I got the mic: Audrey Wilson, Holy Spirit girls basketball

Audrey Wilson is a junior at Holy Spirit who helped lead the Spartans’ girls basketball team to a 20-6 record and a Cape-Atlantic League American Conference championship this season. She also is the starting goalkeeper on the girls soccer team. Glory Days Magazine publisher Dave O’Sullivan caught up with the 17-year-old Absecon resident during a recent phone interview. Sully: What was this basketball season like for you? Wilson: It was a great season. I think we did really well. Last year we lost a big group of seniors and everybody thought we weren’t going to be able to bounce back, but I thought we played really well as a team and had a great season. Sully: It seemed like you guys had great chemistry. Where did that come from? Wilson: We just have a lot of fun at practice, and we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses really well. We’re able to put each other in productive situations on the floor during games. Holy Spirit junior guard Audrey Wilson helped lead the Spartans to 20 wins this past season. She’s also the starting goalie on the soccer team. (Glory Days Magazine photo/Dave O’Sullivan) Sully: What was it like playing alongside a player like Summer Crilley? She has great skills but also seemed like a very unselfish player. Wilson: She makes some incredible passes to us to give us good, open looks, but it’s also good to have someone to rely on who you know can hit the big shot for you. If you throw her a tricky pass she’s able to control it and finish around the basket. Sully: What do you feel like your biggest role is on the team? Wilson: I think I see the floor really well, like being able to know where Summer is and all my other teammates to put them into a position to be able to score for our team. Sully: Did you get elected to be the player who gets everybody fired up before the game? How did that come about? Wilson: It was Summer’s job, but before one game she said ‘hey Audrey, why don’t you take it?’ And from there it was just a switch of roles. I saw the confidence coming from her that I could be the pump-up person for our team. Sully: Which season is tougher to get through, soccer or basketball? Wilson: Definitely soccer because I look forward to playing basketball. Soccer is a joy to have, but it’s always tougher to get through because basketball is really what I want to do. Sully: How physically demanding is basketball? It’s such a long season with all those practices and games. Wilson: In the beginning it’s kind of rough getting back in shape because you have to be in a different kind of shape for soccer. But it’s what I love to do, so it’s worth all the pain to become a better player and help my team win. Sully: What’s that first practice like after Thanksgiving? Wilson: Before that we do a couple conditioning practices but they are nowhere near what the first practice is like. You always go home tired. You do a lot of running, that’s for sure. Sully: Who is your pick in March Madness? Wilson: For the girls, I think UConn is going to take it all. They are a very dynamic team. Sully: If you were to play (Holy Spirit senior forward) Junior Saintel one-on-one, what would the score be and who would win? Wilson: I might be able to get a couple points, but it would be a dunk-fest from him, that’s for sure! He would hold the ball up over my head and I wouldn’t even be able to jump and reach it. Sully: How cool was that, having both the boys and the girls teams doing so well this winter? Was there a rivalry between you guys? Wilson: We joke around in school a lot that the girls can always do better than the guys, but we know in reality if we played them in practice one day they would tear us apart because they are so much bigger than us. But it’s fun to be able to go watch each other’s games and cheer each other on. Sully: How has your experience been at Holy Spirit? Wilson: Holy Spirit has been the greatest high school choice I could have made. I’ve made so many new friends from other towns, and the sports atmosphere, everyone is there to support each other. It’s a great school all-around. Sully: Is there any particular song that gets you pumped up before a game? Wilson: I am a devout Christian, so I like to listen to my church music before a game. It brings me to my peaceful place. Sully: What is your favorite food? Wilson: Probably broccoli. I like my veggies. Sully: What’s something that should never go on top of pizza? Wilson: Sardines. That’s just absolutely gross. Sully: Did you get your license yet? Wilson: Yes, I got my license in December. Sully: Are you a good driver? Wilson: I’m a very good driver. Sully: What would be your dream car? Wilson: A Camaro. Sully: What do you have planned for the summer? Wilson: Probably the biggest thing will be going to Washington, D.C., for an AAU basketball tournament. That’s always a blast. Sully: At this point in your career, is there any one moment that stands out, whether it be in soccer or basketball? Wilson: For basketball, winning the CAL title. That was an amazing experience. And for soccer being able to be in goal and win in a shootout that advanced us in the playoffs this season. Contact Dave O’Sullivan: sully@acglorydays.com; on Twitter @GDsullysays