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Featured Athlete of the Week: Emily Dobson, Volleyball South Putnam High School
Emily Dobson was born on Sept. 19, 1997 to Tona Gardner and Dan Dobson. She has five siblings. They are Sarah, Shelbi, Kendyl, Madison and Drew.
She's played basketball for three years and has been involved with the Student Council (6 years) and NHS (2 years) (5 years), FCA (6 years).
Dobson enjoys watching "Cinderella Man", enjoys reading the "Hunger Games" series or "Crazy Love" and enjoys listening to Matchbox 20 or else 90s country.
Her favorite school subjects are English, government and anatomy and her favorite professional athletes are Yadier Molina and Colin Kaepernick.
Banner Graphic: What is it like being a senior this year, compared to previous years?
Emily Dobson: "It's been awesome. I absolutely love my team. Our team chemistry is great this year. No matter the wins or losses, we're always in it together.
"It's been a really, really cool year. Our class is close, so it's been a really awesome senior year."
BG: What did you do for off-season training?
ED: "This summer, we went to a tournament in Plainfield and that really helped us see what we have and worked on the skills that we have."
BG: What were your individual and team goals for this season?
ED: "We've had a lot of problems with people getting down on themselves. I wanted to be a role model to help people get past that and to show the girls to be confident. South Putnam's volleyball has been down in previous seasons but any year, any season you can turn that around.
"We want to get better as a team. Of course, any team wants to win, but we're focused on staying together and keeping our intensity up through ever game."
BG: Who is or are your personal inspirations?
ED: "The first thing I think of is my family. I absolutely love my family. My parents have been so supportive of me. I adore my grandparents and I love the family that I have, who taught me to keep going and always have a positive attitude."
BG: Who are your best friends?
ED: "I want to give a shout out to the Breakfast Club (Grady McHugh and Katie Hewitt). Also, Allacyn Arnold, Olivia Arnold, Morgan Aker, Jake Schroer, Jessica Jones, Zane Crosby, Collin Berry, Ben Albright, all of my teammates, FFA friends, FCA, you name it, I love them all to pieces."
BG: What is your favorite South Putnam memory?
ED: "South Putnam has been my home. I basically grew up here, so everything's been my favorite memory. I just love this place."
BG: What is your favorite part of volleyball?
ED: "The intensity of the game. It's so much fun. It's 'bam, bam, bam' and that's a lot different than some sports. It's really, really, neat. You also have to have team chemistry in order to be successful, and I enjoy the fellowship that we have."
BG: What are your future plans?
ED: "I'm not going to play any college sports, maybe intramurals to keep off the freshman 15. I'm really looking at Purdue. I've wanted to be an Ag teacher for a while, but I want to see where God leads me. I'm also looking at Grace College, at Wynona Lake, but I'm keeping my heart open to God and seeing what he wants me to do."