Posted: Jan 29, 2021

Q&A with Basketball Senior Eric Kipper

Eric Kipper

What Sports do you play for Westwood?

I play basketball for Westwood and have been part of the program for all four years of high school.

What is your best memory you have had playing for the Warriors?

My favorite memory of Westwood basketball is when we beat Vandegrift in the third round of the playoffs last year. The gym was completely sold out and packed with rowdy fans that loudly cheered and celebrated every basket. The atmosphere was incredible. After the game, my ears were ringing because of how loud it had been. We pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the year by beating a highly publicized Vandegrift team in their own gym. It is an experience I will never forget.

What is the Best thing about being a Warrior Athlete?

The best thing about being a Warrior athlete is the connection that you form with your teammates. The basketball team bonds through early morning practices, team dinners, and games. We have to trust each other and work together to achieve our common goal of winning games. I hope to remain friends with my teammates long after high school.

What is your favorite thing about Westwood High School?

My favorite thing about Westwood High School is the diversity. Westwood is comprised of people from all sorts of different backgrounds and cultures. The diversity at Westwood helps me view life from different perspectives and challenge stereotypical preconceptions. I’ve enjoyed getting to know people who are different from myself.

What is your favorite class and teacher at Westwood?

My favorite class that I took at Westwood is AP Chemistry with Mr. Gonzales. At the start of the year, I was wary of this class because I had heard that it was really hard. However after a few weeks, I knew that it would work out just fine for me. Mr. Gonzales is a great teacher. He made learning chemistry fun and tolerated and answered my endless barrage of questions.

What teams do you root for outside of the Warriors?

Outside of the Westwood Warriors, I cheer for the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA and the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL. I really love watching Zion Williamson on the Pelicans because he is a powerful, young player who can change a game with his dunking ability. I root for the Chiefs because I admire their innovative offense, and my cousins live in Kansas City. They would not approve of me cheering for any other team.

What is the best advice someone has given you?

The best advice someone has given me is “to be a goldfish”. You might think that this is really weird, but it actually makes sense. Goldfish have notoriously short memories and that is really important in sports and real life as well. It’s crucial to not let one mistake lead to another. So, if you find yourself getting down on yourself, it’s important to just forget about it and focus on the future so that you can still positively impact the game / life.

What advice would you give to someone that wants to be a Warrior Athlete?

My advice to a future Warrior athlete would be to never take anything for granted. Every day in practice and every moment that you get to be in a game is an opportunity to show why you are special. You should play with passion and have no regrets because it’s truly amazing to be part of a Westwood team.