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FEATURED ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Elliot Gross, North Putnam
Elliot Gross is a senior basketball player at North Putnam.
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Banner Graphic: Talk about sports and what they have meant to you.
Elliot Gross: “I’ve played basketball as long as I can remember, probably for about 10 or 11 years. I tried all the other sports, but basketball just kind of stuck with me. It’s taught me a lot of valuable things — meeting new people, social skills and leadership skills.”
BG: You didn’t grow up in Indiana. How well has your move here from Pennsylvania two years ago worked out for you?
EG: “It’s been really great. I love it here. It’s a lot different here than the other places I’ve been, but it feels like home. I have a lot of family here, and a lot of my family members hadn’t seen me play before I came here. It gives me another reason to keep playing, to see my grandma or other longtime family friends be able to come to watch me play.”
BG: What are your plans for after high school?
EG: “I would like to study international studies and become a diplomat, working for the government in some capacity. I’m looking at Indiana for international studies, and do that on a Mandarin Chinese government-funded program from the Department of Defense.
BG: That’s a pretty unique set of goals. How did you become interested in that?
EG: “I have lived in four or five different states, have traveled to Europe twice, and I have developed a love for meeting new people and learning new languages. I’d really like to pursue that as a career. I’ve looked into the Untied Nations and the Peace Corps.
BG: What has it been like moving around so much?
EG: “Living in so many different places has its goods and bads. It’s nice to say you have grown up and lived in the same place, but for me I’d say it’s been more beneficial moving around a lot. I have learned a lot, and I have friends from all around the nation and over the world.”
BG: Your style of playing basketball is pretty “blue collar.” You don’t do anything flashy, but you play hard and do whatever your team needs. How did that style come about?
EG: “I have always thought I’m not always going to be the most talented person on the court, and I can’t control that. What I can control is the amount of effort I put forth. It’s just going out every day in practice and working as hard as I can. I’ve played against the best players here that I’ve ever played against.”
BG: What do you like to do when you’re not doing school work or playing basketball?
EG: “I love eating, and I love going out to new places with friends. A lot of people like to see movies, but I like going to new towns. I love to read. I took a creative writing class last year, and I’d like to write a book someday. That has always interested me.”
BG: What are your favorite and least favorite foods?
EG: “I’m a huge fan of pizza, almost any time. I love Asian food, too. Chinese, Japanese, sushi, things like that. I hate radishes. I always have.”
BG: What is something you have never done before that you would like to do someday?
EG: “I’d love to go scuba diving with sharks, something to get the adrenaline pumping.”
BG: Do you have any pets?
EG: “We have two indoor cats. I’m not sure of the breeds, but one is named Hershey (named after Hersey, Pa.) and the other is Mike.”
BG: Are you involved in other clubs
EG: “I’m the chairman of the Student-Athlete Leadership Team at North Putnam, Caring. I’ve done Key Club, Impact Club, FCA and a few different ones.”
BG: Where do you want to wind up living
EG: “Washington, D.C., would be great at some point. I would love to go live abroad for a few years and experience that.”
BG: Summarize your whole North Putnam experience to date.
EG: “I’ve never been at a place like North Putnam, so small yet so challenging. Maybe that’s because I’m the oldest I’ve ever been in school. The teachers have been amazing. A shout-out to Mrs. Lippenncott. She’s the best teacher I’ve ever had. I love walking down the halls here and knowing that someone here knows my family. It’s been awesome. I love Indiana. I’m not much of a rural, country guy, but it’s been great.
BG: Do you have any goals for the rest of the year?
EG: “I’d love to do well on my finals, and we have a new program here called North Putnam U. It’s a dual enrollment course through Ivy Tech. I’d like to do well in that this year.
BG: Do you have any special skills people may not know about?
EG: “My special skill is not having one. I’ve never been able to whistle, or roll my tongue, or anything like that people can sometimes do.”
BG: Do you have any certain highlight of your time at North Putnam?
EG: “The buzzer beater I had against Bethesda Christian last year at the Monrovia tourney was really cool. I’ve never had one of those.” before.”