They Call That Kid a Whiz

Editor’s note: Whiz Kid is a new weekly feature where Patch highlights a local kid who makes this community great in his or her own unique way. If you know a child you’d like to nominate for Whiz Kid, send me an e-mail at paige.austin@patch.com.

Name: Reilly Duncan

Age: 10

Accomplishment: Reilly’s United Water Polo Club 10 and under coed team recently won the 2011 KAP7 International Water Polo Tournament, outscoring their opponents 70-15 in four games. Last year, his team won the  gold medal at the Junior Olympics.

School: Fourth grade at McGaugh Elementary in Ms. Kristina Scott’s class.

“She is the best teacher I have ever had.”

Hobbies: “Drawing and reading. I will read a book like Harry Potter, and they have these really nice drawings above the chapters that I like to draw. It’s my two favorite hobbies mixed together. I draw with pencil, because I am not a big fan of color.”

Favorite Books: The whole Harry Potter series

Favorite Movies: “The Harry Potter movies, but the books are always better, though.”

Favorite Song: “That is tough because I am a huge fan of music. Right now, my favorite song is 'By the Way,' by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.”

Favorite Sport to Play: Water polo

“I love water polo because it moves so fast. I used to play baseball, but it was so slow. You had to wait, wait, wait all the time for something to happen. Water polo is just so fast.”

What motivates you to practice and work so hard at it?

“I just want to help my team. Last year, I was sitting on the bench a lot. Now that I get to play more, I just want to help my team be as good as it was last year.”

What are you really good at doing?

“I don’t want to brag, but I think am I good at water polo and drawing.”

What is something that you feel you need to work on or improve on?

“Water polo. I am actually pretty good at it, but I still have a lot to learn.”

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A paleontologist or a water polo coach.

What is something that most people don’t know about you?

“Most people don’t know that I want to be a paleontologist. Dinosaurs have always interested me. I have probably like a thousand books on them.”