MALE
Jaden Durnil // Columbus East junior wrestler
Durnil won by decision in a 35-21 loss to Cathedral, then went 3-0 with wins by forfeit, by pin and by decision to capture the 182-pound division and help lead the Olympians to the Hoosier Hills Conference title.
His performance last week: “I feel like it was pretty good. I definitely could do better. I have three weeks to prepare for sectional, so I’m just going to put in the work I need to and prepare.”
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Do you do anything special to prepare? “I just walk around and stretch out. Sometimes, I’ll listen to music to help calm my mind.”
Favorite drink: “Mountain Dew”
Favorite food: “Steak”
Favorite class: “Weight”
Favorite sports team: “Notre Dame and Green Bay Packers”
Favorite athlete: “Aaron Rodgers”
Role model: “My dad and step-mom (Daryl and Casey Durnil)”
Best advice: “If you can’t accomplish something at one point in time, keep working toward it, and eventually you’ll get it.”
Athletics goal: “To win the state in wrestling or at least place this year.”
If you could travel anywhere: “I’d probably go to Tennessee or Texas. I used to take vacations to Tennessee, and I always enjoyed my time there and the environment, and I always thought I would like Texas a lot.”
FEMALE
Gabbie Meier // Columbus East freshman diver
Meier set the Olympians’ 11-dive school record with 368.25 points Saturday in winning the Bloomington North Diving Invitational.
Her performance last week: “It started off a little weird, but toward the end it started to get better. It was kind of exciting because it was my first time competing all 11 dives, but I had fun with it.”
Do you do anything special to prepare? “I just do my normal warmup.”
Favorite drink: “I always get Root Beer every time I order fast food.”
Favorite food: “Pizza”
Favorite class: “Biology”
Favorite sports team: “Indiana University”
Favorite athlete: “(LSU gymnast) Olivia Dunn.”
Role model: “I look up to my parents (Shane and Trish Meier).”
Best advice: “To go for anything that I want without letting anything stop me.”
Athletics goal: “To strive for my best every practice.”
If you could travel anywhere: “I’ve always wanted to go to Greece or Hawaii because I really like swimming in the ocean and laying on the beach.”
