Athlete of the Week: McKinlee Ruppert, Dixie High School

Name: McKinlee Ruppert

School: Dixie

Grade: Sophomore

Age: 15

Sports: Basketball, volleyball, softball, track

Claim to fame/honors: First-team All-Southwestern Buckeye League Buckeye Division; point guard led Greyhounds in scoring, assists and blocked shots; accounted for all 38 of team’s 3-point baskets; first-team all-league in softball as a freshman infielder; District 15 underclassman team both years; ran on 4x400 relay last year that reached regional meet; carries 4.33 grade-point average, tied for top in class academically

Bet you didn’t know … I was born on Friday the 13th

Words you live by: You can do all things through Christ

Toughest opponent: Definitely myself; I’m really hard on myself

Biggest influence: My sister, Lacey

Game-day rituals: I normally listen to music and pray; curl my hair

What’s on your bedroom walls: Pictures of my family and trophies

When I’m bored I like to … annoy my parents

Favorite movie: The Giver

Person who would play you in a movie: Jennifer Lawrence

Favorite TV show: Prison Break

Favorite musical artist: Charlie Puth

I can’t live without: Pizza

I can live without: Drama

Event you’d like to attend: Winter Olympics

Favorite book: Looking for Alaska

Favorite home-cooked meal: Spaghetti

Favorite restaurant: Chili’s

Favorite smell: Christmas ham

Favorite cereal: Lucky Charms

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

Vegetable you won’t eat: Tomato

I’d love to trade places for a day with … Jennie Finch

Whose mind would you like to read? My boyfriend

Place where you’d love to travel? Florida

Talent you’d like to have? I wish I could dance

Favorite school subject: Math

Favorite athlete: Maya Moore

Favorite team: The Bengals

Favorite Olympic sport: Basketball

Something in the world I’d like to change: A lack of dedication

Favorite sports moment: A game-winning home run in select softball in front of the Ohio State coach last summer

Favorite junk food: Pizza

Best thing about basketball: The feeling you have after a game after leaving everything on the court

In 10 years, I hope to be … a biomedical engineer

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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