Catching up with Tess Fischer

When there was only one St. Charles high school, Jeff Fischer would take his toddler daughter, Tess, to watch basketball games. That early influence paid off. At St. Charles North, Tess Fischer is a three-year varsity player who, at 5 feet, 10 inches tall can play both guard positions and also bang around a bit inside at forward.

She started playing basketball as a 4-year-old with her older sisters Sally and Lauren, both St. Charles North graduates. After an honorable-mention season in the Upstate Eight Conference as a junior, Tess joined an Amateur Athletic Union team for the first time. Playing for Illinois Team USA coached by Burlington Central coach Stephanie Smith (“Coach Smitty,” Tess called her), based out of Elgin's Judson University, she brought enhanced skills to North Stars coach Colleen Brennan. Fischer also plays soccer but calls basketball her “number one sport right now.”

Q: Did you enjoy the AAU experience?

A: It helped me so much. I loved doing it, and my coach was a huge influence on how I'm playing now. I have improved a lot since last year, I think. I've just gained a lot of confidence, and I'm playing much better this year and have stepped up my game.

Q: When you do get near the basket, what's your favorite power move?

A: I love the up-and-under, it's my very favorite. That's the one everyone on my team knows that I do. Some of the girls have caught on to some of the stuff I'm doing. I like to change it up a little bit so they never know what I'm going to do.

Q: What's your style on the basketball court?

A: I would say kind of intense. I like to get up and down the court really quickly, and I like driving the lane. And I like to use my height to my advantage.

Q: How does your style jibe with that of Coach Brennan at St. Charles North?

A: I like how she gets really intense in practice. She makes us push ourselves as hard as we possibly can, and if we're not she'll let us know about it. That's our game plan, pushing the ball really fast up the court. So, obviously, you have to then practice that way.

Q: You're speaking in eighth-hour, from Coach Brennan's classroom. What do you do there?

A: It's my study hall, but I come into the coach's classroom and help with special education students. I help with on-the-job training kind of stuff. It's my study hall period and I have a pass to go to her classroom every day. I love doing it.

Q: Have any brothers?

A: No. I like having sisters. I think a brother would bully me around a little bit.

Q: Yeah, I see that with my own kids. Speaking of which, what's your favorite holiday memory?

A: Baking cookies with my sisters that come home, and my whole family. Just hanging out with them because I don't get to see them that often.

Q: What would you like for Christmas?

A: I was talking with my mom (Kristin) about getting more Nike stuff for college next year some clothes I can wear to classes. Some boots, maybe. There's not much on my Christmas list.

Q: Do you play any musical instruments?

A: I play piano.

Q: When did you start that?

A: I've played since I was 7; 11 years or so. I've been in music classes since I was probably 4 or 5. I like classical music the best.

Q: Who's your favorite composer?

A: I don't really have a favorite, but I was just listening to some Beethoven on my iPod. I love listening to classical music on my iPod, especially before games. It calms me down.