FEATURED ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Chad Stevens, Cloverdale

Chad Stevens of Cloverdale runs for the finish line in last fall’s cross country sectional.

Banner Graphic/Joey Bennett

Banner Graphic: How long have you been running, and what do you like about it?

Chad Stevens: “I started when I was in middle school, mostly because my friends did it. I didn’t start back up again until my sophomore year, which I regret. It’s kind of peaceful on a long run in cross country, and track kind of balances it out because it’s more intense. It helps to build character.”

BG: Do you like one better than the other?

CS: “The workouts are harder in track, but more of my friends do track so I like it a little better.”

BG: Do you have any goals for this year?

CS: “I’d like to remain to be a positive leader on the team. That’s the most important thing. I’d like to make it out of regionals, and placing in the county and conference meets. If I keep training hard, I’d like to keep doing the mile record.”

BG: Do you have any athletes who inspire you?

CS: “Nick Blundell, who graduated last year, has been a big inspiration to me. He is the one who talked me into coming back out to run as a sophomore, and he had great success last year in the state meet.”

BG: What do you like to do when you’re not running?

CS: “I do a lot of other extracurricular activities, like FFA and Student Council. I’m the treasurer for both of those. I l like to spend time with my dogs, my girlfriend and my friends. I like to go hiking and camping. I like to go squirrel hunting in the fall. We normally put them in a soup. I like to watch ‘The Office,’ ‘Parks and Recreation’ and ‘Workaholics’.”

BG: What is one thing you would like to do someday that you have never done before?

CS: “Skydiving. I like the weightlessness and the zero gravity feeling.”

BG: What are your college plans?

CS: “I’m going to join the Air Force Reserve this summer, and then go to Purdue to join the ROTC there and major in professional flight. Hopefully I will be a commissioned officer when I get out. I’d like to fly someday for Federal Express or a company like that. I had some offers to run in college, but my sister [Bailee] plays college lacrosse at Transylvania in Kentucky and doesn’t have a lot of time to do other things. I wanted to focus more on my studies.”

BG: What’s your biggest fear?

CS: “Not being able to provide for my family someday, and failure, are two of my biggest fears. I try to plan ahead.”