Athlete of the Week: Sam Wiedemann, Centerville High School

Sam Wiedemann

Sam Wiedemann

Name: Sam Wiedemann

School: Centerville

Grade: Senior

Age: 18

Sport: Diving

Claim to fame/honors: Won Greater Western Ohio Conference with meet record; placed second at sectional meet; placed fifth at state championships junior year; WTRC dive team; will dive for Miami University and plans to major in biology

Bet you didn’t know … I used to be a breaststroker for the WTRC Sharks

Words you live by: For I know the plans for you, says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11)

Toughest opponent: Definitely my club teammates, Austin Flaute and Caleb Keck

Biggest influence: Definitely both my parents, and my siblings and my club coach, Patti Hickey

Meet-day rituals: I always stretch; I close my eyes and picture myself doing a dive; I have a pair of lucky socks that I wear between each dive

What’s on your bedroom walls: Posters of this year’s CHS swimming and diving team; picture of me diving at 2015 state meet.

When I’m bored I like to … listen to music and read

Favorite movie: The Jason Bourne series

Person who would play you in a movie: Taylor Lautner

Favorite TV show: Grey’s Anatomy and Criminal Minds

Favorite musical artist: Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean, Taylor Swift

I can’t live without: My phone

I can live without: Drama

Event you’d like to attend: 2020 Olympics in Tokyo

Favorite book: Lone Survivor

Favorite home-cooked meal: My mom makes really good quesadillas

Favorite restaurant: Bravo

Favorite smell: New car

Favorite cereal: Frosted Flakes

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

Vegetable you won’t eat: Broccoli

I’d love to trade places for a day with … The Rock. That would be pretty interesting.

Whose mind would you like to read? I’d like to see what Taylor Swift is thinking, what song she’s going to write

Place where you’d love to travel? Bora Bora; my cousin just came back from there

Talent you’d like to have? Drawing

Favorite school subject: Exercise science

Favorite athlete: Olympic diver David Boudia

Favorite team: My family is originally from Michigan, so I say Go Blue

Favorite Olympic sport: Diving

Something in the world I’d like to change: Violence and war

Favorite sports moment: Winning the GWOC title this year and breaking the record

Favorite junk food: Pringles

Best thing about diving: The team; diving is a real family sport; everyone is so supportive and encouraging

In 10 years, I hope to be … a physical therapist or occupational therapist

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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