2020 Senior Spotlight: Hannah Straub

Louisburg Sports Zone will be running senior spotlights through April and May everyday (Monday through Friday) in an effort to honor seniors who had their seasons taken away due to the spread of COVID-19.

When the news came down that spring sports were cancelled for the 2020 season, members of the Louisburg girls soccer team were in a state of disbelief.

The Wildcats were considered to be one of the top teams in Class 4-1A again after making the state championship game in back-to-back seasons. Louisburg also had a roster of 12 seniors who had no idea they had played their final game.

However, for senior Hannah Straub, she had no idea that her final game would be played her sophomore year. Straub spent all of last season recovering from an ACL tear and she had been looking forward to this final year of soccer.

“I was extremely excited to be able to play this year, especially since I sat out last year,” Straub said. “Getting a chance to go to state again and play with my family would have been the perfect end to my senior year.”

That perfect scenario isn’t a reality anymore as Straub and the rest of her teammates are left to wonder what could have been. The current reality has been difficult to take at times.

“In the beginning I was extremely upset about the cancelation of senior year and soccer, but I’ve been trying to make the best out of a bad situation,” Straub said. “I feel like the realization that it’s all actually over keeps coming in as I realize what we’re missing out on. I’m in denial that it was all taken away so quickly.”

Straub was a key defender on the Wildcats’ first two state final four teams, and as a sophomore, helped to Louisburg to a second-place state finish. She was all set to return to that role again this year after starting all 42 games she played in her first two years.

“Hannah was a great player for us,” Louisburg coach Kyle Conley said. “She would have been a player who would have played every minute of every game if she was healthy. Hannah tore her ACL towards the end of her sophomore year, but still completed that season. Before that injury, Hannah really excelled for us.”

Not being able to play in her final season has hurt her, but for Straub, she will also miss the team comradery with her fellow seniors and being able to be with her coaches.

“The soccer senior class is extremely special because we have gone to state every year that we have been on the team,” Straub said. “This group is always willing to give their all and make any sacrifice needed for the good of the team. The coaches have always pushed us to be our best and work our hardest no matter the outcome. They find a positive with every experience and always support us.”

**Senior Hannah Straub missed her junior season with an ACL injury, but was ready to rake the field one last time with her team.**

Soccer has been a fixture in Straub’s life ever since she was in elementary school and has never given up on it. However, playing the sport almost did happen.

“I have been playing soccer since I was in second grade and I honestly signed up just because one of my friends played,” she said. “I started playing competitively in fourth grade and since then it has been a major part of my life. I’m always playing year round.”

Even though Straub won’t get the opportunity to close out the sports she loves the right way, she still has plenty of good memories with a Louisburg program that accomplished a lot in the last three years.

“My favorite memory of LHS soccer would just be seeing the progress we made each year and how much closer we all really became,” Straub said. “I think it really showed on the field.”

Other than soccer, Louisburg Sports Zone also had a chance to catch up with Hannah on how she has been coping with an early end to her senior year and some of her other interests. Here are her responses from the rest of our Q&A.

LSZ: What have you been missing the most during this time away from everyone?

HS: I miss how close everyone gets during the season. Throughout the year we really do become a family and we can rely on each other for anything and I’m going miss that.

LSZ: What is your most memorable moment as an athlete or in school, and why?

HS: The most memorable moment I had as an athlete for the school was being a starting player on varsity as a freshman. Making an impact on the team in such a way was a rare privilege most wouldn’t get as a freshman going to any other school.

LSZ: What is your favorite activity/hobby outside of sports and why?

HS: During the school year I don’t typically have any hobbies really since I’m so busy and would much rather relax. I do enjoy reading, which is a hobby I’ve been able to take up again with this time off.

LSZ: What are your plans for after graduation?

HS: After I graduate I plan to attend KU and major in accounting and pursue that career.

LSZ: What accomplishments that don’t involve athletics are you most proud of and why?

HS: My proudest accomplishment other than athletics would probably be my grades and being able to keep them up while being busy.

LSZ: What do you think would be something that a lot of people don’t know about you?

HS: A lot of people don’t know that I am the hair stylist of the team and I do almost everyone’s hair before every game.