Athlete of the Week: 10 questions with Eleni Kanellos, New Trier soccer

Eleni Kanellos is a senior defensive back for the Trevians. She is a multi-year starter and four-year varsity player.

1. Do you have any pregame rituals or superstitions?

I don’t really do much, other than when we run around the field for our warmup, I always touch both goalposts and I always hop six times on each foot when we’re lining up to sprint. As a team, we always listen to the same songs before a game to get us ready.

2. What are your plans next year and why?

I am going to the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign). My major is currently undecided, but I’m planning on pursuing either education or nursing. Everyone who goes there loves it and I like that it’s close to home and I also like that there’s so many people from here going and I feel like I’ll build a good community there. And my dad went there and we always joke that at least one kid had to go to Illinois, so it’s me.

3. What is your dream job?

I don’t really know. I’m open to different things. Honestly having no job would be really nice and doing whatever I want to do. But obviously that’s never going to happen.

4. What’s your favorite thing to do off the field?

I of course love to be with friends and family. I really love spending time with my dog, Iris, and taking her on walks. I also have been into watching movies lately. I’ve been binge watching Christopher Nolan movies. I’m currently watching the Batman trilogy.

5. What is your earliest memory of playing soccer?

I honestly don’t remember that much from when I was really young. My first really vivid memories of soccer were during COVID when I started taking soccer seriously. I used to go to the field with my brother Evan and we would kick long balls together. And every single time I would kick a bad one he would kick the ball across the field and make me go and get it, and that’s how I feel I started to take soccer seriously and learn how to kick a ball the right way.

6. What is it about defense — why do you enjoy it?

I really like having time on the ball to find a good pass. I really like playing long balls through and I feel like I have a really good opportunity for that in the ball. And defending is so much fun. You build a little community with your other defenders. It’s fun and really different from offense, but I get the opportunity to defend some of the best players and try to shut them down.

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

Probably volleyball. I used to play in middle school and it was so much fun, just like diving around for the ball.

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

Definitely gum (Extra spearmint) and probably a Celsius (Peach Vibe) or Gatorade.

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

I joke about this a lot, because I’ve been using the same fun fact for years, that I’m a certified scuba diver. But also I know how to play the viola. Most people don’t know that. I used to play in elementary school, but eventually quit. I feel like I could pick it back up.

10. A week away from the postseason, do you like where this team is at?

I’m honestly super excited. We’ve had such a great opportunity this season to play all different types of games and be in all types of situations. It’s been really good prep for playoffs. We’re also in and advantage that there are so many girls on the team who have experienced what it’s like to win it all (2024) and what’s like to have your season cut short, and that’s giving us an edge headed into the playoffs.

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