Heading into the Easter Break with her Pride women's lacrosse team flying high, junior Kiana Koke took the time to sit down with Regis Athletics for the latest installment of "Know Your Pride." Koke plays both field hockey and lacrosse for the Pride, and is majoring in nuclear medicine at Regis.
Why did you choose to come to Regis?
I came to Regis because I actually wanted to play lacrosse, and nuclear medicine really drove my decision to come here. I looked at another school, which was in Pennsylvania, but that was a seven-hour drive.
What is it like being a two-sport athlete here at Regis?
It's a lot of fun. Both of the teams are very different and I get to meet a lot of new girls and experience different dynamics of coaching and team personalities. I get to continue two of my sports that I loved in high school.
So far, what has been your most memorable Regis experience on or off the field?
We've had a few championships, but beating Elms twice last year (in the NECC Championships for field hockey and lacrosse) was definitely pretty sweet. I would probably say it's between those. It's a tough question.
Talk a little bit about your experience from attending last weekend's Great Northeast Athletic Conference SAAC Leadership Conference.
It was really fun. I was really impressed by everybody that set it up there - they did a great job. I like how they did the DISC assessment, and I learned a lot from it, like how to work with others than just my personality, and what my advantages and disadvantages are. The other thing I liked is that all the SAAC members (from all the GNAC institutions) got together to talk about what we're doing, what we've done, and what we're looking to do in the future to get ideas from the others, so that was really nice.
When Coach Panciocco or Coach Duggan gives you the day off, what are you doing instead?
I probably go out to eat with my roommate, we treat ourselves. We'd probably also go to the movies or watch a movie here.
Got any good summer plans?
I work at a resort on Lake George in Upstate New York, and it's a lot of fun. I'm a poolside waitress, so I'm outside all day.
Do you have any pre-game superstitions?
I like to keep to myself. I'm not a super energetic type of person right before a game, so I keep to myself. I don't really talk about it. I listen to rock music before every game, so that's probably my one superstition.
How do you pass the time on a long bus ride to a game?
I use my phone as a hotspot and I do some homework. With a four hour bus ride, you've got to pass a lot of time, so I started playing Words with Friends, and I'll usually listen to a Pandora playlist. Usually a more energetic one before the game, and a country one on the way home.
What's the best advice you've ever been given and by whom?
The best advice I've ever been given was by my high school lacrosse coach, her name was Coach Britt. She's a personal trainer and she used to train us in the gym and said "If you put your mind to it, you can do anything in 30 seconds." It was for a plank or something, the last plank of the day, but I've applied it to a lot of other things.
What is the last picture you took on your phone?
Actually, people reading methods from the DISC assessment at the GNAC SAAC Conference.
If you could sit down to dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
I would love to sit down with, not singularly, but anybody who has been extremely recognized in sports - like the Miracle on Ice team, Jackie Robinson, or anybody who has really changed history for sports. The amount of pushing they had to do was outrageous, and I would really like to meet them.
If you could have a special power, what would it be?
To teleport, I'm always late.
What's the best class you've taken at Regis so far?
Exercise assessment, taught by Cathy Fuller. You get to do all these tests, and then you get to work out in class. I know there are strength training classes, but I haven't been able to take them.
What's your go-to karaoke song?
If I ever, ever, had to get up on stage, it would probably be either "Paradise City" by Guns N' Roses, or "Pour Some Sugar On Me" by Def Leppard.
If you could live in a TV show or movie, what would it be?
Currently, I'm really into Riverdale, I love Riverdale. But I already lived the high school experience, so I would like to go with Reign. It's from the CW as well, it's like a kings and queens type of show - it's really cool.
What is one thing about you that most people at Regis probably don't know?
I'm not as straight-laced as many people probably think. I don't have a lot of time, so I can't do what I like to do. A lot of people don't know, but I really like to be outdoors 24/7.
What are Coach Panciocco's and Coach Duggan's most used phrases?
Coach P's would be "lovey," she calls everybody "lovey." Coach Duggan always does a quote of the day, but when she gets wicked excited she always just has this face and says, "That was amazing!" It's so funny, she's always just like, "That was so amazing!"
If you had a million dollars what would you do with it?
I would definitely give some to my parents, because they would kill me if I didn't. They deserve it though, definitely. Probably I would put a little bit towards my future and the rest towards a dog shelter. I hate how they sleep on concrete.
All abilities aside, if you could play a sport at Regis other than field hockey or lacrosse, which would you choose?
I would like to swim, just because I used to swim and I loved it. It was better on my knees, but if I was on a team for personality, I would play basketball. Women's basketball just seems to have so much fun.
If you could be any animal what would you be?
My dog. Specifically my dog. He's spoiled and I love him. He's a pitbull and collie mix. He's so cute and has a spoiled life. There's this ice cream place back home called Martha's, every time it opens, we go every weekend and get him ice cream.
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