Harry Crider, Columbus East senior football player
Crider stepped in at middle linebacker and led the East defense with seven tackles and also had a pass breakup and anchored an offensive line that paved the way for 302 rushing yards in a 35-7 sectional upset win at New Palestine.
His performance last week: “I feel great about it. I think it was a great team win. We all came together and prepared well for the big game and showed what we’re capable of.”
Do you do anything special to prepare? “I watch a lot of film and make sure the other teammates are ready to go. The offensive line always meets on Tuesday nights and eats dinner together and prepares for the game. Then when it’s game day, we just lock in and make sure we know the game plan.”
Favorite drink: “Milk”
Favorite food: “Grilled shrimp”
Favorite book: “Harry Potter series”
Favorite class: “Biology”
Role model: “Jay Cutler because he is also a diabetic football player like me. He’s been a role model since I was diagnosed.”
Best advice: “Play every down like it’s the last because you never know when it could be over. You want to make every moment, every rep, every practice count and make the most of it.”
Athletics goal: “Finish out this year as well as we can, hopefully with a state title, and then have a good collegiate career playing football at IU.”
If you could travel anywhere: “Hawaii, because it’s tropical and a lot different than around here.”
Cortney VanLiew, Columbus East senior volleyball player
Van Liew led the Olympians with 19 digs and added 15 kills in Saturday’s sectional final win against Bloomington North. She also had 23 kills and 26 digs in a semifinal win against Bloomington South and 20 kills, three blocks and 10 digs in a first-round win against Columbus North.
Her performance last week: “I don’t really rate myself on performance. It’s more of a team thing, and I thought that we played together as a team. I guess it’s more of, ‘I played well because the team played well’ than just focusing on me.”
Do you do anything special to prepare? “I do my hair in a certain way, and I go through and I visualize every aspect of the game.”
Favorite drink: “Gatorade.”
Favorite food: “Peach rings”
Favorite book: “’Relentless’ by Tim Groover”
Favorite class: “AP Psychology or Bio II Anatomy and Physiology.”
Role model: “My mother (Janet VanLiew) or (former East and current Memphis player) Faith Myers.”
Best advice: “I need to play the game that I’ve always played instead of changing to fit certain expectations.”
Athletics goal: “To have 12 letters by the end of senior year. Another goal would be to make it to state in volleyball and to go back swimming and then possibly on a relay team in track.”
If you could travel anywhere: “I’d probably to to New Zealand. I went to Europe this summer, and I just really love that area, and I think it would be awesome to go see all of the tropical-type areas.”
