Athlete of the Week: Parker Jensen, Butler High School

Name: Parker Jensen

School: Butler

Grade: Senior

Age: 18

Sports: Soccer

Claim to fame/honors: Captain of soccer team; carries 4.2 grade-point average; president of astronomy club; member of National Honor Society; plans to major in astrophysics in college.

Bet you didn’t know … I spend most of my time outside looking up

Words you live by: Don’t take everything so seriously

Toughest opponent: Myself because I give myself my own anxiety

Biggest influence: Definitely parents; they always shaped me and pointed me in the right direction

Match-day rituals: Make sure to listen to my classic rock play list

What’s on your bedroom walls? Soccer posters and picture of a star chart with a star named after myself

When I’m bored I like to … go on a walk

Favorite movie: Harry Potter

Person who would play you in a movie: Danny DeVito

Favorite TV show: How the Universe Works

Favorite musical artist: Blue Oyster Cult

I can’t live without: Science

I can live without: English class

Event you’d like to attend: Any event Neil deGrasse Tyson is speaking at

Favorite book: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Favorite home-cooked meal: My mom’s pasta

Favorite restaurant: J. Alexander’s

Favorite smell: A candle my mom has called Autumn

Favorite cereal: Frosted Flakes

Store where you’d like a shopping spree: Frye’s Soccer Shoppe in Englewood

Vegetable you won’t eat: Zucchini

I’d love to trade places for a day with … Neil deGrasse Tyson

Whose mind would you like to read? My science teacher Mr. (Scott) Oldfield

Place where you’d love to travel: Italy

Talent you’d like to have: Juggling

Favorite school subject: Astronomy

Favorite athlete: Ben Roethlisberger

Favorite team: Manchester United

Favorite Olympic sport: Curling

Something in the world I’d like to change: Hatred

Favorite sports moment: Scoring the game winner on last year’s senior night against Sidney

Favorite junk food: Oreos

Best thing about soccer: Just that I enjoy it

In 10 years, I hope to be … working on the Mars project

Nominate an Athlete of the Week: Send an email to freelance writer Dave Lamb at d_lamb@msn.com. Please include the athlete's name, school, sport and a phone number or email address where we can reach that athlete. Please include Athlete of the Week in the subject line.

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