From baller to bookworm: Drake's Katie Dinnebier excelling as student-athlete
Des Moines' hometown team is playing some of its best basketball in program history, thanks in part to one of its hometown girls.
Before Katie Dinnebier committed to Drake University, she helped Waukee High School to the girls' state basketball title in 2021. Now, as a college junior, she leads the Missouri Valley Conference in scoring and is in contention for conference player of the year. The starting point - guard helped the team clinch the regular season MVC title.
"It's a team goal, but we would not be able to be where we are without Katie and her style of play," says teammate Taylor McAuley. "When Katie goes, we go. She kind of lights the fuel and starts the fire for us."
Dinnebier, the recipient of countless awards and honors, says the personal recognition is nice, but admits it's even more special to have more attention on women's basketball.
"If you really take the time to analyze women's basketball and watch us play, it's so much more of fundamental basketball. It's the ball movement and the way that we play together. I think, at least on the women's side, to me, it's so much more fun to watch," smiles Dinnebier.
As a young girl, Dinnebier remembers feeling left out as she watched her brother and dad play basketball in the driveway of their West Des Moines home. Years before playing basketball, Dinnebier trained to be an elite gymnast at Chow's Gymnastics in West Des Moines.
"Before basketball, gymnastics was my life. That's all I wanted to do from the age of three until fourth grade," recalls Dinnebier. She laughs, saying she doesn't have any gymnastics tricks in her arsenal anymore.
When she's not spending time on the court, the pharmacy student dedicates much of her time to memorizing pharmacology drugs. During the week, her day begins around 5 a.m., which she says gives her a couple of hours to study before her heading to class and then practice in the evening. Although her plate is full, Dinnebier says she often goes back home to West Des Moines for family dinners.
"My mom makes tuna and noodles. It's so random, but it's my favorite meal ever," she said.
It's part of the perks that come with playing a sport near where you grew up. Dinnebier says it's a big reason why playing for the Bulldogs feels like family.
"It was at a recent game where people were sitting courtside where they were like, 'Katie, we're from Waukee!' And it was kind of cool to see that," she said.
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