Hannah Geng ’27 and Sophia Austin ’27 Rising Stars feature image.

Rising stars

Freshmen state-qualifying swimmer Hannah Geng and all-around volleyball star Sophia Austen reflect on their careers so far.

Gianna Liu and Tyler Shane

Oct 6, 2023

Haneen Eltyeb and Minna Abdalla

Hannah Geng ’27

Q: How did you get into swimming?

A: My sister started [swimming] when she was ten, so I started when I was 5.

Q: What’s the difference between club swimming and school swimming?

A: Swimming club is definitely harder. Swimming for school, it’s just more fun. [There are] meets every week in high school, I have three next week. In club, I would probably do three every season.

Q: What has been your happiest moment as a swimmer?

A: One of my favorite meets that I’ve had was at [Central] Zones Championships when I was 12. We were in Indiana

and I was with Team Iowa. It was really fun to hang out with friends from all over Iowa, not just from our club.

Hannah Geng freshmen stats (Tyler Shane)

Q: What has been your proudest moment while swimming?

A: My most recent one was probably at Summer State this past summer when I won the 100-meter freestyle. It was a pretty close race. The girl next to me had beaten me in other races, so I just wanted to win that one.

Q: What’s your go-to pregame snack?

A: I eat fruit snacks at almost every single meet, so probably that, or Chex Mix

↑ Hannah’s pre-meet playlist!

Sophia Austen ’27

Q: How and when did you start playing volleyball?

A: It was my grandma; she brought a volleyball over [to my house] and we started playing. I started playing recreationally, then for the Iowa Rockets club and have played for six years.

Q: What is the biggest tournament you’ve been to?

A: The biggest tournament is nationals, and [my club team] went the last four years. Last year, we got ninth overall, which is the best that we’ve ever done.

Q: What is it like being on varsity as a freshman?

A: I was really stressed out before the first game, I was nervous. But the people are really nice. I love my teammates. I love the coaches. It’s just a lot of fun.

Q: What is the hardest aspect of your sport?

Sophia Austen freshmen stats (Tyler Shane)

A: [Volleyball] is a mental game, and people don’t understand that. It is like a rollercoaster; you [have] to get down and try to be calm in tough moments.

Q: What has been your happiest moment playing volleyball?

A: We won [club] state this last season. It went to three sets; we lost the first and then won the last two. It was a lot of fun because we had worked all season for it.

Q: What is your favorite position to play?

A: Either middle blocker or outside hitter. I played middle for Rockets this past year [and] outside for high school.

Q: What is your favorite pregame snack?

A: I love fruit snacks, [they] are my favorite.

About the contributors

Gianna Liu, Print Co-Editor-in-Chief

Gianna Liu is a senior at West High. This is her third year on staff and she is the Print Co-Editor-in-Chief. When Gianna isn’t busy taking photos or writing the next big story, you can find her bouncing a volleyball on the 10-foot line, watching the newest kdrama, walking 10,000 steps and volunteering.

Tyler Shane, Print Design Co-Editor

Tyler Shane is a senior and this is his third year on staff. This year he’s the print design co-editor for the West Side Story. In his free time he enjoys playing sports and hanging out with friends.

Haneen Eltyeb, Video Co-Editor

Haneen is a senior and this is her second year on WSS staff. This year, she’s Video Co-Editor. In her free time, she enjoys watching F1 races, overanalyzing movies, playing the New York Times Games and designing on Canva

Minna Abdalla, Online Sports Editor and Events Coordinator

Minna Abdalla is a senior and this is her third year on staff. She is excited to be West Side Story’s Sports Editor for a second year. Outside of journalism, you can find her riding her bike, baking banana bread or chilling with friends. Minna also enjoys listening to new artists such as 2hollis.

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