Athlete of the Week: Thomas Walsh, Northmont High School

Name: Thomas Walsh

School: Northmont

Grade: Recent graduate

Age: 18

Sports: Baseball, hockey

Claim to fame/honors: Played center on two-time state champs with Dayton Stealth hockey team; regional baseball semifinals as a junior; .333 batting average this year; played third base and right field; plan to attend Ohio State and major in chemical engineering.

Bet you didn’t know … I was valedictorian

Words I live by: You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take

Toughest opponent: Vandalia-Butler

Biggest influence: Chuck Harlow, Northmont baseball coach

Game-day rituals: Listen to music

What’s on your bedroom walls? Picture of Sidney Crosby

When I’m bored I like to … play video games

Favorite movie: Miracle

Person who would play you in a movie: Tom Cruise

Favorite TV show: Family Guy

Favorite musical artist: Kenny Chesney

I can’t live without: Popcorn

I can live without: Vegetables

Event you’d like to attend: Stanley Cup finals

Favorite book: The Percy Jackson series

Favorite home-cooked meal: Steak and cheesy potatoes

Favorite restaurant: Sake

Favorite smell: Apple pie

Favorite cereal: Cinnamon Toast Crunch

Store where you’d like a shopping spree: Dick’s Sporting Goods

Vegetable you won’t eat: Cucumber

I’d love to trade places for a day with … Wayne Gretzky

Whose mind would you like to read? My dad

Place where you’d love to travel? Hawaii

Talent you’d like to have? Dance

Favorite school subject: Biology

Favorite athlete: Sidney Crosby

Favorite team: Pittsburgh Penguins in hockey and Cleveland Indians in baseball

Favorite Olympic sport: Sand volleyball

Something in the world I’d like to change: All of the bombings

Favorite sports moment: Winning state in hockey as a junior

Favorite junk food: Reese’s Cups

Best thing about hockey and baseball: Winning and losing and battling with your best friends

In 10 years, I hope to be … living more south with a nice house and a wife and kids

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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