Folsom Athlete of the Week: Austin Shouse

Austin Shouse is one of three team captains on Vista del Lago's varsity boys' basketball team and like all captains should be, he leads by example. Shouse isn't the team's highest scorer and doesn't lead the team in assists or rebounding, but he's still one of Vista's key players. He averages six points and three rebounds a game, but he also does a lot of the dirty work. Shouse routinely guards the opposing team's best perimeter player, and the one category he does lead the team in is taking charges with 10. "What I like about Austin is how hard he worked in the offseason to get better," Vista coach Tim Weir said. "He put a lot of time in the weight room and got a lot stronger. He's a better shooter this season and he's a better defender. He's also a vocal leader and is into every game. He's a very positive player." Folsom Telegraph: What are your hopes/plans for after graduation? Austin Shouse: After graduation, I plan on attending BYU over the summer then serving a two-year LDS mission for my church. FT: Do sports run in your family? AS: I come from a very athletic family. My mother swam at Rio Americano and Fresno State, my father played wide receiver and tailback on an 11-1 Rio Americano football team and also played point guard on a '91 Rio team that won the Sac-Joaquin Section Championship, and my older brother currently plays lacrosse for Utah Valley University. FT: How long have you been playing basketball and how did you get your start in it? AS: I've been playing basketball for as long as I can remember. It has always been my favorite sport out of any I have played. FT: What do you like about basketball? AS: I love the fast pace game that basketball is and I love being a student of the game. I watch hours and hours of film and watch the pros play. FT: It's been a tough season so far for the team. What are your thoughts on how the team has played? AS: I think it has been hard for our team to get into a rhythm because of injuries, but I believe that my teammates and I share the same goals of winning, and we all understand what it takes to win, what matters most is whether we execute or not. FT: What are your hopes for the second half of league play? What does the team need to do to be successful? AS: For the second half of league play, I think our team just needs to take these games more seriously. When we play as a team, I believe we are very good. If we focus up and work hard, I believe we can shock some teams in the second half of league. FT: What is your favorite class in school? AS: My favorite class in school is student government. I've been involved for the last three years and am able to plan and execute all activities that go on at Vista. FT: Favorite music? AS: My favorite music is throwbacks. The Guardians of the Galaxy playlist is one of my favorites. FT: Favorite Food? AS: My favorite food would have to be a big steak that's cooked perfectly. FT: Do you have any pets? Tell us about them. AS: I have two dogs that are Shih Tzus. They are twin sisters and basically a magnet for girls. FT: Do you have any hobbies? What do you like to do in your free time? AS: In my free time, I work on planning activities at Vista for student government. I often also find myself watching film or any sports that happen to be playing on TV. I also recently became a fan of golf and was able to golf quite a bit over the summer with my cousin. FT: What inspires you in sports? AS: I think the satisfaction of winning and accomplishing a goal is my biggest form of inspiration in sports. I don't have a first period, so I go to the gym every morning before school and I believe that the extra time of working out has helped me to become a better basketball player and overall athlete. FT: Is there a particular job or profession you'd like to have after college? AS: After college, I plan on working under my dad with my brother at Colliers International as an appraiser. Videography has always been a dream job of mine, though.