Showcase Q&A: QND’s Stratton discusses her brother’s influence, joy of reading and dinner table discussions
The fourth annual Muddy River Showcase takes place June 21 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game will tip at 2 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 4 p.m. General admission is $10.
QUINCY — When Sage Stratton packed her belongings to move to the Drury University campus, she made sure to include two very important pieces of clothing.
A sweatshirt and a t-shirt emblazoned with “Butler Football.”
“Technically, we’re not allowed to wear any other college gear,” said Stratton, the Quincy Notre Dame graduate who is heading into her freshman year on the Drury University’s women’s basketball team. “But I think it will be OK if I wear that once in a while.”
Well, maybe on game day.
See, Stratton’s older brother, Jackson, is a redshirt sophomore linebacker/safety for the Butler football team. He played in 10 games and made 16 tackles with one sack last season and is expected to vie for a starting position this fall.
And as every member of the Stratton will attest, family always supports family.
“Yes, we’re siblings, but we’re also best friends,” Sage said. “We’re the only two siblings, so we’re all that each other has. He gives me advice, even things outside of basketball. It’s about always having someone’s back. He always looks out for me and protects me. We still talk daily. We’ll always be there for each other.”
Seeing her older brother succeed motivated Stratton to do the same. She was a secont-team all-state selection as a senior when she led the Raiders to a fourth-place finish at the Class 3A state tournament, and she will get one more chance to represent QND during Saturday’s fourth annual Muddy River Showcase.
Stratton recently chatted with Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman about the move to Drury, what she likes to read, and the steak dinners her parents prepare for this Muddy River Showcase Q&A.
Q: How important is this time of the year for you to get adjusted to college life?
A: I think it’s really important. You get a sense of what practices will be like, what expectations the coaches have, get a jumpstart on getting to know the girls and creating that bond already. There’s something we’re doing together every night. The upperclassmen are doing a great job of including all of us. It’s amazing how we’ve already bonded.
Q: It sounds like you’ve adjusted pretty quickly, is that right?
A: It took like a week, maybe not even a week, for all of us to click instantly. All of the girls are great and it’s been super fun.
Q: What was it about Drury that made you decide to go there?
A: I really liked Coach (Kaci) Bailey and the entire coaching staff. They are one of the most consistent staffs in always talking to me, always asking how you’re. They want to have a relationship with you outside of basketball. That’s really cool. I’m able to talk to them about life or what’s on my mind. The family atmosphere Coach Bailey wants for us helps us create that bond. We do things together. Chemistry is what wins, and that’s what really drove me to Drury.
Q: When you got ready to leave for college, what was the best piece of advice your brother gave you?
A: He told me not to compare myself to everyone else right away. You’re going to struggle. You’re going to not be the best. You’re going to be new to everything. So keep working. Like he said, keep working and never stop. Your time will come. Your first year you may not play, and that’s OK. It gives you something to work toward. He always says stay consistent and work hard.
Q: How much of an inspiration was it watching him work to succeed?
A: He is one of my biggest inspirations. He’s never really had anything come easy to him. He’s had to work for every single thing he’s done. Seeing that makes me want to work just as hard as him. He truly earns every single thing he gets. When you see it not go his way, it’s heartbreaking because you know he works so incredibly hard. When you see him succeed, you’re so unbelievably happy for him. He’s been a great role model for me. I feel like I’m a copy and paste of him because I want to be just like him.
Q: Are you going to be able to watch his games this fall?
A: Last year kind of prepared me for this. Sometimes, I’d stay home and watch his games online or wherever they were streamed. I liked going to those games with my parents, so that’s going to be weird. I love seeing him going on to do bigger and better things. And he’s always watching my games, and there is a little bit of a window where he’ll be able to come to a few of my games. Most of them, he’ll have to watch from afar. That’s no different because he watched every single one of my high school games last year. After the game, he’d always send me a picture of the screen. We always support each other.
Q: Thank goodness for the GLVC Sports Network, right?
A: Yes, I’m very happy for that.
Q: When you want to get away from competitive sports, what do you do for fun?
A: I usually hang out with my friends, and like typical teenagers, we do things like play pickleball and just chill. I like to read. I like to be with my family. I love spending time with my parents at the dinner table. Those are the best times, just sitting down and talking with my family and just recapping our days. Those are things I love and honestly put first over basketball. You only have one life, and you don’t want to fully consume it with basketball?
Q: Do you have a favorite author or books you like to read?
A: I really like the Colleen Hoover books. Those are always very interesting reads. This was made into a movie, but “It Ends With Us” is a really good book. I have repeatedly read that. I usually read before I go to bed and that helps me relax. That’s my time to read.
Q: How much do you normally read?
A: I usually read about 10 pages and I’m out because I’m tired. It takes me a while to get through a book because I usually fall asleep with a book in my hand.
Q: Do you have a favorite meal?
A: This is tough because my mom and dad are amazing cooks and they make so many good meals, but I do have a favorite. Saturdays are usually steak nights, and they make a really good New York strip steak. It’s super good. With a side of broccoli. It has to have salt on it to give it that taste. And mashed potatoes. It’s the perfect meal because you have your protein, your vegetables and some carbs to round out the meal. It’s delicious every time I have it.
Q: How much do you pay attention to what you eat and what goes into a meal?
A: My dad likes to say “fuel the machine.” You have to put in good nutrients to be able to perform. It’s something I always carry with me. Before a game, always have a good meal so that you’re ready. It’s something they’ve always stressed.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice they’ve given you?
A: My dad always says to work hard at everything you do in life. You will always be successful if you work hard. Be true and be honest. Be yourself everywhere you go. Be your true self. I would describe my true self as working hard, having a smile on my face, always be upbeat. It’s about being the truest version of myself.
Q: What was your favorite high school basketball memory?
A: There are two. One is definitely winning the state championship with Abbey (Schreacke), Blair (Eftink) and Eryn (Cornwell). That was an unforgettable team, unforgettable memories and amazing girls. And then after this year’s super-sectional game hugging Coach Orne. I’ll never forget that. I love that you were able to capture that picture of us and I will always be able to have that. It was a great game and a great time and an amazing feeling.
Q: What are you going to miss about QND?
A: First and foremost, I’m going to miss Coach Orne. He really taught me so much, and we created an amazing bond with each other. It’s something that’s unbreakable. I’ll definitely miss him a lot. I’ll miss my friends. It’s different coming to Drury and wiping the slate clean. I love having a team and having automatic friends and people to lean on, but I’m going to miss my friends. I’ll miss my team because I think QND basketball is one of the best programs.
Q: What are you looking forward to about playing in the Showcase?
A: I’m excited to see everybody. I’m excited to see all of my family and all of my friends. It’ll be my first time playing for (Central-Southeastern coach Matt) Long. I’m super excited. He’s another amazing Tri-State coach who has been supportive of me even though I play for the rival team. He still cheers me on. He’s an amazing coach. And next, I get to play with (CSE all-stater) Lauren Miller one last time. We’re still really good friends, and what she’s doing over at SIUE is amazing. I hope the best for her and can’t wait to see her succeed. It’s going to be really nice to play with her one last time.
Check out more of the Muddy River Showcase Q&As at the links below:
Payson Seymour’s Blake Schwartz
South Shelby’s Callie McWilliams
West Hancock’s Lewis Siegfried
Quincy Notre Dame’s Alex Dance
Central-Southeastern’s Lauren Miller
Camp Point Central’s Elijah Genenbacher
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