Kyson Villarreal
MALE
Kyson Villarreal // Columbus East junior football player
Villarreal completed 9 of 14 passes for 254 yards and four touchdowns, with no interceptions, and added 22 yards rushing in the Olympians’ 30-14 win against Seymour.
His performance last week: “I felt like I had a good week of practice, and that always leads to a good game. I just have to keep challenging myself every week to keep pushing the guys around me and myself.”
Do you do anything special to prepare? “I go to the trainers and get some ice and ice my legs a little bit, stretch. I drink a lot of Gatorade and eat a couple of bananas.”
Favorite drink: “Cool Blue Gatorade”
Favorite food: “Pizza”
Favorite class: “Criminal Justice”
Favorite sports team: “Indianapolis Colts”
Favorite athlete: “Anthony Richardson”
Role model: “My dad (Jimmy Villarreal).”
Best advice: “Last week when I fumbled, (coaches) told me to keep my head up, and my defensive guys told me they had my back. They got a stop, and we got back on the field, and the game was over after that. That’s some good advice that they gave me last week.”
Athletics goal: “I want to play in college, 100 percent. Whoever offers me, whatever position they offer me at, that’s just a goal to get a free education.”
If you could travel anywhere: “The beach to get some sun and relax. It’s just always a grind.”
FEMALE
Morgan Osborn // Columbus North junior volleyball player
Morgan Osborn
Osborn led the Bull Dogs with 17 digs and four aces in a three-set loss at Bloomington North, six digs and two aces in a three-set win at Hauser and 18 digs and three aces in a three-set win against Martinsville.
Her performance last week: “I feel like I had a typical performance last week when it comes to my stats. I feel like when I can finish a match in double digits for digging, have more than two aces and have a pass rating above 2, then it was a successful match for me, and hopefully, it turned into a win for the team. I think more importantly, last week’s overall performance was more about stepping up as an empathetic team captain and having some difficult conversations that helped us build more trust and communication within our team. We clarified some misunderstandings, and I think that has helped us increase our performance level.”
Do you do anything special to prepare? “I try to pick up on what their attacking tendencies are so that I can put myself in the best defensive position as possible. I also like to study my opponents’ defense and serve receive and spend time with coaches strategizing. On the day of the match, I spend time visualizing myself making good plays. I also like spending time with my teammate Hannah Perry while she braids my hair. While warming up, you will see my game face on. I get quiet, and I start working on training my eyes so that I can react to what I am seeing during play.”
Favorite drink: “Baja blast from Taco Bell”
Favorite food: “Biscuits and Gravy”
Favorite class: “Academically, nursing; but athletically, weight lifting”
Favorite sports team: “I don’t really have one, but I’m excited to see the new pro volleyball program for Indiana (Indy Ignite). So maybe that will become my favorite sports team.”
Favorite athlete: “(Indiana University volleyball player) Ramsey Gary because she broke the season record for digs as a freshman libero. She was also our IU player-coach at summer team camp, and I learned a lot from her while there.”
Role model: “My mom (North assistant coach Jessica Robertson). I learn something from her every day. She is passionate, patient, creative and always has the best advice.”
Best advice: “My best advice to give is a quote my mom once read to me — ‘Don’t let what’s happening around you get inside you and weigh you down. Ships don’t sink because of the water around them. Ships sink because of the water that gets in them.’ I also like this advice — ‘Forget the mistakes, remember the lessons.’’’
Athletics goal: “My ultimate goal is to play D1 volleyball and be the shortest D1 volleyball player. The shortest players are right at 5 feet. I think the shortest is 4-11.8. Right now, I am 4-10.8. Really though, my athletic goal is to reach 1,000 career digs, which I should reach in the next one to two matches. I also want to set records for aces and digs here at Columbus North, and I want to inspire players younger than me to reach those numbers after I graduate.”
If you could travel anywhere: “Other than traveling for club volleyball tournaments, I don’t get to travel much. There is so much here in the United States that I haven’t seen yet. Most people would choose somewhere in a different country, but I want to explore the United States more. I love lakes, beaches and mountains, so anywhere there is beautiful landscapes or bodies of water.”
