Oswego East Student Athlete of the Week-Kiana Krahulik

High school is a time of maturation, both physically and mentally. As a teacher, seeing students grow from wide-eyed freshman to responsible graduates is the most rewarding part of the job. In athletics, coaches relish the opportunity to watch incoming freshman work hard and develop into the best versions of themselves. Senior golfer Kiana Krahulik, the reigning Southwest Prairie Conference Most Valuable Player, has embraced the work needed to improve over her four years, which is why she is this week’s Oswego East student athlete of the week.
Players who earn such tremendous distinctions, such as player of the year, can sometimes come back as a senior with a sense of entitlement. Kiana’s mentality in everything she approaches is the opposite. She is meticulous in detail; a focused player on the course, and always serves as a leader whether she is in a classroom, on the course, or at home with her two younger sisters (Kassy and Kya).
Head coach, Brian Chandler, understands just what makes Kiana so successful in every endeavor she takes on in her life, “the best quality of Kiana is how steady she is emotionally on the golf course,” says Brian. He goes on to add, “If [Kiana] has a bad shot or a bad hole, she never lets it affect her game. She uses it as extra motivation and never lets the round snowball out of control.”
Kiana’s mother, Tanya Krahulik, is proud of the way her daughter approaches not only golf, but life, “we [Tonya and John] are probably most proud of the way [Kiana] always strives to do the “right” thing.” She adds, “for some people this is sometimes a hard thing to do because of peer pressure or other factors. For Kiana, it just always seems to come easy for her.”
That “right” way of acting includes improving her game, even as the reigning MVP of the conference, and being a leader for her teammates. “[Kiana] leads by example,” says Coach Chandler, “she treats each practice like it were a real round of golf, from the way she approaches her set up for each practice swing on the range, to lining up each practice putt she takes.”
It is Kiana’s detail oriented mind that allows her to have success in so many different areas of her life. As a four year member of the bowling team, Kiana has helped her team reach state each year, placing 18th in the state as an individual last winter.
On the golf course, Kiana continues to improve as the best player in the conference. She tied for first against Joliet Township (with a score of 40), won first against Romeoville (shot a 38), shot a two over 72 with a partner at the Joliet Invite placing fourth, and won first place with her partner at the Somonauk Alternate Shot Invite with a two over 74. This week, she shot her personal best 35 in a conference matchup against Minooka.
Kiana’s success carries over in the classroom, where she has earned a near 4.0 G.P.A., and has tested herself with numerous advanced placement and honors courses. Kiana intends on majoring in civil engineering in college, and is hoping she can continue playing golf as a student-athlete.
Kiana’s Honors Principles of Engineering teacher, Anthony Holub, believes Kiana will have great success in the field. “Kiana is an outstanding student who pays close attention to detail and accuracy in her work,” says Anthony. He goes on to add, “One of the hallmarks of great engineers is this ability with precision, and her positive attitude and work ethic will serve her well as she seeks an engineering degree. Kiana has an exceptional math pedigree as well and can easily navigate challenging situations mathematically, which is critical to success in the engineering field.”
The girls golf team is hopeful they can get to sectionals this season, as well as take home a conference title. Kiana is hopeful she can make it to state, and continue building on her legacy as the best golfer in the short history of the girl’s golf team. Having only just begun her 4th and final year here at OE, she advises future Wolves to, “make the most of the four years and enjoy [their] time while it lasts.” We here at OE know Kiana has made the most of her first three years, and have no doubt she will leave an indelible mark on the school and athletics her senior year.