VYPE: What are your goals for this season ? 

Kynli: My goals for this season are to be the best version of myself and bring others to be their best selves as it will bring great success to our team. After winning the state championship last year ultimately I would like to get back to the state tournament and defend the title. My goal for the whole team is to find what makes us great and strengthen our weaknesses so that we can try to win the championship again! 

VYPE: What has your sport taught you that you use in your daily life? 

Kynli: Participating in sports has taught me valuable lessons I will carry throughout my future. I have learned that success comes from being team led, communicating with others, learning from mistakes, and being mentally tough. All of which I apply to all aspects of my life. I have also learned the importance of taking care of the little things and that you are not defined by one thing. Coach Owen always says “Offense sells tickets, defense wins basketball games,” and this is so true as there is always a way to impact the game. Even if you are not having a good offensive game you can do the little things and play great defense and it will pay off.

VYPE: Who is your favorite teacher from any grade and why?

Kynli: My favorite teacher is Ms. Morris, who was my English teacher last year. She is one of my favorites because she taught me that I can do anything I set my mind to in and out of the classroom. She was also one of the most encouraging teachers I have ever had and made reading books and writing essays enjoyable for me. I am so grateful for the lessons I learned in her class and I feel more prepared for my future because of it!

VYPE: Who inspires you and why?

Kynli: The person who inspires me the most in life is my grandpa or as I call him “Paha.”. He has always been a constant in my life and truly is my biggest fan. He has faced a great deal of adversity throughout his lifetime but he has always got through it with a smile on his face. 

VYPE: What teammate has left the biggest impression on you and why? 

Kynli: The teammate who has left the biggest impact on me is one of my best friends, Madigan Griffith. We have played softball and basketball together since the beginning of high school, and she has always been a great person to look up to. She is a natural leader who leads by example and showcases great work ethic in all aspects of her life. 

VYPE: What is your favorite part about being on a team?  

Kynli: My favorite aspect of being on a team is the feeling of being surrounded by people who all share a common goal. It is so rewarding to get to share your accomplishments with people who have become your best friends because of this sport. An example of this being when we won the state championship last year; I remember running up to my teammates I had been with my whole high school career and experiencing that common goal turn into reality. 

VYPE: You can pick any place for a summer vacation, where do you go and who do you take with you? 

Kynli: If I could pick anywhere to go on vacation I would choose to go to Italy and I would take my mom with me. I would love to see all of the amazing sights and landscapes while also learning about their culture there. My great grandparents moved from Italy to the United States and I have always been interested in learning more about where they were from!

VYPE: Why are you passionate about your sport?

Kynli: I am passionate about this sport as I have learned that basketball is more than just running up and down a court, shooting and playing defense. It is about creating lifelong friendships with girls who share the same passion as you and working as a team to maintain the Lady Buff’s culture that everyone knows and loves.

VYPE: Here is your chance to say hello, goodbye or thank you to anyone you wish. 

Kynli: I would just like to say thank you to the whole buffalo community for supporting this team and believing in us throughout the good and the bad. I would also like to thank the sport itself for providing me an opportunity to make long lasting friendships and learning life skills that can be carried over into my future.