TENNERTON — In continuing to bring you the best sports coverage in Upshur County, the My Buckhannon sports department is pleased to present another edition of our exclusive — Raising the Jolly Roger With…
In ‘Raising the Jolly Roger With…’ the My Buckhannon sports department will interview a senior student-athlete from Buckhannon-Upshur to get to know them better and what makes them tick both on and off the field.
Our student-athlete this week is Lillian Fetty — enjoy!
1. Please list all the sports you have played at B-U and what year you played them? I have swum on B-UHS’s swim team from 2020 to 2024.
2. What has been your favorite athletic moment at Buckhannon-Upshur that you participated in? I had a really cool experience at regionals this year where I dropped 20 seconds off my 500 time by pacing with a fellow competitor (who also achieved a significant improvement). It was incredibly rewarding to push and challenge myself like that, and then share the celebration with her after we both achieved such a significant time drops.
3. Describe your toughest practice at Buckhannon-Upshur. What sport and who was the coach? During the first week of my freshman year, the swim team, under the guidance of Coach Will Squires, did a practice that involves swimming the length of the pool, followed by dryland exercises, then repeating the process with the number of dryland exercises increasing each time. As a freshman, I found it very challenging, but the shared challenge was also an important team bonding moment in a way.
4. Do you have a favorite saying from one of your head coaches? During especially difficult practices, our head coach, Kelly Terhune, likes to say, “I’m sorry, but I’m really not.”
5. What was or is your favorite class you have taken at Buckhannon-Upshur and who taught it? Why was it your favorite? My sophomore year I took honors U.S. history with Mr. Robert Carr. It was quite possibly the most engaging class I have ever taken, and it was challenging in all the right ways. I’ve always had a passion for the humanities, and Mr. Carr’s teaching style encouraged critical thinking and fostered a deeper appreciation for the subject matter.
6. What is your favorite thing about being a Buccaneer? My favorite thing about being a Buccaneer is the sense of community I’ve fostered, particularly with my friends.
7. If you were asked to play another sport, what would it be and why? I’ve always been intrigued by rock climbing. I’m drawn to it for similar reasons of swimming, it’s one of those sports where you’re primarily competing with yourself and pushing your own limits.
8. Who is your hero and why? It’s difficult for me to pinpoint just one hero; there are a lot of people who I really respect and admire. However, someone who has captivated me recently is John Muir. I aspire to one day be as brave and adventurous as he was, but more importantly, I admire his unwavering dedication to the causes close to his heart, especially the environment. Muir was certainly a very eccentric person, but I think that’s part of what allowed him to make a significant impact.
9. What do you want to be when you grow up? Ideally, I would like to do historic preservation or conservation of some sort.
10. What are your initial plans after graduation this spring? After I finish high school, I plan to go to college to study history. I haven’t decided where yet, but I’ve been accepted to a handful of places.
11. What question do you hate to answer? As I’m preparing to leave for college, I’ve had a lot of people ask me what my top choice school is. At this point, I genuinely don’t know, so I always feel like any answer I give is wrong.
12. Who is the best athlete in your family? My dad is very passionate about cycling and staying active.
13. Do you have a favorite vacation spot? If so, where? There’s a little island up in Maine called Greens Island that my family occasionally visits. It’s a very serene and tranquil little spot, and it’s a nice place to just unplug from the world and be in the present moment.
14. What is your favorite food and one thing you won’t eat? One of my favorite foods is fried potatoes. I’m a vegetarian, so one thing that I won’t eat is meat.
15. What advice would you give to a young athlete ready to start his/her time as a Buccaneer? I would tell young athletes not to take themselves too seriously. Embrace the challenges and give it your all, but at the end of the day remember to enjoy the experience.
