John Merritt
MALE
John Merritt // Columbus North senior golfer
Merritt tied for fourth individually with a 72 at Timbergate to lead the Bull Dogs to a runner-up finish in the Conference Indiana Tournament and tied for second individually with a 75 at Smock to lead North to the Franklin Central Invitational title.
His performance last week: “Overall, I’m proud of how I played. I think there’s still room to improve, and I’m looking forward to how the rest of the season will play out.”
Do you do anything special to prepare? “I usually just listen to some music, get something to eat, get some water in me and then I rest.”
Favorite drink: “Cherry Coke”
Favorite food: “Kraft Mac and Cheese”
Favorite class: “I like the business classes I take.”
Favorite sports team: “Chicago Blackhawks or Indiana University”
Favorite athlete: “Patrick Kane”
Role model: “My dad (Brett Merritt)”
Best advice: “Have tenacity, give it all you have and seize the day.”
Athletics goal: “I want our golf team to make it to state this year.”
If you could travel anywhere: “Dubai, because I think it would be pretty cool.”
FEMALE
Aya Saad // Columbus North sophomore tennis player
Aya Saad
Saad won all three of her matches by 6-0, 6-0 scores to help the Bull Dogs to wins against Edinburgh, Columbus East and Brown County to capture the North Sectional title.
Her performance last week: “I feel like I just got out and got the job done and tried my best.”
Do you do anything special to prepare? “We listen to music as a team, and then I warm up with Kathryn (Wilson). I don’t try to eat a lot on match days.”
Favorite drink: “Water or Pink Lemonade.”
Favorite food: “Pasta.”
Favorite class: “I really like my Human Body Systems class.”
Favorite sports team: “Paris Saint-Germain or FC Barcelona.”
Favorite athlete: “I really like Naomi Osaka.”
Role model: “My parents (Dorsaf and Philipe Saad). They work super hard, and I look up to that.”
Best advice: “My dad says, “Life is not that serious. Chill out.’”
Athletics goal: “I’d love to make it to state and win state as a team.”
If you could travel anywhere: “I would love to go to Athens, Greece, because I really like the ocean, and it’s so pretty and it seems really asthetic.”
