FEATURED SENIOR ATHLETE: Aiden Beadles, South Putnam

Aiden is a senior at South Putnam and participates in three sports, football, wrestling and track.

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Banner Graphic: How important are sports to you, and what have you learned from them?

Aiden Beadles: “Sports have played a huge role in my life, having started when I was little and playing baseball and basketball on top of the other sports I’m doing now. Overall, they’ve taught me how to work hard, how to play as a team, work within a team and how to be humble. It’s taught me to be concise, consistent and hold on to the values I have as a person.”

BG: Talk about your sports.

AB: “Football is my main sport, the sport I’ve had the most fun in, been most competitive and physical in and where I’ve had the most success. I’ve always gotten to do that with my friends. I’ve wrestled for three years. My friends convinced me to do it and I’ve not looked back. It’s been great. I’ve gotten to be part of building the wrestling program here at South Putnam, having gone from six teammates to nearly a full roster, so things are going well. Our track team has been on the incline with multiple people having gone to the regional the past couple of years and success at county. I can’t wait to see where we go this year.”

BG: What’s the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you in sports?

AB: “When I was a freshman, I did hurdles. I was at Cascade, in the lead coming around the corner and my shorts started to twist and fall down. I had to slow down to fix them and that caused me lose the race, though my pants didn’t come down.”

BG: What does your game day routine look like?

AB: “During football, I like to be around people I would be playing with, rather than isolate myself and get into my own head, overthinking things. We would go out, get food, listen to music to get hyped up but once we stepped on the field, I was locked in and ready to go.”

BG: Do you have any favorite college/pro sports teams or athletes you follow?

AB: “My dad likes the Chicago Bears, even though they’re not having a lot of success right now. I enjoy watching them and the Indianapolis Colts.”

BG: You mentioned you started wrestling as a sophomore. How has entering that sport helped you as a football player?

AB: “I believe wrestling and swimming are two of the mentally toughest sports. I had no idea what I was getting into when I started wrestling. I always considered myself a tough person but I truly didn’t know tough until I got there and started wrestling. Going out there and wrestling those six-minute matches has taught me to stay focus through the match. Even when I get exhausted, I needed to hang in there and push the extra mile to finish things out. That influenced me in football as there were times where I would want a break or to come out but I needed to stay out there because I would be letting down the team. A mentally-tough attitude is the biggest thing I’ve learned from wrestling that’s carried over into football.”

BG: What else do you do at school besides things involving sports?

AB: “I am the FFA chapter president, doing a lot of competitions and community service events. I am also on the student council and class treasurer. We get to events like Homecoming and fundraisers.”

BG: What do you like to do outside of school and sports?

AB: “I own some sheep and participate in 4-H, showing them during the fair. I get to do that with my family, which has a lineage of sheep that goes back four generations, so that is a big part of my life. It’s fun to get to do that with my family. I’ve learned a lot from my grandma, my mom and it’s fun to have that family time.”

BG: What are your favorites in reading, movies, TV and music?

AB: “Music-wise, I’m a big country guy. The Zach Brown Band is my favorite group and I like listening to Cody Johnson. TV-wise, I stick with one or two series and watch things over and over. I don’t do a ton of book reading outside of for class.”

BG: Are you a person that wants to watch TV shows and movies or stream something from YouTube, Twitch, TikTok etc.?

AB: “Well, if I had extra time, I’d sleep in. After waking up, I’d watch TV with the family or play a board game. I do enjoy being outside, so I’d probably take a walk and be out in nature for a while.”

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

AB: “I’ve always wanted to skydive. It’s a common answer but it seems like a fun and exciting thing. I love being up high and seeing everything below me.”

BG: What is your biggest fear?

AB: “I can be claustrophobic. The thought of being stuck gives me a lot anxiety. Even in wrestling, if I’m underneath someone and he’s keeping me on the mat, it can be tense for me as not being able to move my arms and legs around gives me anxiety.”

BG: You’ve been placed in charge of making dinner. What’s on the menu?

AB: “My mom makes a good tuna and noodles casserole, so I’d make that. It’s easy to make and there’s usually two or three days’ worth of leftovers, so I’d make that.”

BG: Do you have any pets?

AB: “I have two dogs, a golden retriever named Barlow who is about a year old and a golden retriever/lab mix named Branch who is about four years old. We have a garage cat named Baxter and he’s getting old, about 14 years old.”

BG: If your house were on fire, all living things were already out and you have your keys, cell phone, wallet/purse etc., what is one thing you would go back and get?

AB: “My pillow. That’s the most comfortable thing in the world.”

BG: A family member has hit the lottery. After everything is paid off and money is set away for the future, you’ve been asked to buy something you have always wanted to get. What are you asking for?

AB: “I really like to travel. A couple of summers ago, we went out west to see all the states. I’ve always wanted to visit Alaska and a family trip on a cruise would be awesome.”

BG: If you were to describe your personality in one word, what would that word be and why?

AB: “Calm. Even during football games, if I made a play, I’d get up and go on to the next play. People have said it’s hard to get a reaction our of me because I’m laid-back and sometimes hard to read.”

BG: What has been your favorite place to visit?

AB: “When we went out west, we went to Colorado and hiked in the mountains. I got some awesome pictures and when we got towards the top, a thunderstorm started rolling in, so I got some photos of that as well. It was a fast walk down the mountain but it was one of the coolest trips I’ve gotten to take.”

BG: What was your favorite school field trip?

AB: “In fifth grade, we got to go to Chicago. We got to go to the museums, try some of the food and it was the most memorable trip we’ve taken. It was also cool to be out of school to make that trip.”

BG: How important is support from your family and classmates to your success?

AB: “I would not be anywhere near where I am without the support of my family, classmates and teammates. My family has supported me in everything I’ve done. They don’t judge me on what I try to accomplish; they’re there to support me in what I’m doing. My friends, classmates and teammates have helped build me up and have given me the confidence and the want to work hard. They’ve all played a pivotal role in helping build me into the athlete that I am today. I can’t say thank you enough to them.”

BG: Describe your overall school experience both academically and athletically.

AB: “At South Putnam, we have phenomenal teachers. I’ve been in advanced classes since elementary school but going though and taking AP classes, our teachers are so equipped, ready and willing to push us to the next level to make sure we succeed. I’m walking out with enough college credits to start college as a sophomore. The administrators, teachers and staff have done such a phenomenal job and they’ve helped prepare me for the world and college. Athletically, I don’t think I would have wanted to be anywhere else. I’ve gotten to start varsity most of my years of high school and that’s a perk of being in a small school. Being in a small school also means you have to push harder to get the recognition and accomplishments you want to. The coaches and athletic staff are also phenomenal here.”

BG: If your school was to offer a class it currently doesn’t, what would you want to see taught?

AB: “I took three years of Spanish but wasn’t huge on it. I would have rather learned French. We got to take a trip to France this past spring and it was awesome. The language is so interesting me, so I would have liked to learn it.”

BG: What are your plans for after high school, and what career are you headed toward?

AB: “I’ve been accepted to a couple of colleges already where I’m looking to major or minor, either way, in criminology and psychology. I don’t have a preference yet but I want to work in a field where I can help people, either law enforcement or social services. I want to step into a field where I can do good work in the community.”

BG: Is it difficult to keep up with your school work being an athlete?

AB: “Being in advanced classes, the workload can be larger, so it can be a challenge to balance athletics, work and still being able to hang out with friends. I have gotten behind before, so it’s about prioritizing the work so you can do the fun things.”

BG: Which particular classes and teachers have helped you the most in high school?

AB: “I really enjoy science and my teachers have been great. Mrs. Hodge, who I’ve had for biology and AP biology, is a supporter beyond athletics. She goes out of her way to ask you how your day has been going, always has a smile on her face, always wanting to cheer people up and bring people up. If everyone on earth had the same personality and joy when it came to mundane tasks, the world would be a lot better.”

BG: In the future, once you’ve established yourself, if you had your choice, would you want to live in the mountains, on the beach or in the neighborhood?

AB: “I’d move to the mountains, get a log cabin with a fireplace and a deck overlooking the mountains. I’d like to be in nature, a secluded environment, but near a town to be close to people and have something to do.”

BG: Do you think high school has gone fast, and are you going to miss it?

AB: “High school hasn’t gone fast until this year. This year has flown by and we’re already about to end the first semester of senior year. I can remember standing out in the freezing cold at the Covenant Christian Regional game and now I’m past football and things are ending so fast. I’m excited but also nervous to see where things go. I’m definitely going to miss school. The people in this place have built me into the person that I am. They’ve made a lasting impact on me as a person but I know they’ve taught me to step into the world with full force and be ready for anything. They’ve taught me to be that way.”