Senior Dawgs feature: Q & A with Darian Fiesler
ARCHIVE PHOTOS BY LISA McGINTY | LMc Photography
By ARIEL STAHLER
Gazette & News sports writer
The 2020 high school spring sports season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
We will be featuring Dalton High School spring senior athletes who did not get to represent the Dawgs in their final season. This week’s senior is softball pitcher and center fielder Darian Fiesler.
What was your reaction when you found out spring sports were canceled?
I honestly didn’t think it was going to happen, just because it takes a serious, serious thing to cancel school (and) cancel spring sports. I feel for all of the seniors going through the same thing that I am. Being the only senior, it hurts the other girls, too, but it’s just something different with me being the only senior.
What were some of your goals for this season?
Some of my goals were, personally, just everyone wants to win, but I just wanted to have the most fun season that I’ve had because I’ve been playing with most of these girls since t-ball.
I just wanted to have a lot of fun. Each year, for me in high school, we’ve been winning more and more each year and I’ve just been looking forward to making another year better.
What do you miss most about softball?
The most I’m going to miss about softball is the bond between me and my dad because my dad has been my softball coach since my very first year of t-ball. It’s just something that me and him are going to have to reconnect with maybe in the future; maybe coaching a Little League team or something together because that is something really special that we have always shared.
How have you kept in contact with your teammates?
Before the season got canceled, we got together one time and it was really nice to get together again with them. Then we weren’t allowed to anymore and it kind of hurt, but we still kept in contact. We still texted and talked when we could.
How have you been keeping active during your time at home? I just committed to Shawnee State for volleyball. They have been sending us workouts that have been keeping me in shape. Also, I have just been doing my own thing on the days they don’t send stuff.
How have you adjusted to distance learning?
I have taken a few online college classes, so the transition wasn’t as hard for me, but learning, again, how a teacher is going to teach a lesson online was a struggle at the beginning.
Now everyone has gotten the hang of it and I’ve been able to adjust to the way that they are adjusting.
Are there any new hobbies or activities you have been keeping busy with?
I have been working out a lot more. I just took some prom pictures for my friends and I found out that I am not too bad at photography. I might be looking into that a little bit as a hobby.
Have you learned anything new about yourself during this time?
I learned that when I am committed to something, I’m fully committed. I knew that I was committed to a team, but just being distantly committed is something I found out that I am good at keeping up with.
What are your plans after graduation?
I will be majoring in radiology.
Follow Ariel on Twitter @AStahlerDGKNews
