Q: What grade are you in school?

A: Senior.

 

Q: What school do you attend?

A: Albert Lea.

 

Q: Who is your immediate family?

A: My dad is Pat Kunkel, and my mom is JoAnn Erickson. I have one sister, Elizabeth Kunkel.

 

Q: What sports are you involved in?

A: Football, wrestling, and track and field, the shot put and discus.

 

Q: How did you get started in these sports?

A: I played football a lot when I was young, then played fifth grade tackle football, and then played razzle dazzle in sixth grade. I’ve always liked playing football.

 

Q: How did you become a wrestler?

A: I needed something to do in the winter, and my dad suggested wrestling, since he wrestled in high school and the program here is strong.

Q: How did you get your start in track and field? 

A: It was recommended from someone in my freshman year.

 

Q: What other extracurricular activities are you in? 

A: Band, choir and Lancers marching band in the Mankato area.

 

Q: Did your parents play sports when they were younger? 

A: My dad wrestled for Maple River in high school.

 

Q: What is your biggest sports related achievement? 

A: I was the junior varsity Big Nine wrestling champion in the heavyweight division.

 

Q: Who is your favorite professional athlete? 

A: That’s tough. I would have to say Matt Birk of the Baltimore Ravens, since he is No. 78 and he is really good and smart. (Kunkel is No. 78 on the Albert Lea High School football team.)

 

Q: What is your favorite school subject? 

A: I would say math and biology. I am really good at both. I want to go into medicine and biology is good for that.

 

Q: Who is your favorite teacher? 

A: Mr. Gentz. He teaches math and is the track and field coach.

 

Q: What are your hobbies? 

A: Drumming, disc golf, video games, fishing and just hanging with my friends.

 

Q: What is your favorite movie or TV show? 

A: The movie, “Friday Night Lights.”

 

Q: What is your favorite food?

A: Lasagna.

 

Who’s next?

Send your idea for the next Meet the Athlete to tribsports@albertleatribune.com.

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