Athletes of the Week | The Republic News

MALE

Nathan Imlay // Columbus North senior soccer player

Imlay recorded an assist in a 6-0 win at Bloomington North. On Saturday, he netted three goals to lead the Bull Dogs to an 8-0 win against Jeffersonville.

His performance last week: “I felt pretty good. The first week coming in, I didn’t feel really confidence in myself, but this week, I gained more confidence in myself, especially the Jeffersonville game scoring a hat trick.”

Do you do anything special to prepare? “Before games, I’ll eat lunch with the team. Anything with the team, I like to spend time with them and build chemistry with them.”

Favorite drink: “Big Red”

Favorite food: “Wings”

Favorite class: “Anything medical”

Favorite sports team: “Arsenal and Indiana University”

Favorite athlete: “Tiger Woods or Lionel Messi”

Role model: “My family in general. My mom and dad (Rusty and Amy) are probably my biggest role models.”

Best advice: “My parents always tell me after I feel really bad about a game, no matter how I play, every time you go out for a new game, you have a new sheet a paper. They tell me I need to focus on what’s in front of me and not in the past.”

Athletics goal: “I hope to go far in the tournament.”

If you could travel anywhere: “Barcelona, because it looks like a really beautiful place, and I would like to see an FC Barcelona soccer game.”

FEMALE

Ava Bunker // Columbus North freshman golfer

Ava Bunker

Bunker tied a nine-hole school record with a 32 in a win against Greenwood, then broke it with a 30 in a loss to Batesville and had a 33 in a win against Roncalli, all at Timbergate. She shot 74 for 18 holes in Saturday’s Center Grove Invitational at Hickory Stick.

Her performance last week: “The 30 was pretty good. I was hitting it pretty good and making a lot of putts. (Saturday), The 74 was a little off. I had a little bit of putting issues, but nothing I can’t fix.”

Do you do anything special to prepare? “I have to get there two hours before so I can get my whole warmup done, and I have to eat brown rice before every tournament, no matter if it’s nine holes or 18 holes. In a tournament, I have to play with a Titleist golf ball with the number 2 because 2 is my lucky number. I’m very superstitious.”

Favorite drink: “Berry Blitz Body Armor. That’s my lucky drink.”

Favorite food: “Vanilla sprinkled donuts”

Favorite class: “Algebra, because I have always loved math.”

Favorite sports team: “I really like Georgia, and I go to a lot of IU basketball games.”

Favorite athlete: “(Pro golfer) Lydia Ko”

Role model: “My swing coach (Jeff Smith)”

Best advice: “You’re just a human. It takes time and practice to get good as something. As long as you try hard, you will be able to achieve something great.”

Athletics goal: “I definitely want to play D-I college and then in the long run, make it to the LPGA.”

If you could travel anywhere: “Bermuda. I really want to travel there by boat, and I really want to play golf there. That’s always been on my bucket list.”