MALE
Graham Rooks, Columbus East junior wrestler
Rooks won his first-round match on Friday and his quarterfinal match on Saturday before dropping his final two matches to finish fourth in the 126-pound division in the Wrestling State Finals.
His performance last week: “I thought I did decent. There’s definitely areas to improve, and I still have one more year.”
Do you do anything special to prepare? “Just get mentally focused. I know what I need to work on, and I try to work on those things in practice and then do that in a match.”
Favorite drink: “Sweet tea”
Favorite food: “Burgers”
Favorite book: “To Kill a Mockingbird”
Favorite class: “Weights”
Role model: “My grandfather (Lester Perkinson) and my dad (Ben Rooks)”
Best advice: “Never give up, and always try your hardest.”
Athletics goal: “To win state next year”
If you could travel anywhere: “Iowa, because they have a very nice wrestling program, and New York, because I’m thinking about going to Army-West Point.”
FEMALE
Ashley Holliday, Columbus North senior gymnast
Holliday set a Conference Indiana record in winning the floor (9.825), tied her own conference records in winning the vault (9.75) and all-around (28.275) and also won the bars (9.75) to lead the Bull Dogs to the team title.
Her performance last week: “I accomplished some of my goals and had some of my best routines of the season, so I’m really happy.”
Do you do anything special to prepare? “I basically just go through my routines in my head and try to calm myself down so I don’t get too nervous.”
Favorite drink: “Lemonade”
Favorite food: “Mac and cheese”
Favorite book: “Twilight”
Favorite class: “Math”
Role model: “My mom (Cathne Holliday)”
Best advice: “Always stay positive, even when you’re having a bad practice and meets, all the time.”
Athletics goal: “To do the best I can at state”
If you could travel anywhere: “I would go to London, England, because it’s really pretty, and I’ve always been interested in going there.”
