TEMPE, Ariz. – The Sun Devil lacrosse program officially starts competition in 2017-18 as one of Arizona State's newest sports.
Kristina Coppinger is a member of the first class who received a "bonus year" to come to campus to practice and scrimmage with their new teammates.
Get to know the Kansas City native before the team officially starts competition next season with the Q&A below.
If you could have dinner with anyone from any era, who would it be and where?
I would want to have dinner with Margaret Thatcher and listen to her philosophy on leadership.
One word to describe your feeling when you put on the ASU uniform for the first time.
Responsibility. Because the jersey ultimately represents a player's responsibility to their coaches, their team and their school.
You have a chance to pick the brain of any coach of any sport for one hour...who is it?
I would want to speak with Bob Bowman due to his overwhelming success with Michael Phelps and talk about his coaching philosophies.
The most upset you have ever been on the field:
My sister has had two concussions and she got laid out during a game and I was about to scream at that player who knocked her down.
The happiest you have ever been on the field:
Winning Districts junior year for lacrosse and assisting my sister on her goal in that game.
You have a chance to go watch one past sporting event live…what are you going to?
I would go back to the K and watch the Royals win the World Series.
MLB players pick a song to play on the PA system when they step up to the plate. You are a MLB player. What song is playing as you dig into the batter's box?
X Ambassadors "Jungle"
What do like best about your hometown?
I LOVE KANSAS CITY- the people, the food, the sports, the memories, everything.
A movie you have watched more than once and will watch again:
Big Hero 6 is one of my favorites. I also love Moana.
Past Sun Devil athlete (any sport) you wish you could have watched compete:
Phil Mickelson
Are you a good dancer? When is the last time you danced?
Heck yeah. I danced today in fact. My father and I won the senior father/daughter dance-off and it had been our dream for four years.
What is one of your favorite quotes and why?
"The sun will rise and we will try again" is one of my favorites because it reminds me that there is always another day to start fresh regardless of what happened yesterday.
What chore do you absolutely hate doing?
Cleaning the deck, ugh.
What is your favorite form of exercise?
Elliptical is my favorite but swim workouts are a close second or just sports in general.
Who has been the biggest influence on your career?
My father has been the biggest influence on my career. He has always told me to do what I love and get paid for it.
If you could witness any event past, present or future, what would it be?
I would like to witness the first female president inauguration.
If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?
I would love to learn how to play the piano.
If you could meet anyone, past or present, who would it be?
I would want to meet Beyonce or Rihanna, they are queens and I love them.
What is something you learned in the last week?
This last week I learned how to find the moisture content in soil, how to find the dry and wet unit weight of a given volume of soil, how to calculate the unconfined compression of clays and how to run an oxygen and slump test for concrete (just started my internship, going well!!).
What's your favorite TV show and why?
I don't watch TV all that much, probably Diners, Drive-ins and Dives with Guy Fieri. I love cooking shows even though I cannot cook.
If you were a character on a TV show, which one would you be?
Whoever Scarlett Johansson is, her.
If someone wrote a book about your life, what would they title it?
The Giving Tree: Part Two.
Name one thing about yourself that most people don't know:
Most people don't know that I battled depression for a few months before coming to school, but once I got to ASU, being with the team helped me so much. None of them know, not even my roommate who is the goalie for the team. Their love and laughs healed me more than time ever would have. They don't know how much I thank them for that.
What is your favorite commercial?
The Super Bowl Doritos commercials are all pretty funny.
When I arrived at Arizona State, I had no idea:
How hot they meant when people came back from Arizona and said it was a "dry heat".
Last year at this time I had no idea:
How much I would miss free time.
Game/event you learned the most from?
Losing the state championship.
If you could live during any time period when/where would it be and why?
I would not want to live in any other time period because as a woman I would not be able to go to school and lead a successful and independent life.
Favorite person to follow on Twitter and favorite person who follows you on Twitter?
I follow Girl Code and they are pretty darn funny, and my best friend Payton is my favorite person who follows me.
What is the most important thing that a parent/grandparent taught you?
Work hard and enjoy your youth.
Where is the most interesting vacation spot that you have visited?
Coppinger Island in Canada, our family island.
What was the single-biggest challenge of your life?
Battling depression and anxiety.
What is your favorite road trip destination and why?
Vail is one of my favorite road trip destinations but the destination doesn't even matter, I just love road trips.
What toppings do you get on your pizza?
Pepperoni mostly, sometimes veggies.
How do you like your steak cooked?
Medium, please.
My breakfast consists of...
Two egg omelet and toast. But usually I don't like breakfast food so I have left-overs from the night before.
I am out of bed at (time) and out the door by (time):
6:20 am and am out the door by 6:50 am.
Most underrated coach you have been around:
My kindergarten through 8th grade basketball coach, Coach T, what a guy.
Past Sun Devil game/event you wish you would have been there live to see:
Any Pat Tillman game.
What I know now that I wish I knew in high school...
Say what you want to say, you don't have to hang out with people who do not have your best interest at heart.
What I learned in high school that I still refer to today:
All science and math course material….engineering major…. :)
Last book I read:
Under the Udala Trees.
Last movie I saw:
Lord of the Rings something or other.
What was the first concert you ever attended?
Jonas Brothers, baby!
My favorite month:
October – it's my birth month and I love fall.
Something I have not done, but I will:
Go indoor skydiving.
What is your favorite holiday and why?
Christmas, because I spend a lot of time with my immediate and extended family from across the US.
What three words would you use to describe yourself?
loyal, strong, respectful
What is the most useful app you have downloaded?
Spotify
What is your best childhood memory?
My mom calling me out of school early to go get Coldstone Creamery :))))
You have just won the lottery, what is your first purchase?
A house for my parents.
What is your favorite sport to watch?
Lacrosse, duh.
What is your favorite food?
Chicken pad thai.
What do you miss the most about being a kid?
Being able to play and sleep as much as I wanted
What is the hardest thing that you have ever done?
Having to talk to my dad about my depression, thinking about it makes me tear up.
What is your favorite candy?
Twix.
One sentence to describe your family:
My family is a bunch of crazy, loud, hilarious, food-eating, lacrosse-playing, boundlessly-loving people who have taught me how to care for others and to love even when it's hard.
What is a place that you have always wanted to visit?
I have always wanted to visit Australia, I really want a pet kangaroo.
What was the most exciting game you have ever been a part of?
The most exciting game was of course the State final game my junior year.
What got you into the sport?
My crazy Aunt Mary had a daughter who had graduated high school and was done with her lacrosse stick and she gave it to me. I had just stopped playing soccer and hopped right into lacrosse. I never looked back.
If there is a player you model your game after, who is that?
My coach Ashley Bruns is my role model; her intensity and sheer skill are things I attempt to replicate.
If you could play another sport, what would it be and why?
I would probably play basketball, the ASU women's basketball team is really cool and I can ball it up sometimes.
What is the most memorable game you took part in?
Fifth grade basketball championships. We beat everyone that year and we had a really rough game but we won.
What is your favorite thing about Arizona State?
My favorite thing about Arizona State is that it brought together a group of 17 girls from across the country and made them a family.
What is your favorite dessert?
Ice cream, any flavor except chocolate really.
If you could travel to any country, where would it be?
I would travel to Ireland to find the ruins of the Coppinger Castle.
What is your favorite post game meal?
Favorite post game meal is Raising Cane's or any chicken tenders.
Kristina Coppinger is a member of the first class who received a "bonus year" to come to campus to practice and scrimmage with their new teammates.
Get to know the Kansas City native before the team officially starts competition next season with the Q&A below.
If you could have dinner with anyone from any era, who would it be and where?
I would want to have dinner with Margaret Thatcher and listen to her philosophy on leadership.
One word to describe your feeling when you put on the ASU uniform for the first time.
Responsibility. Because the jersey ultimately represents a player's responsibility to their coaches, their team and their school.
You have a chance to pick the brain of any coach of any sport for one hour...who is it?
I would want to speak with Bob Bowman due to his overwhelming success with Michael Phelps and talk about his coaching philosophies.
The most upset you have ever been on the field:
My sister has had two concussions and she got laid out during a game and I was about to scream at that player who knocked her down.
The happiest you have ever been on the field:
Winning Districts junior year for lacrosse and assisting my sister on her goal in that game.
You have a chance to go watch one past sporting event live…what are you going to?
I would go back to the K and watch the Royals win the World Series.
MLB players pick a song to play on the PA system when they step up to the plate. You are a MLB player. What song is playing as you dig into the batter's box?
X Ambassadors "Jungle"
What do like best about your hometown?
I LOVE KANSAS CITY- the people, the food, the sports, the memories, everything.
A movie you have watched more than once and will watch again:
Big Hero 6 is one of my favorites. I also love Moana.
Past Sun Devil athlete (any sport) you wish you could have watched compete:
Phil Mickelson
Are you a good dancer? When is the last time you danced?
Heck yeah. I danced today in fact. My father and I won the senior father/daughter dance-off and it had been our dream for four years.
What is one of your favorite quotes and why?
"The sun will rise and we will try again" is one of my favorites because it reminds me that there is always another day to start fresh regardless of what happened yesterday.
What chore do you absolutely hate doing?
Cleaning the deck, ugh.
What is your favorite form of exercise?
Elliptical is my favorite but swim workouts are a close second or just sports in general.
Who has been the biggest influence on your career?
My father has been the biggest influence on my career. He has always told me to do what I love and get paid for it.
If you could witness any event past, present or future, what would it be?
I would like to witness the first female president inauguration.
If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?
I would love to learn how to play the piano.
If you could meet anyone, past or present, who would it be?
I would want to meet Beyonce or Rihanna, they are queens and I love them.
What is something you learned in the last week?
This last week I learned how to find the moisture content in soil, how to find the dry and wet unit weight of a given volume of soil, how to calculate the unconfined compression of clays and how to run an oxygen and slump test for concrete (just started my internship, going well!!).
What's your favorite TV show and why?
I don't watch TV all that much, probably Diners, Drive-ins and Dives with Guy Fieri. I love cooking shows even though I cannot cook.
If you were a character on a TV show, which one would you be?
Whoever Scarlett Johansson is, her.
If someone wrote a book about your life, what would they title it?
The Giving Tree: Part Two.
Name one thing about yourself that most people don't know:
Most people don't know that I battled depression for a few months before coming to school, but once I got to ASU, being with the team helped me so much. None of them know, not even my roommate who is the goalie for the team. Their love and laughs healed me more than time ever would have. They don't know how much I thank them for that.
What is your favorite commercial?
The Super Bowl Doritos commercials are all pretty funny.
When I arrived at Arizona State, I had no idea:
How hot they meant when people came back from Arizona and said it was a "dry heat".
Last year at this time I had no idea:
How much I would miss free time.
Game/event you learned the most from?
Losing the state championship.
If you could live during any time period when/where would it be and why?
I would not want to live in any other time period because as a woman I would not be able to go to school and lead a successful and independent life.
Favorite person to follow on Twitter and favorite person who follows you on Twitter?
I follow Girl Code and they are pretty darn funny, and my best friend Payton is my favorite person who follows me.
What is the most important thing that a parent/grandparent taught you?
Work hard and enjoy your youth.
Where is the most interesting vacation spot that you have visited?
Coppinger Island in Canada, our family island.
What was the single-biggest challenge of your life?
Battling depression and anxiety.
What is your favorite road trip destination and why?
Vail is one of my favorite road trip destinations but the destination doesn't even matter, I just love road trips.
What toppings do you get on your pizza?
Pepperoni mostly, sometimes veggies.
How do you like your steak cooked?
Medium, please.
My breakfast consists of...
Two egg omelet and toast. But usually I don't like breakfast food so I have left-overs from the night before.
I am out of bed at (time) and out the door by (time):
6:20 am and am out the door by 6:50 am.
Most underrated coach you have been around:
My kindergarten through 8th grade basketball coach, Coach T, what a guy.
Past Sun Devil game/event you wish you would have been there live to see:
Any Pat Tillman game.
What I know now that I wish I knew in high school...
Say what you want to say, you don't have to hang out with people who do not have your best interest at heart.
What I learned in high school that I still refer to today:
All science and math course material….engineering major…. :)
Last book I read:
Under the Udala Trees.
Last movie I saw:
Lord of the Rings something or other.
What was the first concert you ever attended?
Jonas Brothers, baby!
My favorite month:
October – it's my birth month and I love fall.
Something I have not done, but I will:
Go indoor skydiving.
What is your favorite holiday and why?
Christmas, because I spend a lot of time with my immediate and extended family from across the US.
What three words would you use to describe yourself?
loyal, strong, respectful
What is the most useful app you have downloaded?
Spotify
What is your best childhood memory?
My mom calling me out of school early to go get Coldstone Creamery :))))
You have just won the lottery, what is your first purchase?
A house for my parents.
What is your favorite sport to watch?
Lacrosse, duh.
What is your favorite food?
Chicken pad thai.
What do you miss the most about being a kid?
Being able to play and sleep as much as I wanted
What is the hardest thing that you have ever done?
Having to talk to my dad about my depression, thinking about it makes me tear up.
What is your favorite candy?
Twix.
One sentence to describe your family:
My family is a bunch of crazy, loud, hilarious, food-eating, lacrosse-playing, boundlessly-loving people who have taught me how to care for others and to love even when it's hard.
What is a place that you have always wanted to visit?
I have always wanted to visit Australia, I really want a pet kangaroo.
What was the most exciting game you have ever been a part of?
The most exciting game was of course the State final game my junior year.
What got you into the sport?
My crazy Aunt Mary had a daughter who had graduated high school and was done with her lacrosse stick and she gave it to me. I had just stopped playing soccer and hopped right into lacrosse. I never looked back.
If there is a player you model your game after, who is that?
My coach Ashley Bruns is my role model; her intensity and sheer skill are things I attempt to replicate.
If you could play another sport, what would it be and why?
I would probably play basketball, the ASU women's basketball team is really cool and I can ball it up sometimes.
What is the most memorable game you took part in?
Fifth grade basketball championships. We beat everyone that year and we had a really rough game but we won.
What is your favorite thing about Arizona State?
My favorite thing about Arizona State is that it brought together a group of 17 girls from across the country and made them a family.
What is your favorite dessert?
Ice cream, any flavor except chocolate really.
If you could travel to any country, where would it be?
I would travel to Ireland to find the ruins of the Coppinger Castle.
What is your favorite post game meal?
Favorite post game meal is Raising Cane's or any chicken tenders.