Ruden Sports News

Ridgefield’s Kurt Steidl had a strong freshman season for the Vermont basketball team. (Photo: UVM Athletics)

By Emma Oyomba

Kurt Steidl and I have a few things in common: we both love basketball, we both were BlueStreak Athletes of the Week in high school and we both happen to attend the University of Vermont.

Steidl, like me, will be a sophomore at UVM in the fall. But, unlike me, Steidl decided to use his athletic talent in college, and with good reason. The 6-6 Steidl was named to the 2014 America East All-Rookie Team. Steidl helped contribute to the University of Vermont basketball team’s success this past season. He saw action in 32 games, started twice and was one of the top shooters in the America East Conference.

Before he was a Catamount, Steidl was generating a lot of buzz in the FCIAC. He was the 2013 Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year and averaged 25 points and 9.5 rebounds as a senior at Ridgefield High School. He also finished his career by scoring over 1,300 points and earning All-FCIAC and All-State honors.

Steidl is currently up at UVM training with his team but was able to let me catch up with him about the past season, some of his favorite things and how his summer has been going.

Emma Oyomba: What made you choose UVM?

Kurt Steidl: The team was like a family and always looked out for each other. Also, the tradition of winning that the program has had the past decade was important to me.

EO: It says in your bio on uvmathletics.com that your mom is a UVM alumnus. What was her reaction when you made the decision to attend UVM?

Kurt Steidl (Photo: UVM Athletics)

KS: She just wanted me to be happy wherever I decided to commit. It was just a coincidence that the school I wanted to go to was her school as well. But, she was excited because I was excited.

EO: What is your major?

KS: I’m in the business school but haven’t decided exactly what I will major in yet.

EO: You saw action in 32 games last season. Were you expecting to have that much presence on the court your first year?

KS: I came into college just trying to work hard and not really worry about playing time, but I ended up playing a decent amount as a freshman, which was amazing. I got to learn so much about college basketball from the six seniors we had on this year’s team.

EO: Do you have any pregame rituals?

KS: We usually have a pregame meal as a team and then we go to the gym and warm up. I don’t do anything specific before games besides do our normal warmup routine.

EO: What kind of music do you like to listen to before a game?

KS: I have a pretty unique music taste. I listen to a lot of country and also a lot of rap, so I listen to those genres before games even though they are complete opposites.

EO: What is your favorite thing to eat on game day?

KS: I like to eat pasta and chicken a couple hours before games.

EO: Who are the funniest guys on your team?

KS: My roommate Dre Wills is definitely one of the funniest people I’ve met and we get along great.

EO: Which was the most difficult team you played?

KS: The game where we lost to Duke, 91-90, was a game I’ll always remember. They were a very talented team so I’d say they are the best team I’ve played in my college career so far.

EO: What was your toughest loss?

KS: I’d say that Duke loss was pretty tough. We were so close and had a chance to win it at the buzzer.

EO: What have you been up to this summer?

KS: I went home for a couple weeks in May and have been in Burlington since the beginning of June. Since I have been back at school I have been training and taking a few online summer classes with my teammates. It has been great to bond with the new players we have this year.

EO: What do you think about LeBron James going back to the Cleveland Cavaliers?

KS: I like the move. I’m a big Andrew Wiggins fan, so I think those two together along with Kyrie Irving can have a great team for years to come.

EO: What is a quote, if any, that you live by?

KS: There is one quote that is important to me that my mom gave me and I actually have a magnet of it on my fridge at school. It is “Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.” Whenever I’m feeling upset or anything that quote always makes me think of my family and my mom.