The first Tuesday of each month, we interview someone from Charlotte Latin Athletics with twenty questions to help the CLS community get to know some of our athletes, coaches, and supporters a bit better.
 
This February, meet Harris Hollmeyer, a freshman multi-sport athlete wrapping up basketball season and about to begin her first year of varsity softball. Praised by her coaches for her development both as a player and a leader on the court, Harris and her Hawk teammates hope to close out the JV schedule with a few more W's this week. Read on to get to know a bit more about Harris.  
 
1. Who are the members of your immediate family and how would you describe your dynamic?
There's my mom, Pender, who's a stay-at-home mom that always supports us. My dad, John, who works in commercial real estate, and my brothers. Jack is a junior and Hill is in sixth grade. I'd say we are very close and joke around a lot. We love to go on trips and we love skiing together.
 
2. Is there competition among the siblings? Who is the most athletic?
That's hard to say. Other than basketball, we all play different sports. Jack plays golf and won the conference championship last year. He and Dad are always competing over who gets the best golf scores. Hill has gotten really into wrestling and he tries to do wrestling moves on us, but it doesn't really work. He thinks he can beat up on me and Jack, but there's a big height difference. There's definitely some competition. We are all pretty competitive people, but I feel like we're all athletic in our own way.
 
3. What brought you all to Latin?  
My dad is from Charlotte and my mom is from Wilmington and we have a lot of family connections here. Our cousins go to Latin and Jack, Hill and I all started here the same year. Jack was in fifth grade, I was in third, and Hill was in kindergarten.
 
4. What have been your favorite classes or clubs so far?  
Generally, math is my favorite subject. I just seem to understand it easier than some of the others. I take speech and debate with Mr. Butt, and it's a lot of fun. I enjoyed the class in Middle School and Jack had taken it and liked it, so I decided to take it again in high school. I'm also on the Honor Council Advisory Board. As a freshman, my role is limited to going to meetings and discussing ways to make the Honor Council better, but hopefully I'll be prepared to run for Honor Council in future years. I also participate in Baby Bundles and Spirit Club.
 
5. How did your involvement in basketball begin and how has it evolved through the years?
I started playing basketball in probably preschool or kindergarten at Myers Park Presbyterian and continued to play church league until fourth grade, when I played for the AAU Team Carolina Select and Melvin Leak from our facilities staff was our coach. Then I was introduced to Coach Mack and played on his AAU team until I started playing for Latin in Middle School. Last year, I had Coach Mack again in eighth grade, and this year I'm on JV with Coach Owens and Coach Nikki.
 
6. The season comes to a close this week. How has it been?  
This has been a really fun season. I love all the girls that I'm playing with and the coaches. We are able to have fun but still take it seriously. We've gotten a lot better and we work really well together. There were about six of us that played together last year and already had some team chemistry, and then we just all came together with the new players and sophomores. We're all very close and have a good time together, which I think is a big part of being successful as a team.
 
7. As soon as basketball ends, softball begins. How did you get started in that sport?
I played in the Myers Park Little League when I was in Lower School and played with a bunch of my friends. Then I was able to play for Latin in sixth grade and I loved Coach Dayton. He is strict but very devoted to the team and he spent a lot of time on helping us improve. None of my close friends play softball, so I got to meet a bunch of different people and branch out.
 
8. Do you prefer batting or being in the field?  
I definitely prefer being in the field. Batting singles you out and when it's just you at the plate, it doesn't feel like it's a team sport. I played catcher all through Middle School and absolutely loved it, but I hurt my knee over the summer and there's two other really good catchers, so I'm going to play outfield this year. Hopefully left.
 
9. How would you compare basketball and softball? Which one is your primary sport?
They just have such different dynamics. Basketball is constant motion and fast-paced. Softball is more leisurely, but you really have to take time to focus on what you need to do better the next time you're in the field or at bat. I feel like my primary sport is whatever season I'm in, but basketball is probably my favorite.
 
10. Did you try any other sports along the way?
I did summer league swimming when I was younger, and I tried field hockey, but that didn't really go well. It hurts your back. I played tennis for Latin last year, but it was just something to try because I didn't know what fall sport I wanted to do. This year, I chose not to do a fall sport so I could focus on adjusting to high school and making sure I could get my school work done.
 
11. What have been your favorite sports moments at Latin?
I have two. The first was in seventh grade basketball, playing against Holy Trinity in what was basically our championship game. We were down and then Sutton Ellison banked a three to put us up, and then had a layup to win the game. They were our number one rival, so that was an exciting win. This year, we were playing Nations Ford and we were down. Giselle got fouled and made her free throws to bring us within three, and then with just a few seconds left on the clock, I hit a three to tie the game and send us into overtime, which we ended up winning.
 
12. Have you had to deal with any injuries?
I've always been injury-prone. When I was younger, I was playing on a bar stool and fell backwards, taking the stool with me. I had to get 17 stitches above my eye. Sports-wise, I somehow manage to make softball a contact sport. In Middle School, I was going for a pop fly and called "mine," but still collided with the centerfielder and I got a concussion. A few weeks before that, I was bunting and the ball hit my hand and broke it. Last summer, I was at Wofford team camp and cut to the basket and tweaked my knee while pivoting. I've been going to physical therapy and it's definitely a lot better, but it's never really gone away so it's had the biggest impact, injury-wise. I wear a knee brace when I play now to help stabilize it.
 
13. Are there any CLS athletes that have inspired you or that you see as a role model?  
I've really enjoyed watching Charlotte Tune. She really knows her way around the court and I aspire to be like her in a basketball guard sense.
 
14. Alright, let's finish with some fun questions. If you could have one super power, what would it be?
Teleportation.
 
15. Do you cook? If so, what's your specialty?
Yes – grilled cheese. You have to have a certain type of bread, the butter, and the right amount of salt and pepper. I use provolone or cheddar, or a combination of the two.
 
16. What's the best vacation you've ever had?  
We went to Africa this summer with my mom's side of the family. We went to Giraffe Manor, got to experience the different villages and African culture, went to an elephant rescue, and then saw the wildebeest migration – which draws lions, hyenas, gazelles, crocodiles, and hippos. Sometimes the lions would get pretty close to the car, but the guides explained that the lions see the cars as one big thing and don't see the people in them. I never really felt unsafe.
 
17. What's your dream job?
I have two very different ones: A marine biologist, because I love the beach so much, and the other is an architect because I love designing things.
 
18.  What's your favorite sport to watch on TV?  
Probably college football. I just cheer for the underdog most of the time.
 
19. Do you have any family pets? If so, who's their favorite  
We have a dog, Lucy, and a cat, Rosie. They're five and eight, and both are attached to me. Lucy sleeps with me and I'm the only one Rosie will sit near.  
 
20. Do you have any goals for the future?
Academically, I want to get all As. I definitely push myself hard for that and I hope to be able to go to UNC. My mom went there and I've always been a die-hard UNC fan. Sports-wise, I just want to be the best that I can be in high school.