Liam Krueger
MALE
Liam Krueger // Columbus East junior wrestler
Krueger won all three of his matches by pin Saturday to help lead the Olympians to wins against Terre Haute South, East Central and Roncalli to capture the IHSWCA Class 3A state duals championship.
His performance last week: “I did what coach (Chris) Cooper wanted me to do and went out there and won my matches.”
Do you do anything special to prepare? “I cook pasta or rice the night before and then before my match, I have the same routine of bouncing, pacing back and forth and then saying a prayer before I step on a mat.”
Favorite drink: “I crave Mountain Dew all the time, but during the season, I just drink a lot of water.”
Favorite food: “Fried chicken”
Favorite class: “Weights”
Favorite sports team: “Iowa wrestling”
Favorite athlete: “Rocky Balboa”
Role model: “All my coaches and my dad (Scott Krueger). They’ve just all been a big part of my life.”
Best advice: “Just keep going no matter what, and never give up.”
Athletics goal: “I want to win state.”
If you could travel anywhere: “Australia. I just like the nature there, the animals, the coral reefs, everything.”
FEMALE
Gabbie Meier //Columbus East sophomore swimmer
Meier won Saturday’s Bloomington North Diving Invitational with a score of 380.05. She also won the diving competition and swam on two runner-up relay teams in a dual meet win at Bedford North Lawrence.
Gabbie Meier
Her performance last week: “At the dual meet, I don’t think I did that great, but it was my first meet coming back from break. At the invitational, I felt a lot better about my dives.”
Do you do anything special to prepare? “I just usually try to relax before a meet. I warm up my arms and go through what I’m going to do each dive.”
Favorite drink: “Root beer or vanilla ice latte”
Favorite food: “Pizza”
Favorite class: “Chemistry”
Favorite sports team: “I really like watching the Purdue and IU divers”
Favorite athlete: “(LSU gymnast) Olivia Dunne”
Role model: “My coaches (Jill Arnholt and Nancy Snyder) and my parents (Shane and Trish Meier)”
Best advice: “Always just breathe and just focus on what I’m about to do.”
Athletics goal: “To make it to state again.”
If you could travel anywhere: “I’d love to go to Italy because it’s always been a place on my bucket list. I’ve seen pictures, and it really looks gorgeous there.”
