By Baylee Knebel
Every year, seniors finalize their college applications. Deciding your future can be tough. For some students the option of colleges isn’t only for academics, but also for athletics.
But for senior Zane Cline his college decision had already been thought out.
Taylor University.
”Ever since I was young I’ve always wanted to play at the next level,” Cline says. “I’ve had the influences and I’ve just wanted to go there.”
He has had coaches who previously coached at Taylor as well as a former teammate commit there.
“It has always just been there,” Cline says.
Cline has been playing baseball since he was 2 years old. His freshman year he vividly remembers the seniors and how they helped shape the kind of player he was.
“What they did is really important to me and also me trying to leave that impression here,” Cline says.
However for senior Lindsey Lynch she had a late start and joined cheer when she was 11. Though it may seem delayed she is committed to continuing her athletic and academic career at Butler University, which is an NCAA Division 1 school.
Going to the next level has always been in the back of her mind.
“The most rewarding part of being an athlete is just accomplishing your goals and I definitely have done that,” Lynch says.
One of Lynch’s favorite memories from this season was winning cheer state with the 3A traditional routine. This was a big team goal and the feeling of winning it with her team that she considers family tops it all.
Going into college as already an undersized competitor but also facing advanced competition you have to have a good mindset to be successful.
“I want to be as strong as the other girls,” Lynch says. “I’ve been training any way that I can.”
Ayden Bollinger also has high expectations for his college and athletic career. He is committed to Indiana University for his impressive wrestling stats.
“I want to go in and absorb a lot of knowledge and grow as an athlete,” Bollinger says.
He started wrestling at age 4 and has had goals for himself over the years. Being ranked number four in the 120-pound weight class is an accomplishment within itself.
“It shows all the success paying off and it’s just cool to be ranked,” Bollinger says.
Being a senior now it is important to him to give his younger teammates someone to look up to and inspire them to continue wrestling into college.
“Winning and always having something to try to get better at is very important to me,” Bollinger says.
