FEATURED ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Marin Nally, Greencastle

Wednesday, November 29, 2017
Marin Nally putts on the final green during conference meet action.
Banner Graphic/JOEY BENNETT

Marin Nally is a senior golfer and basketball player at Greencastle.

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Banner Graphic: What role have sports played in your life, and what do you think you have learned from them?

Marin Nally: “I can’t think of a time I wasn’t playing sports. I played about everything as a kid. My parents were a big part of that. Through both basketball and golf, I have developed a good work ethic. I know what is expected of me, and I get it done. That’s going to help me as I go through life. Teamwork is also important and very valuable.”

BG: You took up golf this fall and became all-conference in just a few weeks. Talk about how that happened.

MN: “Golf was awesome My dad golfs a lot and had been begging me to play. It was such a great experience, and taught me a lot about patience. Also, if things don’t go your way, you have to learn how to deal with it. Golf was a great experience, and basketball has been for all four years.”

BG: Has anything you learned in golf been applicable to basketball this season?

MN: “They are very different sports. Basketball is more team-oriented, and golf is mostly individual. Going from golf to basketball, the biggest thing would be making adaptations. At the beginning of golf, I was terrible; at the end, I was actually pretty good. In basketball, if I’m not shooting well then I know I can practice more and it will get better.”

BG: What are your plans for after high school?

MN: “I’m going to go to Marian University and major in nursing. I am thinking about trying to walk on to the golf team. The plan is to be an ER nurse, and do that for a while when I’m young. Later in life, settle down and have kids, get my master’s in nursing and maybe have my own office.

BG: Do you have plans to live around Putnam County someday, or do you have desires to move far away?

MN: “Nothing against Greencastle, I grew up here and I love it, but my plan is to travel a lot. I think I’ll live in Indiana, but probably not Greencastle.”

BG: What other things do you do around school besides sports?

MN: “I am involved in National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, I’m an ambassador for the Area 30 Career Center, Latin Club and Key Club. I try to stay involved. With Key Club we do some service projects on our own. With our church, I help with Oktoberfest and Camp Read-a-lot with little kids. We are trying to do a week for health care awareness throughout Putnam County and our school corporation. I sing as well. I participated in the Putnam County Fair this fall and won the Putnam County Star competition. I sang a total of seven or eight songs.”

BG: Do you have any favorites in music, TV or movies?

MN: “In music, I love Demi Lovato and a lot of different types of music. I’m a big ‘80s music fan. My favorite movie would have to be ‘A League of Their Own.’ Powerful women are super influential in my life, and my mom has a lot to do with what I have become. Movies that show what women can do better than men are good to watch. On TV, I love ‘The Office’ and ‘Breaking Bad’ — mostly things on Netflix.”

BG: Besides travel, what is something you have never done before that you would like to do someday?

MN: “One of the craziest things I tell people I want to do someday is to go underwater in a shark cage and watch sharks. I really want to do that. That’s my crazy thing, to watch Great White Sharks. It would be fun.”

BG: What are your favorite and least foods?

MN: “My favorite food is steak. I love steak, mashed potatoes and rolls. I am a really picky eater. My least favorite would have to be any veggies.”

BG: Do you have any pets?

MN: “I have two dogs and a cat. Our cat is really mean. Its name is Kitty. Our first dog’s name is Puppy, and my dog’s name is Tuck. The cat is an outside cat, and the dogs are inside.”

BG: How has your overall high school experience been?

MN: “Greencastle is a great place. It’s very community oriented. My success in school and sports has been because of teachers and staff. The people in the office are great, and the teachers are great. Coach [Bradley] Key and coach [Steve] Paquin have been really great. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without coach Key for the past four years. I’m super excited to start my new life as a college student, which is crazy to say.”

BG: Do you have any specific goals for the year?

MN: “I just want to enjoy the rest of this year, take those experiences and put those into my future life and career, and be proud to be a Tiger Cub.

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