Will Russell
MALE
Will Russell // Columbus North junior track athlete
Russell won the 3,200 meters in 9 minutes, 32.15 seconds at the North Sectional to help lead the Bull Dogs to a runner-up team finish.
His performance last week: “With all races, there are things we can do the next time we hit the track. I know Evan (Carr) and I are both excited to hit the regional together this week.”
Do you do anything special to prepare? “I just make sure to hydrate a lot and stretch a lot, and two days before the race, I make sure I’m hydrated and feeling good.”
Favorite drink: “Power Water or Powerade”
Favorite food: “Steak or wings”
Favorite class: “History or Business Law and Ethics”
Favorite sports team: “Indianapolis Colts”
Favorite athlete: “LeBron James”
Role model: “My brother Sam Russell (a former North swimmer and current triathlete at Navy)”
Best advice: “Surround yourself with people that have similar goals and ambitions. It helps you keep motivated.”
Athletics goal: “To make it to state in the 3,200 and hopefully be able to place.”
If you could travel anywhere: “Hawaii, because one of my good buddies, Kurt Nusterer, goes to school there, and it would be fun to be able to see him.”
FEMALE
Maddi Rutan // Columbus North junior softball player
Maddi Rutan
Rutan threw a one-hitter with 16 strikeouts in a 9-0 win at Jennings County and threw a two-hitter with 11 strikeouts and went 2 for 3 with two doubles at the plate in a 2-0 win at Hauser.
Her performance last week: “The Jennings County game, I didn’t hit as well as I expected. I felt like my pitching was better than my hitting. The Hauser game, I felt like I did better hitting and pitching.”
Do you do anything special to prepare? “I always make sure I stretch my arm out, and I’ll pitch a few warmup pitches to get my arm warmed up, and then I’ll go to my catcher Kirsten Danford in the bullpen, and she knows how to stretch my arm out. We do that for maybe five minutes or so and make sure my spins are tight.”
Favorite drink: “V8. I have one of those before every game.”
Favorite food: “Chicken and Mexican food”
Favorite class: “Criminal Justice”
Favorite sports team: “Eastern Kentucky (where she has committed to play)”
Favorite athlete: “I look up to Kayla Kowalik at Kentucky and Montana Fouts at Alabama”
Role model: “My parents (Darren and Wendy Rutan)”
Best advice: “Follow your dreams, and keep your head high, and when something seems impossible, it’s not.’”
Athletics goal: “I want to go pro.”
If you could travel anywhere: “I’ve always wanted to go to Japan to play softball, but for vacation, I’ve always wanted to go to Hawaii.”
