Senior spotlight: Mark Raasch juggling time with West soccer, football teams this fall
WAUSAU - Mark Raasch went from playing for the Wausau West boys soccer team to suiting up for the Warriors football team in a matter of hours last Friday.
The West senior is a midfielder and captain for the soccer team and began the afternoon by playing in a tournament at the D.C. Everest Soccer Complex. Then Raasch, a kicker and punter for the West football team, made a roughly 10-minute drive to Stiehm Stadium where the Warriors faced the Evergreens in a Valley Football Association-West Division game.
He was back on the soccer field with the Warriors on Saturday for the second day of the tournament.
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Raasch joined the football team because West was looking for a kicker, He earned the job at the end of a two-day tryout with the team. He has hit 14 of 16 extra points in the VFA and is 1-of-2 on field goal attempts.
Raasch, who played both sports at times during his youth and middle school careers, has scored five points over his last three Wisconsin Valley Conference boys soccer games, including a goal and an assist in a 5-2 win over Marshfeld on Monday.
With the way he has balanced his athletic schedules this fall, it should be no surprise that one of Raasch's off-field talents is juggling.
Raasch, who also is a Nordic skiier and track athlete, recently sat down with USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin to talk about what his daily practice schedule is like, his athletic highlight and his future plans, among other topics.
What is an average practice day for you being involved in two sports?
(Soccer and football teammate) Barni (Shiferaw) and I usually come out here for football at 3:30 (p.m.) and kick for about a half hour and then go to soccer at 4. Then we come back if (the football team) is still practicing and do a little more.
Game-winning goal or game-winning field goal? What would be bigger for you?
Probably game-winning field goal. I haven't really been in a big game or moment for soccer yet, so I don't know what that feels like. A game-winning field goal, I've got at least a taste of that.
Do you have any nicknames that your friends or teammates call you?
No, not really. Mostly its Mark or just Raasch. That's about it.
Is there something that most people might not know about you?
I can juggle. I have been doing it for about three or four years, and it's something that I just picked up.
What has been your most memorable sports moment?
Probably this year in soccer when we beat Everest 5-2. We have never beat them at their place in my entire career here.
Do you have any rituals you go through before a game, any pregame rituals?
Nothing too much. Mostly I just hang out, joke around a bit and try and stay loose.
Who is your celebrity crush?
Selena Gomez.
Where is your dream vacation?
I would like to go to Europe, just travel around and see it all.
What is your dream career?
My dream? Probably playing soccer or pro sports somewhere. But I like engineering and likely will go into that.
Do you know where you might want to go next year for college?
I am going to apply to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. That is about the only place I really want to go.
Favorites
Sport: It kind of depends on the season but I play soccer year-round. I started Nordic skiing in the winter of my freshman year and just fell in love with it.
Music group or artist: Travis Rhett
TV show: "Friends"
Movie: Comedies.
Food: Pasta.