Senior Highlight:
Connor Curtis
Waukesha North

As part of Burghardt Sporting Goods’ ongoing partnership with local schools and surrounding communities, we want to take the time to talk with some of the great local athletes at area schools. This kicks off a series of senior spotlight articles from schools we are partnered with! As a Waukesha North alumni myself, there was no better fit for our first Student Athlete bio than senior 3-sport athlete Connor Curtis. Enjoy our full interview with Connor below!
- Luke From Marketing

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Q&A with Connor Curtis

Connor, first off thank you so much for taking time out of your day to talk with us! I’m sure as a student athlete you have a lot on your mind and on your plate all the time. How easy or hard is it for you to balance all those responsibilities, and do you have any tips to younger athletes?

To start off as a freshman it was very difficult to figure out how to balance sports and school. But as time went on it got easier for me because I found a routine and system that works for me. One thing I recommend is making a schedule. This helped me figure when assignments were due and when I had time to do them. Also talk to coaches and teachers if you need help with something. Most teachers understand that you have things going on outside of school and are more than willing to give you an extension on assignments if you need one.

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You’ve played a lot of positions and sports in high school. Prep Baseball has you listed as playing 3rd base and catcher, and a pitcher. Prep Zone has you listed as a tight end your freshman year, and eventually starting quarterback as a senior, and playing basketball in the winter. Which of these has been your favorite sport and position to play and which of these has challenged you the most in your 4 years?

Being a pitcher has definitely been my favorite position to play. My dad was a Division 1 pitcher and eventually made it all the way up to triple A in the minor leagues so he has played a huge role in getting me to where I am today. Being a quarterback was by far the most challenging. First off, to start the season you have to learn all the route concepts and footwork for running plays. But during the game you have to be able to read a defense and find the open man while being rushed by dudes who are 6’3” 250 pounds so I’d definitely say that’s the most difficult.

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Do you have a favorite memory from your 4 years of athletics?

Winning the regional final in baseball last year will be one of my favorite memories for the rest of my life. North hadn’t won a regional in about 10 years and we were finally able to end that drought with a win over Waukesha West.

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Congratulations on your commitment to the University of Wisconsin La Crosse! What was your college recruiting process like and how did you end up deciding on La Crosse? Are you excited to be playing with your brother, AJ?

My college recruiting process was pretty simple. I knew La Crosse was a great team and I was interested in their campus when I visited with AJ. So I went to a recruiting camp in March 2024 and after the camp they said they liked me as a pitcher and wanted to see me in a game. They invited me on a visit in the middle of September 2024 and I liked everything about the team and the campus so I ended up committing by the end of that month. Playing with AJ is always a blast. Being the star brothers of Waukesha and being able to represent the Curtis name with him was great all throughout these past four years.

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I believe that you are one of, if not the only high school pitcher so far this season to record 2 no-hitters? What was that like and how has your season been so far?

I only have 1 no hitter but multiple shutout performances. It’s been a great confidence booster for me. I knew I was a pretty solid pitcher but going out and starting the season the way I did allowed me to prove to myself that I can really do this and should have all the confidence in the world when stepping out on the mound.

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What is your usual baseball equipment lineup? Do you have a favorite brand that you stick with?

I use a Demarini Voodoo 1 baseball bat, the 2024 model and I always tend to stick with Demarini when it comes to baseball bats. My baseball glove is a Rawlings Heart of the Hide all black. I don’t like flashy multi-color gloves. I like to keep it all black. For my batting equipment I stick with the Spiderz batting gloves. They fit my hands really nice and provide a really good grip of the bat. I use the EvoShield elbow and leg guards and I have a Jordan hand guard.

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Thanks so much Connor for talking with us today! Do you have any words of advice or last comments for readers?

My biggest advice is don’t be afraid to stick out. People will notice you if you stick out. But coaches don’t want someone who is like every other player walking through or trying out for their program. They want someone that hustles every time they're between the white lines and plays the game with heart.

Interview by Burghardt Sporting Goods Staff
Looking to have your senior athlete featured on our blog? Send an email to luke@bsg1881.com for more information!