Tyler Wilks
MALE
Tyler Wilks // Columbus North senior golfer
Wilks won medalist honors with a 1-over-par 71 Friday at Greensburg Country Club to lead the Bull Dogs to the Greensburg Sectional title.
His performance last week: “I left a lot of strokes out there, a couple mental mistakes that led to a little worst of a score than I could have had, but overall, I’m pleased with my performance.”
Do you do anything special to prepare? “I used to be really superstitious, but not recently. I spend about an hour on the putting green before every match.”
Favorite drink: “Sugar-free Blue Gatorade”
Favorite food: “A bowl from Chipotle. Every time after I play a match, that’s my go-to meal.”
Favorite class: “I really like Culinary Arts Hospitality”
Favorite sports team: “Purdue basketball”
Favorite athlete: “Collin Morikawa”
Role model: “My swing coach, Jon Hoover”
Best advice: “Trust your swing, and don’t let your mind get ahead of you in your game. Remain calm and focused while playing.”
Athletics goal: “I hope to make it to state. I would prefer as a team.”
If you could travel anywhere: “Ireland. It’s part of my heritage.”
FEMALE
Julie Klaus // Columbus North senior track athlete
Julie Klaus
Klaus ran on the Bull Dogs’ state championship 4×800-meter relay team and finished 18th in the 3,200 at Saturday’s Girls Track and Field State Finals.
Her performance last week: “That was only my fourth time ever running the 3,200, so I was happy with my performance in that. Then, the 4×800 was the coolest thing ever that we won.”
Do you do anything special to prepare? “I try to just stay relaxed and keep up with my eating and hydration the whole week leading up to it.”
Favorite drink: “I like Sweet tea.”
Favorite food: “Quesadillas”
Favorite class: “I really liked my science classes. I want to go into the medical field, so I’ll be taking a lot of science-based classes in college.”
Favorite sports team: “Purdue cross-country”
Favorite athlete: “Shalane Flanagan”
Role model: “My parents (Jim and Judy Klaus).”
Best advice: “I’ve been told by my coaches, before a race, I’ve done what I’m about to do before, so this time isn’t anything super-different, so just be confident in yourself and race hard.’”
Athletics goal: “I want to run a half-marathon and then eventually a full marathon.”
If you could travel anywhere: “I would really like to go to Alaska. It seems really pretty there, and it seems like it would be a good trip to go on.”
