Athlete of the Week: Elijah Sadler, Troy High School

Name: Elijah Sadler

School: Troy

Grade: Incoming senior

Age: 17

Sports: Tennis, soccer

Claim to fame/honors: Three-year varsity tennis player; two-year varsity soccer; Scholar-Athlete Award for both sports each year

Bet you didn’t know … I constantly have to fight through asthma and severe allergies

Words you live by: Never give up, always give as much as you can and try to give a little bit more each time

Toughest opponent: Centerville in both sports

Biggest influence: My family, how much they’ve given me support

Match-day rituals: I always eat a good meal, listen to music, and if I have homework I work on that before I get ready for the match

What’s on your bedroom walls? Mainly just some pictures playing sports, Star Wars posters

When I’m bored I like to … read a book, watch TV, play video games, if I can’t find someone to hang out with

Favorite movie: Star Wars: A New Hope

Person who would play you in a movie: Tom Holland

Favorite TV show: NCIS Los Angeles

Favorite musical artist: I listen to Bruno Mars quite a bit

I can’t live without: Good food

I can live without: My allergies and asthma, be nice to live without those

Event you’d like to attend: Tie between Wimbledon and soccer World Cup

Favorite book: The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

Favorite home-cooked meal: Baked pasta with extra cheese and extra Italian meat (pepperoni and sausage)

Favorite restaurant: Olive Garden

Favorite smell: A fresh can of tennis balls just opened

Favorite cereal: Lucky Charms

Store where you’d like a shopping spree: Adidas super store

Vegetable you won’t eat: Brussels sprouts

I’d love to trade places for a day with … any of the Marvel actors, Chris Evans, Chris Helmsworth, Chris Pratt, Tom Holland

Whose mind would you like to read? Alexander the Great

Place where you’d love to travel? Italy

Talent you’d like to have? Really good acrobatics and agility

Favorite school subject: History

Favorite athlete: Roger Federer

Favorite team: Manchester United

Favorite Olympic sport: Fencing

Something in the world I’d like to change: People’s negative perception of others

Favorite sports moment: When I was in the middle of a soccer game, I had gotten fouled really hard, but ref didn’t call and I scored the winning goal right after.

Favorite junk food: Donuts

Best thing about your sports: The improvement it gives to your quick thinking, movement, strategizing and execution; for soccer the feeling of teamwork, unity and whenever you make a good play the feeling of sheer accomplishment.

In 10 years, I hope to be … in a profession I really love; hopefully something involving ancient history and hopefully it helps people and teaches them or helps them become better people

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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