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15 M A R C H 2 0 2 2 | M H J ON L I N E . C O M Photos / Canaan Petersen; Van Batavia Family MHJ // How did you decide to commit to play at Minnesota State? Van Batavia // I attended a few college camps over the summer. When I stepped on Mankato's ice and toured the campus, I knew I wanted to go there. Meeting the coaching staff and being able to hang out with some of the teammates made me realize I want to play there for the next four years. There's a big difference between the high school and college level, but I feel like I have the whole community of Luverne at my back. MHJ // How did you get to have such an accurate shot? Van Batavia // My dad would tag along sometimes when I would shoot pucks, which helped with my accuracy. Last summer I really focused on my shot. I would shoot 200 pucks a day, maybe more. This year showed me that hard work really does pay off. MHJ // What's your greatest strength as a hockey player? Van Batavia // I see the ice well, and I'm able to read my teammates well. Our team has really good team chemistry. MHJ // What tips do you have for youth hockey players? Van Batavia // One thing that people have always told me is that it goes by fast, and I never believed it until this year. This season's almost over already, and I'll be a senior next year. So enjoy it because it goes by fast. Also learn to enjoy the training and make it fun because it really does pay off. F POSITION: Luverne COLLEGE: HOMETOWN: KAMRYN VAN BATAVIA IS GETTING USED TO MEDIA ATTENTION for her seriously impressive game stats. The junior's two goals in the Section 3A double overtime-winning final against New Ulm gave her 80 on the season while helping Luverne reach its third-consecutive state tournament. With a career goal record pushing 200, there's good reason for her to be in the spotlight. But for Van Batavia, hockey is more than a game. It's about community. "I love knowing that I have a whole hock- ey family behind me–parents, coaches, and my teammates–hockey is a really fun sport because no one could do it alone," she said. "Every day at practice, not only am I working to better myself, but our whole team is working to benefit each other." MHJ // What's your earliest hockey memory? Kamryn Van Batavia // My earliest skating memo- ries are my dad taking me out to the rink for open skate and mini mite open hockey with my cousins. My earliest hockey memory was going to 12U State. MHJ // Your dad played hockey for Luverne. How much of an influence has he been? Van Batavia // My dad is the influence and the reason why hockey is such a big part of my life. He is my biggest role model on and off the ice. He's just always there pushing me and helping me strive to be my best. MHJ // What does it mean to Luverne to have made it to the State Tournament the past three years? Van Batavia // There's been a lot of people who have gone through Luverne hockey and continue to give back to the sport. I can always look up in the stands and see past teammates of mine or my aunt and my older sister who also played. Parents whose kids have graduated still come back to support our team. I think that's just the love everyone has for the sport. Our two successful varsity teams are role models who encourage younger youth hockey play - ers. There's so many kids that are wanting to come out for hockey, and it just shows the kids that their big dreams can be accomplished. Minnesota State Mavericks THE VAN BATAVIA FILE S H O O T S : L e f t HEIGHT: 6' 0" FUN FACT: Kamryn hates socks and refuses to wear them with shoes and skates. YOUTH HOCKEY: Luverne Hockey Club "Last summer I really focused on my shot. I would shoot 200 pucks a day, maybe more. This year showed me that hard work really does pay off."