Panther Profile: Lyndi Vantiger

Lyndi Vantiger is a senior at Mt. Pleasant High School, and a member of the Panther track and field team.

Vantiger competes both on the track and in the field, and was a state qualifier in long jump last season. She is also a member of the Panther volleyball and softball teams.

Vantiger met with The News on Wednesday during practice. The questions are in bold with her answers following.

Did you grow up in Mt. Pleasant? I did not grow up in Mt. Pleasant. I grew up in a little town by Yarmouth that's even smaller than Yarmouth. Mt. Union. I started going to school in Mediapolis and went there since I was four-years old until sophomore year, and then I moved here.

How was the switch over to Mt. Pleasant? Was it a natural fit? It was a natural fit, because I always came here when I was little, for the pool for the most part. It's the same distance for me to Mt. Pleasant, so the drive wasn't different, and I also knew some of the girls already from my travel softball team. So I really like the transition, it was really easy for me.

Have you made plans for after high school? No, it's been a really stressful trip for me and my future! I'm really trying to go further into my athletics career, and it's been in softball my whole life. Just this year I've gotten a lot of offers for track as well. So now I'm kind of deciding. I might do both, might only do softball or might only do track. Right now I'm trying to decide which sport, but also put my education first.

On your first long jump attempt do you go all out or just make sure you don't scratch? Your first one isn't necessarily your all-out go-for-it. Your last one is always your go-for-it. You've already got other jumps already. Your first one is like, don't go slow and make sure you don't hit the board because you've got more left. Your first one is a test run. If you scratch you scratch, and if you don't, it's a good jump.

Do you pretty much know if it's a good jump right when you land? Usually I don't know, to be honest, but if I feel that my technique is good, then even if it's not far, I can feel my technique being good.

You run in a lot of events. Do you have something you consider your favorite, or your thing? Two-hundreds are definitely my race. I'm not good at coming out of blocks, and I'm not fast enough to come out on a 100, but in a 200, I catch up to everyone else and I always finish strong. That's probably my strongest race.

Do you have any superstitions? This year for track, when I get in blocks, I have to do my full routine and I have to wear a ponytail. I have to tighten my ponytail before I go down in blocks. It's a thing, and I have to do it, and this year I've been yelled at three times for it, because I take too long!

If you were running for president and had to pick someone on your team to be your running mate, who would you choose? Honestly, I'd probably go with Abby Ryon. She's pretty smart, and really collective. She knows everything that's going on most of the time, and she's definitely one of those people, if I had to run the country, that she'd go out and get it.

Do you think she'd help you get a lot of votes too? Yeah, she definitely would! She'd help me.

Would you rather win tickets to the Superbowl, a Broadway play or a presidential debate? Definitely the Superbowl. That would be great. I love football. It's my favorite male sport, and if I could play it, everyone knows I probably would. Superbowl all the way.

Are you pretty disappointed that the powderpuff game got rained out? Yes! I was disappointed! My whole homecoming was ruined when I couldn't play powderpuff. I was looking forward to it.

How many touchdowns do you think you would have scored? Depends on who our quarterback would have been, because we didn't know yet. Anni Liechty or Trinity Krabill would have been our quarterback. I'd say I would have at least had two. At least.

Did you prepare any touchdown dances or anything like that? Nope, keep it casual!

If you could go visit one place in the world, where would you choose? Well, I've never been on vacation, so I don't know any places there are in general. If I had to go, I'd probably go to Bora Bora. I've always wanted to go there. Or anywhere with an ocean. I've never seen the ocean. If I could see a body of water, clear blue, I'd be happy.

So you kind of have just always stayed in Iowa? Well, I've traveled a lot for softball. I've been in about five states to play softball, but when I'm there, I play games and I'm done. I've never been sightseeing or been down at the beach, or anything like that.

If you could go out for any sport you haven't played in high school, what would it be? Tennis! Tennis seems fun. Tennis seems like, quick and action, but I can't do it obviously, because of track. Also, I feel like I have too many anger issues for tennis. It has to be quiet, too.

If you could hang out with one celebrity for a day, who would it be? I'm not much of a celebrity person. I think Ashton Kutcher is pretty cool, just because he's from our state. He seems pretty cool.

What if you could pick a superpower to have? I'd definitely read people's minds.

Would you use that in sports? Maybe in softball I guess, right? Yeah, I definitely would! It would be helpful in all sports. I'd know what they're doing and know ahead of them?

In your time here at Mt. Pleasant, who has been your favorite teacher? I would definitely have to say (Nick) Maynard. Very laid back, but he also gets the job done. I learned a lot in his class.

Any shout outs? I'd probably shout out to my aunt and uncle down in Texas. They're special to me. I never see them, and they're my favorite people. I don't get to see them very often, but shout out to them down in Texas.

Panther Profile is a series of interviews with Mt. Pleasant athletes currently in season. This season will focus on members of the Panther golf, tennis, track and field, and soccer teams.