Hallock grabs his last chance in high school
Forest Hills Central senior Theryn Hallock wrapped up an incredible four-year college basketball career in March.
The future Michigan State Spartan finished fourth in the Miss Basketball voting.
While many who are only weeks away from graduation have a severe case of seniority, Hallock is quite the opposite.
She joined the Rangers football team this spring, returning to the field for the first time since she was in eighth grade.
“All my friends play,” Hallock said. “I just wanted to end the senior year on a high and have fun and I’m really glad I played.”
For serious hoops like Hallock, spring is all about AAU basketball throughout their junior year.
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She had toyed with the idea of doing both each of the last three seasons, but didn’t.
FHC football coach Ashley Ludtke also wasn’t sure that would happen this year.
“When she mentioned she was coming out this year, I kind of gave her a hard time, like OK, we’ll see you at tryouts,” Ludtke said. “She showed up, she had an exceptional trial, she’s an exceptional athlete and I was really excited when she showed up for the trials.”
Hallock has scored 20 goals in 11 games, including a hat trick in four consecutive games last month.
There was a noticeable lack of rust created by three years away.
“It was definitely new, a lot of my friends play so I was always surrounded by football,” Hallock said. “Once I got into tryouts and games I got my touch back and I was pretty excited but it was definitely a big change from basketball which is all hands on to football which is feet.”
Hallock wasn’t going to take up a sport she hadn’t played in a while, just months before she was heading to college without first consulting with her future head coach, Suzy Merchant.
“I talked to her a bit about it,” Hallock said. “She was really good because it’s a sport where I can stay in shape and get a different kind of running.”
The Rangers are coming off of a state semi-final last spring and are hoping the addition of Hallock can propel them to the top this year.
For Hallock, the chance to be part of the team has been a great experience.
“We have a very good team and we have good team chemistry,” Hallock said. “We’re very young, so it’s a lot of fun to watch the players grow up and bond with people easily. It’s obviously very different from basketball because there are more numbers in football.”
“She’s a lot of fun to be around,” Ludtke said. “She brings a lot to our team outside of her athletic talents and it’s been great fun to see how her basketball skills and competitive nature translate to the football field.”
As much as Hallock helps the team, she helps him.
“I play with a variety of people and have my whole life,” Hallock said. “I think people and coaches shape me and I’m a better person on and off the pitch and I think playing the two most opposite sports definitely shapes me and my personality and everything that goes on in it. both sports.”
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