Athlete of the Week: Mason Eckley, Centerville High School

Mason Eckley

Mason Eckley

Name: Mason Eckley

School: Centerville

Grade: Junior

Age: 16

Sport: Bowling

Claim to fame/honors: Earned all-tournament honors by placing eighth at the Elk Invitational with 664 series; averaged 232 in GWOC, seventh in conference.

Bet you didn’t know … I started bowling a little over two years ago right before freshman year tryouts. At tryouts, I rented bowling shoes and used a 10-pound ball I found at the bowling alley. Before tryouts I only had practiced three times and averaged around 110-120. Freshman year and sophomore year summer I went to the bowling alley at least six days a week, sometimes more than once a day.

Words you live by: Believe, work hard, care

Toughest opponent: Myself. It’s surprising, but bowling takes a lot of mental concentration and the times I do the worst is when my mental game isn’t at its highest.

Biggest influence: My parents; they always steer me in the right direction.

Match-day rituals: Typically I blast music in the parking lot in my car,

What’s on your bedroom walls? Picture frames of people who influence me, such as Michael Jordan.

When I’m bored I like to … play other sports or video games. I really enjoy playing any sports no matter how bad I am at it.

Favorite movie: Old Dogs

Person who would play you in a movie: Clint Eastwood

Favorite TV show: The Office

Favorite musical artist: Logic

I can’t live without: Music

I can live without: Fast food

Favorite book: The Scorch Trials

Favorite home-cooked meal: Walking Tacos

Favorite restaurant: Cheddar’s

Favorite smell: Fried chicken

Favorite cereal: Cinnamon Toast Crunch

Store where you’d like a shopping spree: PacSun

Vegetable you won’t eat: Brussels sprouts

I’d love to trade places for a day with … LeBron James

Whose mind would you like to read? The Cleveland Browns owners

Talent you’d like to have? Be good at ping pong.

Favorite school subject: Economics and history.

Favorite athlete: Derrick Rose

Favorite team: Ohio State

Favorite Olympic sport: Basketball

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

Favorite sports moment: Iron Bowl in 2013. Alabama vs. Auburn, where Auburn won by returning a missed field goal for a touchdown as time expired.

Favorite junk food: Cheese-Its

Best thing about bowling: The high scores and the commitment and grind that it takes to be better and improve your game.

In 10 years, I hope to … have a great job, specifically being an athletic director for a high school or college and living in a good town, with good 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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