Ten Questions With Krista VandeVenter

Jan. 25, 2007

How difficult was it on you starting the season with two different injuries?
“It was tough to be injured for the first month of the season. I have never really had to sit out of anything before, so it was hard for me to watch from the sidelines. My teammates, coaches and trainers did a great job of getting me ready to get back on the court as quickly as possible.”

What is your favorite type of candy?
“Oooh, this is a tough one for me. I always like to have some sort of candy when I study, so I switch it up a lot. I go through phases where I am obsessed with a certain candy, and then I will switch to a different one for awhile. Right now, I like the new gummy Lifesavers that squirt out juice when you bite them, but you can never go wrong with a big box of Dots or Mike and Ikes.”

What are your career aspirations following college?
“I really have no idea what I want to do with my life after college. I have a few ideas, but nothing that really jumps out at me. I will probably end up going to grad school so I can make the big bucks in whatever I choose to do.”

Where would you travel for your dream vacation and why?
“I have always wanted to stay at the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas. I have seen it in a couple movies and it looks like a great place to get a tan and learn to surf. It looks a little pricey though, so hopefully the grad school thing works out!”

Who naps the most of the team?
“Stacy Schlapkhol, hands down! Just kidding, I don’t think she even sleeps. I wish I could be more like that, but there is just nothing better than a long nap on a cold winter day. I think I probably nap the most on the team, but I definitely have some good competition!”

What’s your favorite food to grill?
“Anything my Dad grills at home is so good, but my favorite would have to be his grilled asparagus. I could eat the whole plate of that stuff. I also can’t pass up a freshly grilled hot dog, but it has to have just the right amount of ketchup and mustard.”

If you could compete on any game show (past or present), which would it be and why?
“It’s not really a game show, but I would like to compete on Iron Chef America on the Food Network. I can’t really cook, but I would go with a menu consisting of grilled asparagus and hot dogs and blow those judges out of the water. I could dominate the originality and presentation portions of the scoring with my elaborate ketchup and mustard decorations.”

Have you had any embarrassing moments you’d like to share since becoming a student-athlete at Iowa?
“Nothing too embarrassing has happened to me so far at Iowa, but I have a pretty embarrassing story from high school. My team was playing in the championship game of a tournament, so there were quite a few people there. During a timeout I went to sit down on a chair, but I sat on the very edge of it and leaned forward to listen to the coach. The chair slipped out from under me and went shooting out the back of the bench. I was left sitting on the floor with all my teammates laughing!”

What are your hobbies or what activities other than basketball do you enjoy?
“As you have probably learned, I really like to eat and sleep. When I get sick of that, which doesn’t happen very often, I like to go to movies, go to the beach, and hang out with my friends and teammates.”

What nickname(s) do you have?
“I have a couple. K-Dogg, KV or Vandy.”