Julia Economou is a three-sport Athletic for Penn. The Kingsmen Junior has been on the Penn Basketball Varsity for three seasons, and also competes in Cross Country and Track and Field. She is a member of Penn’s Student-Athlete Leadership Council.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned through Athletics?: “The most important lesson I’ve learned through athletics is the importance of accountability. This means showing up every single day and taking care of business with no excuses. This type of mindset is so important to have because you can’t expect anything out of your teammates that you are not willing to do yourself. Additionally, this not only applies to when you are playing your sport, but in other aspects of your life as well such as at school, at your job, etc. In the end, if you consistently show up and give it your all, the results will pay off and you will reach and even surpass your goals.”
How do mentally prepare yourself for each game?: “I mentally prepare myself for each game in more ways than one. First, I make sure to put the work in prior to the game at training and practices to give myself the confidence in my skills that I need for the game. Additionally, as the game approaches, I listen to music and try to simplify my thoughts to dial into what needs to get done and how I am going to do it.”
Who is a player (at any level) you look up to, and why?: “A player who I look up to is Kaitlyn Costner, who plays basketball for Ohio State, but I played with for the past two seasons at Penn. I look up to her because of her determination, leadership, and competitiveness. Kaitlyn always gives it her all and competes no matter what the circumstance, and is a leader both on and off the court in the way she acts, and how she pushes others to be better. “
What do you love about representing Penn High School?: “The aspect that I most love about representing Penn High School is the fact that with athletics, the school preaches the idea of unity within our sports, and that we are all part of one team that aspires to be the best. “
What traits do you love in a team leader?: “Traits that love in a team leader are confidence, selflessness, the ability to speak up and give constructive criticism, and someone who is always encouraging and striving to help their teammates.”
What advice would you give a freshman about Penn Athletics?: “Advice that I would give a freshman about Penn Athletics is to be ready to be ready to work hard with no excuses. Also, have good time management skills, so that you are able to play your sport but also balance school work and other extracurricular activities.”
What is your favorite sports movie, and why?: “My favorite sports movie is “McFarland USA” because of the perseverance and grit that the runners, coaches, and even the community shows throughout the movie.”
What is your favorite restaurant, and why?: “My favorite restaurant is Chick-Fil-A because I love their chicken sandwiches and sauce.”
What do you love most about Cross Country, and why?: “The thing I love most about cross country is the encouraging environment, especially at Penn, where everyone both tries themselves and encourages others to push their limits.”
