FEATURED ATHLETE OF THE WEEEK: Dylan Crum, South Putnam
Dylan Crum is a senior at South Putnam participates in baseball. He competed in basketball in his freshman and sophomore years.
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Banner Graphic: What is your history of playing sports?
Dylan Crum: “I grew up playing baseball from as far back as I can remember, starting at Reelsville. I played a little bit of football, but baseball has been my main sport. I have grown in many ways under many different coaches. I have learned leadership, and from coach [Brady] Rhodes we have all learned not only how to play baseball better but to be better people.”
BG: How has your career gone?
DC: “There have been ups and downs. I think most of the baseball I have learned has been in high school. How to play as a team and as an individual. I’m no Babe Ruth or anything, but I’m probably an above average baseball player.”
BG: Last your team made some great strides from the previous year, but the weather has limited what you can do this year. How does this season look?
DC: “This year we started off strong, but played some quality opponents. We are now 3-4, and I think last year helped everybody a lot with better baseball IQ and knowledge. I think we’re going to have a good season. We can be as good as we want to be. Our top goal is to win the county, and I think we can do that.”
BG: What baseball have you played besides for the school team?
DC: “I’ve played travel ball with the Smoke and the Sun Devils. We’ve gone to a lot of tournaments in Indiana, and one in Kentucky. We saw a lot of quality opponents.”
BG: You are the team captain this year, and coach Rhodes said he hasn't had one of those before. What does that title mean to you?
DC: “I try to be a leader not only in the dugout but off the field to make sure everybody is getting their work done and striving toward our team goals during the season. We have a good bond out here, and our team is very close. I am very thankful that he nominated me as captain."
BG: What other things do you do at school besides play baseball?
DC: “I used to do drama. I remember doing ‘Winnie the Pooh’ an ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’. It was pretty tough. Remembering lines of Shakespeare is the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
BG: What kinds of things do you like to do outside of school?
DC: “I volunteer at the Humane Shelter. It looks good on a college application, but I like to help out animals whenever I can. I’m a big animal lover, and it’s hard not to leave with a couple of them. My stepdad has always had a K-9 dog around the house, so I’ve grown up around German Shepherds. Now we have a yellow lab. We have chickens, cats and a lot of animals.”
BG: What are you plans for after high school?
DC: “I am going to Indiana State and majoring in accounting/finance and minor in computer science and software engineering. I have always liked numbers, and my dad works with computer software as a salesperson for Dell so that has gotten me interested in the technical side of it."
BG: What is your greatest fear?
DC: “Being buried alive."
BG: What are your favorite and least favorite foods?
DC: “My favorite would be cheese pizza, and my least favorite is brussel sprouts."
BG: What is something you have never done before that you would like to do someday?
DC: “I would like to go skydiving. It's just something that looks thrilling and a lot of fun."
BG: If you were to describe your personality in one word, what would that word be?
DC: “Amusing. I try to be funny and like to be joking around with people."
BG: What are your favorite kinds of movies, TV shows and music?
DC: “My favorite movie is 'Moneyball', and all comedies. I like all kinds of music, except jazz, and in TV I like 'Designated Survivor'. That's about the president and a lot of government officials being killed in a war and a guy who just got fired from his job the day before is next in line to be the President. It's really interesting."
BG: Have any certain teachers or classes helped you the most at South Putnam?
DC: “Mrs. [Emily] Skoniecke is a history teacher, and she does a really good job. She has a hard job, and she handles a lot of responsibility. She's helped me learn a lot throughout high school. I have Mr. Rhodes for sociology and government, and I have really enjoyed them and learned a lot about who I am as a person."
BG: Are you a good student?
DC: “I try to be. My GPA is 3.4, and that puts me in the top 20 in my class."
BG: Describe your overall South Putnam experience.
DC: “As a person, you might miss out on some things in big cities but I love going to a small school."
BG: After you are out of college, have you thought about whether you want to live somewhere far away or somewhere around Putnam County?
DC: “I'm more interested in being out of state as an adult. I really like Wisconsin, and I wouldn't mind living up there. My dad lives up there, and there is a lot of stuff to do. I like to go cycling, and there is a lot of that up there. I'd love to be up there."