Interview and photo by Bailey Bowers
You just graduated from Ada High School as co-valedictorian. Tell us about where you’re going after high school.
I will be attending Ashland University in the fall.
You plan to major in exercise science and minor in entrepreneurship. What drew you to choose this combination, and what career could it lead you to?
I decided on majoring in exercise science because I love learning how the body works and how it can be applied to sports fitness. I also chose to supplement that with a minor in entrepreneurship because after I attend graduate school to obtain a doctorate, I want to open up my own business to provide healthcare treatment as well as training athletes to excel in their athletic careers.
Did you look at a lot of colleges? Were they all in Ohio, or did you explore wider options? What made Ashland stand out?
I visited a lot of colleges. Well over 10 schools were on my radar at one point in time. All of these were in Ohio except Duke University and North Carolina University. I really liked Ashland and everything it had to offer. The size is just right for me and the distance from home is far enough to get away but close enough that I am able to easily drive home for the weekend.
What are you looking forward to most about college? What are you most apprehensive about?
I am really looking forward to taking classes within my specific major so I can begin learning more about what I am interested in. The only thing I'm still a little skeptic about is being able to balance a demanding football schedule along with a demanding school schedule. Time management is something I'm really going to have to focus on to get the hang of things.
You’re also a state-ranked swimmer and you run track. Why did you choose to pursue football over swimming and track?
I chose to pursue football over swimming and track because I just couldn't imagine myself not playing football for the rest of my life. I love the sport and everything about it and it is something I did not want to give up. It was a very hard decision, yet I believe I made the right one. Actually, depending on how the football season goes, I may decide to run track at Ashland as well. Track and football really complement each other as far as training styles and constantly working on speed.
Tell me about your fondest memory playing sports for Ada.
My most memorable moment at Ada would have to be when we beat Delphos Jefferson... twice. Those two games were the highlight of my Ada football career and it is something I will never forget.
Do you have a nickname you’d like to share? How did you get it?
I have had plenty of nicknames. They called me Fish because of swimming, Snowflake because my skin gets pretty pale in the winter, Sunshine because I couldn't pitch the ball left handed when I played quarterback (like the guy off of Remember the Titans), Red Ranger because my group of friends makes up the Power Rangers and I guess I'm the leader, Willy and Matty just because of my name.
What is your ideal vacation destination, and why?
I would love to go to Cabo San Lucas located on the southern tip of Baja California peninsula. My parents have been there but have never taken me. It is perfectly placed from the equator so the temperature is the same all year round- not too hot, not too humid, just right.
If you could take any celebrity out to dinner in Ada, who would you take and where would take them? What do you think the main topic of conversation would be?
I would take Ray Lewis out to eat at El Campo for some Mexican food. I would imagine he would just talk the whole time and give me inspiration about life and football. That would be awesome.
What’s the best part about living in Ada?
The best thing about living in Ada is the sense of having a community. Everyone here knows each other and has a relationship with one another, something that would not happen in a bigger town or city.
