From an Eagle to a Maverick

If you remember the New Ulm Girl’s Basketball 2018/2019 season, there is no way you don’t remember Joey Batt!

Number 1 on the courts, New Ulm’s Joey Batt would race up and down the courts scoring an average of 24.6 points per game as a senior. Batt became the city of New Ulm’s all-time scorer as a senior with 2,301 points. Batt went on to play for Mankato State University (MSU) and still dons the number 1.

“College basketball,” Batt said, “is a higher pace than in high school.”

In an interview with KEYC, MSU Girl’s Basketball head coach Emilee Thiesse said, “She’s been a great spark for us, her speed is something that teams have a hard time contending with on the defensive end. On the offensive end she can really control the game. She can create her own shots, she can create for others, she’s really a multiple threat out there which is outstanding.”

Batt has been making an early impact at MSU, but how does she balance being an Elementary Education major, and a Division II basketball player?

“Balancing homework and basketball can get very stressful,” Batt said. “We [the MSU basketball team] lift two days a week in the morning, then I have classes, then practice for 2 or 2.5 hours after. Right when practice is done I usually do my homework because when we travel for games I don’t have very much time to do any schoolwork except for on the bus.”

College is a huge step up from high school, and Joey Batt is already working at improving her game.

“The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make to my game of basketball for college was my strength and I.Q. Since college athletes are a lot stronger and smarter in the game they are playing, I take my lifting very seriously and have upped my smartness with basketball.”

Even though playing Divison II basketball is cool, Batt still misses parts of high school basketball.

“What I miss most about high school basketball is the squadron. The cheers and support they gave [the New Ulm teams] was unbelievable and gave the team playing a lot of energy,” Batt said.

The cheers may not be as loud, but Batt loves the game of basketball anyway and wants nothing more than to keep playing.

The Mavericks finished their season 18-11 with help from New Ulm High School’s own Joey Batt. Batt finished the season with 49 points, 16 rebounds, and 11 assists as a freshman.

Headline by Zach Meyer