Q & A ... with Liberty’s Danil Kurtz
Liberty’s volleyball team was looking forward to another successful spring campaign, but the Hurricanes never got the chance to show what they can do.
This week, Danil Kurtz talks about his thoughts and emotions on the season being canceled and how he’s been coping during the quarantine.
Kurtz be attending Penn State in the fall and majoring in business and finance.
1. Now that the news of the spring season being over has had time to sink in, what are your thoughts or emotions about not being able to play your senior year?
“Ultimately, the best way to describe my thoughts about our season is disappointment. You’re always told to have a plan for life after sports, but it’s much harder to cope with the absence of them when you weren’t given a final chance to play. I’ve been playing volleyball year round for almost six years, so my life has practically revolved around competing and training for my senior season. I don’t regret any of the sacrifices I’ve made, but not getting a chance to show off that dedication is disheartening. Even when I’m in my backyard hitting the ball around with my dad, I get flashbacks to playing with my team or practicing everyday after school. Volleyball comes in so many different forms, whether it be collegiately, outdoor tournaments, or indoor leagues, so I know that I’ll be continuing my career in some capacity. But there’s nothing that can relate to the feeling of a high school season, and I’m not sure when I’ll finally be able to let that go.”
2. What were you looking forward to the most this season?
“This year’s senior class has been a group of not only good teammates, but my best friends. It was one of the most tight-knit teams I’ve ever been apart of and I was excited to see how our connection would transition onto the court.”
3. What activity do you find yourself doing the most during quarantine?
“I find myself working out more consistently than ever before. Although I’m not working toward strength on the court, I’m trying to establish a regularly healthy lifestyle.”
4. What do you miss most about normal life?
“Aside from volleyball, I miss hanging out with my friends and eating out at restaurants. Quarantine has showed me that that’s all we seemed to do.”
5. If you had the choice to be stuck at home with any teammate(s) during this quarantine, who would they be and why?
“I would choose to be stuck with Michael Capuano. He’s one of my best friends on and off the court and we always find something to joke about.”
6. Can you name your favorite movie, show or series you’ve watched over the past month?
“I recently watched the TV show All American on Netflix and I highly recommend it.”
7. What’s the worst part about being stuck at home?
“The worst part about being at home is that I feel guilty when I step outside, even if I’m simply going for a run or doing yard work. It almost feels wrong.”
8. What’s the first thing you want to do once this quarantine is over?
“The first thing I want to do is play volleyball; whether it’s outside in my yard or at Liberty with my team.”
9. Can you tell your favorite sports story about yourself, your team or your teammates over the years?
“My favorite memory with my team has to be anytime we get to hangout together in between matches or during open gyms. I love to be able to joke around and have fun while playing competitively. Personally, one of my favorite memories this year was when I went to Florida with my club team.”
10. What lesson(s) have you learned throughout this whole process?
“The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to hold myself accountable. For about three weeks, the entire state was unsure if spring sports would come back. Yet, as a team, we trained at home and prepared as if we had to play a match the next day. The skills will come back, but pushing yourself when no one is watching is what makes a true athlete.”