Athlete of the Week: 10 questions with Olivia Iacobelli, New Trier flag football

Olivia Iacobelli is a senior two-way player for the Trevians. She plays corner back and wide receiver and has been with the program for four years.

1. Do you have any pregame rituals or superstitions?

I usually try to drink an engery drink before every game. I feel like it gets me more ready. I usuall drink a Bloom Energy drink, peach mango flavor.

2. What do you hope to do next year?

I’m not too sure yet. I think going to college for business is what I hope to do. I feel it’s just that math is what I’m better at and business works with that.

3. When did you start playing football?

Freshman year, when I found out New Trier was having a team. I had never played before.

4. Why did you join the program?

I didn’t really have a fall sport and saw flag football was new and thought it looked interesting. I never really played but I’ve seen videos and it looked fun so I decided to join.

5. What are some things you learned quickly?

My freshman year I didn’t really know what any of the plays were. I barely knew what a route was. I thought you just run straight. … On defense, I didn’t know you were to be set in a certain position and where to be set.

6. What will you take with you after high school?

I feel like most college have intramurals, and it would be fun to join with my friends on intramural team. I think the high school experience would carry on there and I can maybe make new friends if I join a team.

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

I like to play pickleball quite a bit. I go with my sister (Camila Iacobelli, twin sister) to courts not far from our house and play with random people.

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

I’m probably buying some Sour Patch Kids, the watermelon ones. I recently got into them, like a month ago.

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

Maybe that in my free time I also like to bake, like cook. I don’t think many people know that. When go to a family friend’s house, I usually make a tres leches cake or some flan — that’s one of my staples.

10. How has your senior season been?

I think this year has been all about trying to get better and improve our gameplay and also bonding with the whole team. It’s our last season. … We have seven seniors on the team and we’re trying to make the most of it and have so much fun. This year, out of all the others, I feel we’ve been the closest, just getting to know everybody and hanging out.

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