Featured Athlete of the Week: Bennett Hazelgrove, Soccer, North Putnam High School

Friday, October 4, 2013

Bennett Hazelgrove, 18, is a student-athlete at North Putnam High School. Hazelgrove was born on Sept. 20, 1995 to Ann and Don Hazelgrove. He is involved in Student Council, National Honors Society, Key Club, Special Olympics Volunteer, Spanish Club and Teen Court. His favorite subject in school is math and English is his least favorite. His favorite color is blue and favorite food is tomatoes with cottage cheese. Hazelgrove participates in soccer, basketball, baseball and golf. As a junior he was an All-Conference member on the soccer team and advanced to regionals for golf. During this past summer, Hazelgrove partially tore his Achilles tendon and two years ago he fractured his ankle.

Bennett Hazelgrove



Banner Graphic: What life lessons have you learned through sports?
Bennett Hazelgrove: Hard work and dedication pays off.

BG: Out of all the sports, which one do you like the best? Why?
BH: Honestly, I'd have to say golf. It's relaxing and there's no punishment for messing up. You don't have to run if you make a bad shot. Unfortunately, you have to walk the extra distance to find your ball.

BG: What is your training like?
BH: Do whatever my coach tells me. This consists of a lot of running and core building exercises. I try to push myself more and more to gain endurance and stamina that are needed in each and every sport.

BG: Who is your favorite athlete and why?
BH: My favorite athlete is one that few will know. It's Kellen Moore, the former quarterback of the Boise State Broncos. Kellen was a nobody. He was determined to make a name for himself. After his junior year, he was leading the country in almost every quarterbacking category. Everyone said that he wouldn't make it. He was "too small and didn't have the arm strength."

In the end, Moore was the all-time winningest quarterback in college football. When asked what he thought of the reporters that criticized him, he said "I will remember their names. One day I'll prove them wrong." (Moore is currently a backup for the Detroit Lions)

BG: Who has influenced you the most in life?
BH: My sisters, Randi and Taylor, have influenced me the most. Both achieved great things at North Putnam High School. They inspire me to get better every day. No matter what, I will always be remembered as Randi's or Taylor's little brother.

BG: How much of an effect do your teammates have on you?
BH: Being the captain, I rely on my teammates. We accomplish things together. I need my teammates to back me up.

BG: What are your individual and team goals this year?
BH: Individually, I hope to score 10 goals this season in soccer, average 10 points/8 rebounds in basketball, .350 batting average in baseball and advance to regionals in golf. From a team standpoint, I want win conference championships. All of these are possible. It just takes hard work and the right mindset.

BG: What are your plans after high school?
BH: I am applying to Stanford, Purdue, and Dartmouth. I plan to study mechanical engineering in hopes of becoming an exotic sports car engineer.

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