Jazmine Hicks likes to eat (and other musings)

As promised, we here at The Baseline caught up with Westwood star volleyball player Jazmine Hicks after practice yesterday.
Among the hard-hitting topics we dicussed were rap music, Hicks' eating habits and all that pregame yelling.
But, we also delved a little in some volleyball and what it was like for Hicks to go from Westwood to Palestine, and come right back again.

The Baseline: How long have you been playing volleyball?
Jazmine Hicks: Since seventh grade.
TB: Always here, always at Westwood?
JH: I started at Westwood, then my junior year I went to Palestine and that was it. Now I'm back here.
TB: Which did you like better?
JH: (Laughs) Let's see. I like it here because this is where I started, this is where most of my friends are. That's why I'd rather be here than Palestine, so I made the decision to come back here.
TB: It's a pretty big rivalry, right?
JH: When I moved over there, it was like I had to make a change. It was kind of hard making a change because everybody  knew me as a Panther, and I had to change to a Wildcat.
TB: Did you get rid of all your orange stuff (Westwood's main color)?
JH: Kind of.
TB: I like orange. I think it's a cool color.
JH: Actually, I wore my letterman (jacket) to school one day, and all my friends wanted to beat me up (laughing).
TB: That's not polite at all. Are you superstitious at all?
JH: I'm very superstitious.
TB: How? Do you like have a certain meal that you have to eat before a game or something?
JH: Well, when we go out there...we pray before the game and when we don't pray or don't get in our circle and say 'work hard' or something like that, then I feel like we're not going to do good that came because we haven't come together. Other than that, that's about my only superstition.
TB: What's with all the yelling? (Westwood players whoop during pre-game. A lot. Seriously.)
JH: It's fun. It's part of volleyball. If you don't yell then you can't get pumped up, you can't get happy.
TB: Even all the whooping and stuff?
JH: Everything.
TB: You feel like that's necessary?
JH: It has to be there. If you don't yell, then you can't win.
TB: How often do the other teams just kind of look at y'all like y'all are crazy?
JH: They don't, because they're yelling too.
TB: Okay. So, if a game's about to start (and) your back in the locker room getting ready, what kind of music do you listen to?
JH: A little rap, some R&B and some country. I love Carrie Underwood.
TB: Okay so let me ask you this important question, Jay-Z or Lil' Wayne? Which camp are you in?
JH: Oh Lil' Wayne. I hate Jay-Z.
TB: I'm just curious. I like to know these things.
JH: (Laughs)
TB: Okay, what's your favorite part about playing volleyball?
JH: Hitting. It's very fun. It's what I'm best at. I dunno, like I feel like I help my team out more when I'm hitting and then there up and stuff. And, being a positive leader. It's a really big part actually.
TB: Do you like intimidating people when you hit? Last time I was here I think you hit someone in the head. That's got to help the intimidation factor
JH: (Laughs) I love intimidating people and I love giving them mean looks. I'm not a mean person at all.
TB: Yes, you seem vicious
JH: I'm very happy and outgoing and funny. I love to make people laugh. So, when I intimidate people, it makes me feel happy inside because they're really scared like, 'She's going to hit the ball now.' So, I have to hit the ball now.
TB: Well, you can't let them down.
JH: Exactly
TB: Do you play any other sports?
JH: Basketball, track, softball.
TB: So everything?
JH: Everything
TB: What's your favorite food?
JH: Well seeing as I'm kind of big, fat (Note: she's not. At all) I eat everything, but I love Mexican food.
TB: Wait, hang on, stop. Did you just say that you were fat?
JH: Yes I did. I'm a really big girl, if you really got to know me, you'd be like 'She's really fat.' This is how big I am. My ninth grade teacher, Mr. Russell, used to say--because I always carry food in my bag--if I got stranded, I wouldn't die even if I was there for a long period of time because I'd have food there with me.
TB: So you just carry food around in your backpack?
JH: I have to eat. Every period. Sorry teachers.

Let me just say that this was a lot of fun. I've always loved to talk to athletes about more than just the sports they play, because they're always a lot more than just an athlete.
So, that being said, I want to keep doing these. If you've got a suggestion for which local athlete I should interview next (Any one from any varsity team in the Dogwood Circle, preferably a sport in season) shoot me an e-mail or put it in the comments section down below.
Also, we should name this installment, so I'll take suggestions for that as well with the winner getting full credit when it's decided.