Athlete of the Week: Sam Auditore, Oakwood

Name: Sam Auditore

School: Oakwood

Grade: Senior

Age: 17

Sports: Swimming

Claim to fame/honors: Three-time state finalist; co-captain for Oakwood; also competes for Dayton Raiders

Bet you didn’t know … I can walk on stilts

Words you live by: The Fundamental Rule of Chess: “The only way to become smarter is by playing a smarter opponent”

Toughest opponent: My own self doubt. Confidence is the key to succeed and self doubt can easily negate hours and hours of hard work.

Biggest influence: My friend Isabella Gable, she’s been pushing me in and outside the pool for years. She also taught me how to play the ukulele.

Meet-day rituals: I usually just eat a good breakfast (instant oatmeal is a favorite) and listen to my favorite songs on the ride to the pool.

What’s on your bedroom walls: I have a ton of Polaroid pictures of my friends from the past few years all taped up in chronological order.

When I’m bored I like to … I study for my school’s Academic Decathlon team or take online trivia quizzes.

Favorite movie: Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure. I think it’s a really wholesome story of two pals who overcome the odds.

Person who would play you in a movie: Jack Black in a blonde wig

Favorite TV show: Jeopardy

Favorite musical artist: The Rolling Stones

I can’t live without: My bag of rainbow pens

I can live without: Bathrooms that only have blow dryers instead of paper towels

Event you’d like to attend: Saint Peter’s Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, I’ve been once before but want to attend for the full length of the festival.

Favorite book: Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer

Favorite home-cooked meal: My family’s homemade beef stew.

Favorite restaurant: The Hasty Tasty on Linden Avenue

Favorite smell: Movie theater popcorn

Favorite cereal: Fruity Pebbles

Store where you’d like a shopping spree: Target. I could get lost in Target for hours.

Vegetable you won’t eat: I am one of the few people I know that cannot stand Avocado.

I’d love to trade places for a day with … Gordon Ramsay. I think it would be kind of cathartic to be as emotional as he is for a day.

Whose mind would you like to read? My swim coach Kevin, he is quite an enigma.

Place where you’d love to travel? Iceland

Talent you’d like to have? I wish I could skillfully braid hair

Favorite school subject: Calculus

Favorite athlete: Katie Ledecky

Favorite team: Oakwood swim/dive

Favorite Olympic sport: Curling

Something in the world I’d like to change: I would increase the quality of public education in lower income areas of America

Favorite sports moment: The 2008 Beijing Olympics Men’s 4x100 Freestyle Relay where the US men’s team edged out the French for a world record and the gold medal.

Favorite junk food: Ice cream

Best thing about swimming: Being able to daydream during long sets

In 10 years, I hope to be … Pursuing something I’m passionate about that makes me happy

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