaining, all the drama.

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

Volleyball. I used to play in grade school and it was always so fun and I love to watch it too. I go to a bunch of high school games. I love watching it and it was fun to play.

6. What is your dream job?

I’d want to be someone who gets paid to travel, because it would be really cool to visit a bunch of different countries. It would be cool to get paid to do that.

7. What is your favorite place you’ve traveled?

I’ve been to a lot of places in the United States. Idaho for sure. Every year, my uncle takes me and all my cousins on my dad’s side on a trip there. It’s a very beautiful place with mountains and the river. It reminds me of good memories of cousins and family. There is so much to do — hiking and fishing.

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

Some candy. Some Airhead Xtremes bites .

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

I like to fly fish. It is one of my favorite hobbies when I go to Idaho in the summer. I enjoy it when I have the chance. It’s very relaxing and a lot of fun.

10. What is it going to take for this team to make the state finals?

I think we all just have to buy into each other and trust and know we are good enough to get to that point. We have to put work in every day in the gym. Continuing what we’ve been doing, continuing to have a lot of fun and work really hard will help us succeed.

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