Interview by Gainesville High School senior and Abernathy Cochran intern John Jessup

Meet Kerrigan Gruhn! Kerrigan is a senior at Gainesville High School and a standout on the Red Elephants volleyball team. She hopes to play volleyball in college next year. Her parents are Matthew and Kendall Gruhn. 

We want to thank Kerrigan for spending time with us recently and telling us more about her life and love of Hall County.

Q: Tell us a little bit about your family.

A:  “My grandfather is Bobby Gruhn, that’s kind of like really cool because we live in Gainesville, He obviously was a really good football coach. My mom Kendall Gruhn coached tennis here for a while and she coached Winder for a while because that’s where we used to live. My dad Matthew Gruhn coached at Lakeview and now he’s at Cherokee Bluff. Coaching definitely runs in the family. My sister (Madeline) used to play volleyball, and she’s actually the one who got me started, but unfortunately she had to stop because of a chronic illness.”

Q: Tell us about what you do at school?

A: “I’m in Interact Club, Youth Leadership Hall and Beta Club. Volleyball wise outside of school, I did club volleyball at Lanier for five years.”

Q: What do you love most about volleyball?

A: “I love how team-oriented it is. It’s not an individual base sport. You’re always encouraging each other and just how kind of close you get with the girls on your team.”

Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in Gainesville?

A: “Atlas, Collegiate, and probably Mellow Mushroom.”

Q: Have you lived in Gainesville your whole life?

A: “I only lived in Winder until I was like two and then we moved here”

Q:  Who’s the most interesting person you’ve met in Gainesville?

A: “Burt, he’s an interesting and funny guy.”

Q:  If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?

A:  “Greece! First, because of ‘Mama Mia,’ those are my favorite movies. Also, just like how pretty it is, how clear the water is, and I like the way the houses are built. I think it’s really cool.”

Q: What is your favorite movie or what is the first movie you remember seeing at a theater?

A:  “‘Mama Mia’ and currently loving the ‘Jeffrey Dahmer series’. It’s weird, but it’s really good.”

Q:  What’s some advice that you would give to a crowd of people? 

A: “Don’t take life seriously. Nothing’s ever that deep.”

Q:  What former local business makes you the most nostalgic about Hall County?

A: “The Inn Between Deli.”

Q:  Choosing anyone alive and a non-relative. With whom would you love to have lunch with?

A: “Kathryn Plummer, she played volleyball at Stanford University and now she’s playing professional. It will be really cool.”

Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?

A: “Honestly, I feel like everyone kind of knows each other. We’re pretty tight knit community.”

Q: What’s something you hope our community has or does in the future? 

A: “Probably, keep its traditions. I would say not modernize it too much at all fancy. I just like the way it is and I think it is perfect.”

Q: Where do you see yourself in five to 10 years?

A: “I want to be a sports psychologist. I like a mental health advocate specifically student-athletes.”

Q: Where do you wanna go to college?

A: “Georgia College and State University.”

Q: What is something on your bucket list?

A: “Skydiving.”

Q: What is something that you have been proud to check off your bucket list?

A: “Go outside the country.”

Q:  What’s your favorite either band or musical artist?

A: “Zac Brown.”

Q: In hard times we can sometimes see and recognize greatness in those around us. Hardworking, positive attitudes, helping on the front lines. Who’s one of our local shining lights today?

A: “Coach Mac. He’s always so positive, and he’ll always make you smile.”

Q: What is the most beautiful place you’ve ever been?

A: “Montana.”

Q: What’s your favorite month or holiday?

A: “May is probably my favorite month. For holiday, Christmas is pretty basic.”

Q: What is something that you would rate a 10 out of 10?

A: “California Sushi.”

Q: Who would you want to play you in a movie about your life?

A: “My sister.”

Q: What are one or two of your favorite smells?

A: “Lavender and Christmas trees.”

Q: Who inspires you to be better?

A:  “My dad, he’s pretty tough and he pushes me to be my best.”