Burnsville senior Dan Motl grew up being a three-sport athlete, and that didn't change when he reached high school.

The Gophers recruit is currently preparing for the sports season where he excels, baseball. The outfielder was instrumental in the Blaze winning the Class 3A state championship a year ago.

He also played football and basketball for the Blaze. Here is a closer look at Motl:

The best movie I've seen in the last year? "Moneyball." It's about time a baseball movie hit the theaters!

Three songs I never skip on my iPod are ... "In This Life" by Mike Stud; "You Gonna Fly" by Keith Urban; "Ships in the Night" by Mat Kearney.

Three words or phrases my friends or teammates might use to describe me? Athletic; sarcastic; modest.

How do you balance school and sports during the year? Academics have obviously always been a priority for me. It takes a lot of organization, and I make sure to utilize the time that I have away from my sports to get my homework and studying done.

How did you get started playing all three sports? My dad played a big role in getting me started with the sports that I play now. He was always outside with me playing catch, running routes or rebounding for me.

At my first varsity practice, I ... felt excited. I was fortunate to have my two best friends along with me and I already had great relationships with the upperclassmen.

What is your favorite meal before a game? A Vito sandwich from Jimmy John's.

What did you work on in the offseason? I am working on becoming physically stronger, and being able to hit the ball effectively to all fields. I am also working on my mental approach for when I step up to the plate.

What is your most memorable moment as a high school athlete? My most memorable moment is definitely winning the state championship game last year as a junior. It is a game I will remember and talk about for the rest of my life.

What are your goals for the upcoming season? My goals are to provide leadership for my team and to do whatever it takes to make our season successful, whether it's on the field, from the dugout or in the community. I would also enjoy getting back to the state championship game.

Who is your school's biggest rival, and why? I would say our biggest rival is Eastview. We have battled with them every year since our first year of traveling baseball and we have become good friends with most of them, so it's always a competitive game.

If you could change one thing about high school sports, what would it be? I would change the length of the high school baseball season. Every baseball player knows the high school season is way too short!

Who is your favorite college or pro sports team and why? My favorite pro sports team is the Green Bay Packers. My whole family is from Wisconsin and we spend every Sunday cheering on our Pack.

In 10 years, I hope I'm ... still playing baseball or have a job that is related to sports. I have always dreamed of working for ESPN or Nike.

RON HAGGSTROM