Ep. 08: Audi Crooks: Small Town Star to NCAA Record Breaker - A Legacy Of Light

[00:00:00] So like a lot of people comment on like, why are you always smiling? I mean I've got trouble for once. It was like a coach fan. It was a coach fan. It was a low-key coach fan. Oh, that was high-key coach fan. You know it.

[00:00:16] Let's not go down the road. Welcome to Champion This with Brianna Salvatori Doic and Chelsea Poppins, where we share the incredible stories of athletes and entertainers who are using their platforms to create positive change in the world, and the communities they live in.

[00:00:39] Whoo! And today we have one of my favorites, Audi Crooks. I always stay. Whoo! I always stay stand out. I'm here for it. I'm a former cyclone. Audi also took the NCAA by Storm, setting a single game tournament scoring record for freshman,

[00:00:58] and we struck 40 points against Maryland in the first round of the MCDL, the late tournament. That's dope. But thanks for joining us, Audi. So happy to have you on. Thanks for having me happy to be here.

[00:01:12] Well, Audi, we want to jump in first kind of knowing a little bit more about your background. So would love to hear a bit about you and how you've found and started your passion for basketball. Tell us a little bit about that journey.

[00:01:24] So take us back to Audi as a kid and how you got started with the game. Sure. So I was born in Fort Dodge Iowa, but I grew up in Algonne. It's a little tiny town.

[00:01:36] I went to a one-day high school and this grown-up in that small town. There wasn't a lot to do. So sports were kind of the focal point of that. And both my mom and my dad played.

[00:01:48] So basketball was kind of putting to my ear at a pretty young age and emerging through grade school and doing a with the school teams. And then later on getting onto the circuit, like I figured out that's something that I really am interested in and wanted to pursue.

[00:02:04] So that's kind of how I got started and that's a little bit about like the beginning of my basketball career. Yeah, you forgot to name drop that you were the Iowa state player of the year. We also found that in the background race. From Miss Iowa.

[00:02:18] Miss Iowa basketball? Yeah. Yeah. Miss Iowa basketball. Yeah. All of the accolades that happened as well. Casual. Yeah. And so you mentioned your parents being a strong portion of pushing, getting the ball on your hands and kind of steering a new distraction.

[00:02:40] Well, word has it that you had some pretty intense one-on-one versus your mom and the front yard grow it up. Yeah. First sure. No, she is a beast man.

[00:02:52] She's like six foot tall and she played at the same high school that I played at and she actually had a record for like the best field goal percentage in a career.

[00:03:00] So I knew right there and then that I wanted to take that down but I mean, two-ster. Almost that me. I'm 11, 12 years old. She didn't care. Yeah, you got to teach him. Yeah. I got to teach him. Yeah, definitely wouldn't be here without them. Love it. Love it.

[00:03:18] And then going into Iowa State, was it kind of a big surprise or were you ready when how did practices? How did Coach Finley take you by storm when you got there? Right. No. I honestly just kind of went into the year with like open mind.

[00:03:32] I thought maybe it was going to be a learning year. Maybe I'm not going to play a ton. Maybe I'm just going to sit on the side and learn and develop throughout this first year. Yeah. And then I started to think about how I was going to happen.

[00:03:45] So I think that everybody was kind of surprised myself included with how quickly I kind of adapted and it took a little bit of time like the summers and the preseason that was a big adjustment just first and foremost from like a time management standpoint.

[00:04:02] No, but really talks about you in a student athlete. It's kind of a year round deal.

[00:04:08] So that was a little bit of a culture shock for me, but also like playing against like taller bigger stronger girls because in one A basketball there aren't a ton of you know six four six five like stocky you know as you see like big 12 and in the NCAA.

[00:04:27] So that's something that I've braised because it was like so hard to so hard so pesky when everybody's like five seven and there are three of them. And it's just and so that was another adjustment, the level of physicality and the competition as well.

[00:04:44] Yeah, for sure you talk about study hall being in the weight room going to even get like treatment in the training room like I think a lot of listeners maybe don't even realize what all goes into playing college basketball but it is like full on I'm sure audio you're putting in five hour days six hour days.

[00:05:04] And that's just related to your sport and then you go to class and then you do all the other you have a social life and you do your impact stuff like it's pretty full on right.

[00:05:13] And then you get back at midnight from a road game and have to go to class the next day and take a test or something it is just all those variables that nobody sees. Right, yeah, it's never ending but I wouldn't trade it for the world.

[00:05:27] I'm a little bit more focused on the fact that you're a person was there a moment for you in your freshman year when you kind of when it kind of clicked for you that you were like okay I get it now I'm in college.

[00:05:37] I know what it takes to like be successful get back to my team do what my team needs me to do like what was that moment for you if there was a moment or wasn't pretty gradual.

[00:05:47] Yeah, it was kind of during the Thanksgiving tournament we play Vanderbits your cues and just like having that experience was kind of your first pace of life. I mean we have preseason games, preseason workouts we went to the international tour but like that was like a real.

[00:06:04] Not really real but that was like a legitimate test and yeah moment on like. I just kind of decided that this is something that I'm going to do now not next year not.

[00:06:17] Whatever but I was going to try to capitalize on this year because there was definitely opportunity there and that's kind of the moment when I saw that.

[00:06:24] I love that. That's awesome. Yeah, and it there's I think there's that's really powerful too what you said out of you because I think mindset and kind of that confidence in yourself.

[00:06:34] And in your teammates I'm sure allowed you to kind of embrace that as well and be like no now's the time you know I don't need to. I think that's really cool.

[00:06:45] Would you say that it took you guys until the Thanksgiving tournament to find that team chemistry and yeah with each other?

[00:06:53] Yeah, I would say definitely and maybe even a little bit after that just because you know the whole trend we had a lot of transfers we were fresh men we are still trying to learn the system.

[00:07:03] But then also trying to recognize the role that we were being called to and and accepting that role accepting that challenge and just picking it up rather quickly because we didn't have a lot of time for that transition period so.

[00:07:18] That was definitely emphasized and I would say it took us a little bit longer I would say after that to kind of gel and be a cohesive team it usually takes a little bit because you know things change every year but I think we got on the right track at the right time.

[00:07:32] Yeah and for anybody listening I always say you guys had a lot of starting freshman and so it's a very it was a very young team new team so it makes sense that it might have taken a little bit longer for you guys to find the groove.

[00:07:45] Well, you and I have talked about this before but you kind of experienced fame in high school you really had a tremendous season with Iowa State but even before that you were really well known in the basketball community.

[00:07:59] I mean you got a greater recognition greater surge of recognition through the NCAA tournament but what's been kind of the most significant issue or hurdle along your journey to I want to say fame.

[00:08:14] Sure, like most significant hurdle is staying grounded because it's so easy now I think we're social media with with like public expectation to I think a lot of people get caught up in that and like NIO as well and I think a lot of times you know as student athletes as young people we get caught up in that and the cloud in that and losing the true meaning of why we do what we do.

[00:08:42] You know there are a lot of people that want to that when they have a platform don't know what to do with it so figuring out you know how to make sure that I'm putting out things that represent my core values things I believe in and keeping the main thing the main thing you know I'm here for hoops I'm not here for a check I'm not here for followers and and I think that that is something that is like somewhat difficult for a lot of young student athletes.

[00:09:10] Was it difficult to you're very young in high school to have that social media presence and still have trolls from adults that that might be out there like just kind of throwing shade at young athletes who have that social media presence was it was that a difficult piece of it.

[00:09:32] First sure I mean the first time I guess you could say I experienced like fame I think I was like a freshman or sophomore in high school I got posted on ESPN and like.

[00:09:42] I had no grasp of of the reach that that in the effects of that and the amount of people that see that and so you know I was 14 years old reading comments like oh this is what people think of me and you know like.

[00:09:55] The focus isn't really on how many buckets I'm getting the focus is in on what I'm doing on the court what I'm doing for my teammates they're more worried about.

[00:10:02] How strong I am how tall I am how big I am how short I am what color am I like I feel like that is just super unnecessary and I think a lot of women face that.

[00:10:12] I think that that's something that isn't really talked about because I mean I've seen.

[00:10:18] Every every time a woman's basketball player gets posted it's either she's not as good as man or yeah she looks weird she does this differently she this is that or it becomes a beauty competition so like no I'm not here to look good I'm here who. I think.

[00:10:35] A lot of times that can be hard and I know even some some of my teammates have experienced similar things and once you are on that public platform it's great when things are going well but the second thing goes bad or it doesn't go your way be prepared.

[00:10:51] For that comment section to turn on you and for you to get some DMs but I guess that's just kind of part of the process and yeah that's a big part of the fame process yeah. I'm sure.

[00:11:06] And how do you really embody in such a powerful way like using your platform to spread that love and that lie and you get back to the community you're really passionate about kids you volunteer and do a lot of work with the boys and girls club can you talk about how you've been able to use your platform.

[00:11:25] And you know the brawn shouting you out ESPN giving you all the flowers that you deserve my girl but how have you been able to channel that for positive impact into kind of champion some of those causes and to service that voice.

[00:11:40] Yeah, I really just try to put out positive images positive messages you know my faith is a really big thing for me.

[00:11:47] Me and so health really big thing and I'm excited that that's being talked about more so when it comes to like my social media platform I always try to put out messages little things you know you never know who might need to see that and another part of that social media piece is like there are so many get like little girls that'll message me and I'll try to go through and respond to them all it's just so cute to be able to.

[00:12:09] To connect with people that are from all over the country that care about me that care about my career so.

[00:12:16] Giving back in that way online and also like you said the boys and girls club just seeing their faces light up I mean they like there's a lot of recognizing that.

[00:12:25] We are in such a great position as student athletes were so privileged and then seeing you know some kids some people that might have you know misfortune at lives or bad things happening to them that are in the same position being able to put a smile on their face because.

[00:12:39] I mean we don't know what those kids with those people are going through so giving back even if it's time if it's donating meals. I don't know if it's cleaning up in the community whatever we can do to help. It is something that I definitely think is important.

[00:12:53] I love that. I also love, I don't you talked about this off camera but that you're going around and doing camps across Iowa back in your hometown small town I'm from small town Iowa so I specifically love when athletes go back to those places and keep pouring back into the youth and because growing up people like you and I in small towns we didn't always have professional athletes coming back or collegiate at.

[00:13:19] Athletes coming back to inspire and motivate and so I always I think that's really cool of you that you're going back to do that and you're pouring back into the community that they'll.

[00:13:29] Thank you and so speaking of the fame that you're kind of rolling with now after the incident of a late tournament you've been interviewing agents lately. Yeah I've been interviewing agents that's been super interesting process but something that I guess you kind of need to do.

[00:13:51] Yeah interviewing for agents has been super fun just kind of learning about that whole experience because I mean as a kid even in high school even starting this career you know as a freshman I never really thought that would be something that I needed it's not something I put much thought into but learning more about it

[00:14:09] I think it's a really great tool that as I mentioned before kind of helps athletes keep the main thing the main thing you know other people will handle emails contracts all that stuff so.

[00:14:19] That'll help me with the time management piece so I can really focus on my craft and stay away from the business side of basketball. What's been the most challenging piece of it as you go into these interviews at that these agents are pitching you.

[00:14:36] Right you got to have a little bit of a poker face when you. Yeah.

[00:14:41] Business field because I mean a lot of times people will say things in my head I'm like oh wow like me from little town I'll go and you want to do this you want to do that so I don't seem to eager don't seem to eager.

[00:14:54] I can't seem to excited so just embracing all the opportunities they have great presentations they all have great ideas so just taking that all in and trying to think and process and make a decision. 100% 100% so what is which pays a little bit and talk about.

[00:15:14] Women's basketball March madness this year was insane you know we talked about you dropping 40 points in first round of March madness you had a really successful career as well. Just to give you a little more flowers for the listeners we already talked about your.

[00:15:29] You're a very good player but you were the first team all big 12 conference all American honorable mentioned by AP you average 19 buckets of game 8 rebounds 65% shooting.

[00:15:43] And then in that first game against Maryland where you drop 40 you actually broke a record by most points by a freshman in March madness. We love that let's go.

[00:15:54] I also want to just talk about kind of your thoughts on women's basketball as a whole kind of getting to participate in the tournament what's that atmosphere been like.

[00:16:04] It's been wild to see you know the women's tournament got more viewership than the men's tournament this year championship game out through the men's by 4 million viewers.

[00:16:14] Yeah, I just think back to like the COVID years and back when women's basketball wasn't really a part of March madness and just seeing the growth in viewership like you said in funding in in the experience I feel like it's a lot more.

[00:16:30] Value now the women's game and it's about time because it's frustrating you could say, you know I'm I'm very fortunate now to play in the era that I play in when women's basketball is gaining so much popularity.

[00:16:47] Because I really couldn't imagine you know doing all the same things at the men do putting in work and not getting that same those same opportunities that same exposure and that same appreciation as we do now.

[00:16:59] So I'm super excited for the game the future of the game is going to be crazy and I love that people are on board with embracing women's basketball and continuing to to see that popularity rises exciting.

[00:17:10] So piggybacking off of that are there any specific partnerships or collaborations that you might be looking forward. Um, so I actually I haven't even reached out to them yet but I really want to partner with we're getting the tea.

[00:17:29] We are getting the tea. Hey, I partner with a lot of brands of businesses from my hometown in Agona a couple of dealerships and some teams just kind of getting some some things going but I have a lot of stuff in the works so stay tuned for that.

[00:17:43] One of brands that I really want to target that I really want to talk to is called the happiness project.

[00:17:49] They put out clothing just kind of spreads mental health awareness and I think it's kind of targeted towards you know the college student just because life does get so hectic let alone be in a college athlete.

[00:17:59] And that and I know a couple of my teammates are seek Jesus ambassadors like faith based clothing. We go to like salt company shout out to them like it's like a church organization on campus like all throughout.

[00:18:13] I know the state of Iowa maybe even farther I'm not sure they're outreach but just those keeping those core values and touch while trying to make connections with these brands with these businesses that's something that's super important to me you know finding deals that.

[00:18:27] Put out what I truly embody what I truly value.

[00:18:31] Yeah, so you guys have quite a bit of opportunity than you did in the beginning of the season what has what did it look like in the beginning versus how has it taken shape pretty quickly at the end of the season or was it kind of a gradual.

[00:18:45] Like in terms of people reaching out to you for partnerships and I L developing in that space especially Iowa state. Right, right good question so it was kind of a developing thing I mean.

[00:19:00] I feel like we kind of had to earn our key a little bit kind of show people what we could do what I could do and now that the season has cooled off yeah I would say it's definitely picked up.

[00:19:11] With with the brands reaching out just because we are so busy during the season I think that you know a lot of them work with other student athletes they know that that's kind of.

[00:19:19] And no, no to reach out in the bulk of everything because it's going to be hard to you know set things up but I would say yeah it was gradual and and. I mean the better campaign that you have as a team the more you're seeing.

[00:19:31] The farther you go and March madness the more people notice you so that's a big part of NL of ambassador ships of that whole process you got to be able to produce and get yourself out there and I think we did a pretty good job that's here.

[00:19:46] I wanted to touch also on you mentioned faith being really important to you and how that's informed some of your partnerships as well.

[00:19:53] Can you if you're open you mentioned a little bit more with us about yeah even how you're faith informs how you think about making an impact and your purpose on on this earth.

[00:20:03] I'm also come from a Christian background was very involved in athletes and action in college and that's been a big part of my why as well. But yeah if you're open to sharing with me more. Right.

[00:20:14] So I went to like a Catholic school growing up so faith was kind of like instilled in me from a really young age but both my parents were pretty religious but specifically.

[00:20:25] My grandma she was always the woman of faith you know whenever I would have a tough practice and tough game something super disappointing happen or whatever the case may be she always just kind of came to me with a verse and with some ideas and okay let's go to church let's pray about it that type of thing and that really encouraged me.

[00:20:43] And kind of inspired me to really embark on that faith journey and come in here to college like I said with the ministries I mean.

[00:20:52] When you're in a Catholic school or heck when you're even at home a lot of times your parents are like okay get up let's go to church or.

[00:21:00] For me we prayed every single day in school we had a class dedicated to religion and theology and all those things but here it's kind of more of a choice so.

[00:21:10] It was kind of a bonding moment between the teams just because I feel like a lot of us do have you know roots with faith so we go to church together we go to Bible studies where in FTA it involves and all those things and.

[00:21:25] I think honestly my main goal for like my life for my career for whatever opportunities I accept or I decided partner with is just to be a light. I think it was a great.

[00:21:38] Wherever I go in whatever I do so like a lot of people comment on like why are you always smiling I mean I've got trouble for once. It was a coach fan was it was a coach fan was it was low key coach fan.

[00:21:52] I was high key coach fan you know what he was yelling at you guys and you were just smiling on the sidelines he was ready to kick it. I was smiling.

[00:22:00] I don't know I don't know but that's just like super genuine because I really do find going playing I find it. I'm not sure if you're going to be in the past and it everything when I do really.

[00:22:14] I could just if you're not enjoying what you're doing where are you doing it that's kind of how I look at. I think for sure so my faith is definitely inspired that mindset and helps keep that going.

[00:22:25] I love that love that and the way that you play really does exemplify that joy as well you're super free out there. You're doing your thing you're shining your light and even on this podcast listeners I don't if you're listening and you can't see

[00:22:36] but she's been she's in the entire time so I can attest to that joy. We love it.

[00:22:43] I mean even post game after the game versus Stanford other people would have probably been sulking and feeling a specific type of way but in your interview at post game you were very outlifting and talking about how you hold yourself and.

[00:23:01] You're dad having the best seats in the house but you're just so positive and you were a light even in that type of situation post game after a tough loss and that that's the instances that really show the character of players and it really showed for you specifically me watching at that moment.

[00:23:20] Yeah I appreciate that yeah thanks. So, Audie when you when you think about your career we're thinking 10 years down the line 20 years down the line you're a bucket your crush in it I'm seeing you in the WMBA break in records.

[00:23:38] But really what is some of the legacy that you're hoping to leave as a hooper as this light that you are in the community and using that platform. Right. Yeah I feel like you know as like grow as a person my my focus is my. Like.

[00:23:57] Oh my intentions with what I do with my time with what I care about like as far as like charities organizations I think that's kind of changed you know just as as I continue to grow.

[00:24:09] But I just really want to touch people's lives in whatever way I can like I said especially with the youth and like you said tell us like going up in a small town a lot of times you don't have opportunities to talk to those people to see that image of somebody that you want to become.

[00:24:28] Adi young age so I think that that's huge in itself and the way that I carry myself is something that super important to me like we talked about you know just how a smile and how I do that I want to show people that it's okay to.

[00:24:42] To not be consumed by a platform to let your personality shine through whatever you do.

[00:24:51] And instead of like I said it's easy to get caught up with the fame with and I out to be persuaded to do things to say things to look a certain way to change things about yourself in order to fit a mold.

[00:25:04] I think it's important for young girls young hoopers who pers everywhere to understand that it's okay if you need it's okay to be yourself and it's okay to stand on what you believe.

[00:25:16] That's great that's a great piece of advice I think that's like great turning point into our lightning round of questions. Oh, I think we're ready for it. Are you ready for it? Here's my. Oh, so you do do do do do lightning round let's go.

[00:25:33] All right, these are quick questions. You can answer in 30 seconds. We don't really time but try to make it quick. All right, first question. What do you do in your free time that's not sports related. Music everything about music I absolutely love my play.

[00:25:52] I think like it's all like you. No, I'm not going to play. I know it's going to take a little more. I don't know. I don't know. That's cool. I'm not getting out for me. But I play a couple different instruments.

[00:26:04] I like to sing like to hang out with my friends. You know, I love me in Addy Brown. We like to fish so as the weather heats up. Hopefully we'll get out and do some of those things. I love that. You said you like to fish. Let's go.

[00:26:17] I don't know anything like social like during the summers. I hang out with my family a lot. Like we have like a lake house, go boating, catch a tan. You know, you know the vibes. I love the vibe. I love it. So they're small town. Answer too. Amazing.

[00:26:34] Okay. Next question. What is the most intense game you played in last year for this past season? The most intense game, honestly, when we played number four Baylor at home. Because we were down like 18 plus points at half. Coach Ben was really happy with us. Darius.

[00:26:56] But, but, you know, we came back and pulled that upset off at home. A packed hill in. That was a turning point for us. I think in the season kind of gave us a little bit of a chip.

[00:27:09] Some more confidence because we were, you know, such a new team and people kind of doubted us all season. So that was probably the most intense game for sure. Good. All right. Third question. Favorite restaurant or hang out spot in aims? Favorite restaurant or hang out spot?

[00:27:27] Favorite restaurant? Probably food you stay cows. I love a just a chicken and rice girl. That's me playing in simple, but the whole team is obsessed. So we try to go whenever we can. We need to ensure and we can get you a partnership with them. I know.

[00:27:43] It's a perfect place for that out. Oh, you think I get one of those y'all that be fired? Get like a little hat. If it keeps me had to do the. That would be awesome. But favorite hang out spot in aims. Helping call us the emphorsor. Mm-hmm.

[00:28:00] Get there get there two, two and a half, three hours early before games. Right. Absolutely. Literally. Yeah. Okay. Next question. What are some of your favorite on and off court moments of the 20, 20, 20, 20, four season? On court. Um. Hmm. That's true. That's a good question. Favorite on court, mermaid.

[00:28:28] Oh. Um. In the game against. Oklahoma, I believe in the big 12 tournament. Uh, I remember this specifically. I was on the block and I had the ball. And nine year do made a cut to the basket. And I like gave her a dish and she.

[00:28:49] I don't know. It's very specific moment, but it was five. You go back and find it. That was a cool bucket off the court. Favorite moment. Um. We do a lot of fun stuff when it's people's birthdays.

[00:29:04] So I don't remember who is it was, but we got the silly string out after practice. Um. Coach Shabin got her. I believe was her jersey retired. She went back to Toledo and we got her just like a little cookie cake.

[00:29:18] Like when we celebrate each other's accomplishments, each other's birthdays. I mean, we're always hanging out as a group and we. And we, a favorite of the court this year for sure though. I would say was the international score going to Greece and Italy and some cool things.

[00:29:34] And that was kind of the first time that as a group we were together. Like, and that was our our bonding moment. Just to learn about each other when about the team and see those amazing things that that the sport granted us the ability to see.

[00:29:49] So that was probably my favorite off sport moment. That's a good one. All right, last question. What's your go to dance move? I'm a Dougie girl. You got to show us a little bit. I think you're too young for the Dougie. Hey. That's my name.

[00:30:06] I got to see him. Oh, that's great. Well, I think that's a good one to end on. Well, happy to have you, Odie. So good to hear your story. Thanks for joining us and for any of our followers. If you like this podcast, like share follow.

[00:30:21] I'll have Odie's socials and contact information will be in our show notes. Thanks for tuning in.