LO 06302020Cr Athlete of the Year
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2020 celebration of ATHLETES THE REPUBLIC’S BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY ATHLETE OF THE YEAR SPECIAL SECTION Eric Stiles MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR BIG-TIME TALENT Stiles led East boys soccer to uncharted territory In describing the talent of one of the state’s top soccer players, former Columbus East coach Brad Barber points to a critical play in the first half of Eric Stiles’ last high school game. I In a scoreless semistate game against top-ranked and even- tual Class 3A state champion Zionsville, Stiles won a ball near midfield against eventual Indiana Player of the Year STORY BY Chris Freeman. Stiles TED SCHULTZ then connected on a pass to Logan Cline, PHOTOS who scored to give the BY MIKE Olympians a 1-0 lead. WOLANIN “Eric had the vision, technical ability and power to drive the ball 40 yards across the field, perfectly placing it in front of Logan Cline,” Barber said. “... I do not believe there is another player in an Indiana high school able to make that play. Eric is one of the few players in the state that can take over a game whenever he wants to.” Stiles did that plenty this season and throughout his high school career, and that has led to his selection as The Republic 2 ATHLETE OF THE YEAR SPECIAL SECTION | CELEBRATION OF ATHLETES 2020 Bartholomew County Male Athlete of the Year. The male and female winners typically are honored at The Republic’s Athlete of the Year Gala, but that was canceled this year because of COVID-19. Stiles led East to a dream season. The Olympians went undefeated in the regular season; won Hoosier Hills Conference, sectional and regional titles and reached the state’s final four for the first time in school history THE REPUBLIC MALE before falling 2-1 to Zionsville. ATHLETES OF THE YEAR: “It’s obviously always a goal to win as many games as you can 2020: Eric Stiles, Columbus and make it to the state tourna- East ment, but we were not expected 2019: Trenton Kelley, to go undefeated through the Columbus North season,” Stiles said. “We kept building momentum each game, 2018: Brigham Kleinhenz, and we just didn’t want to lose.” Columbus North After playing as a defender or 2017: Mitchell Burton, defensive midfielder for most Columbus North of his career, Stiles moved into an attacking midfield role as a senior. He netted 12 goals and seven assists. “It is easy to recognize soccer Columbus East’s Eric Stiles, left, dribbles through a tackle attempt by East Central’s Eric Puterbaugh during a soccer match Sept. 4 players who have stats such as at the Richard Wigh Soccer Complex in Columbus goals, assists or saves,” Barber said. “As a box-to-box midfielder, game to the next level his senior before we all go our separate it was taking a toll physically on Eric doesn’t have those same year by leading the program ways to college.” my legs going from track prac- stats. Anyone who watched to an undefeated season (and In March, Stiles committed tice to soccer, so it was almost a our games could pick out Eric earning) first-team All-State and to play at Belmont, a Division I relief.” dominating the match on the Regional All-American recogni- school in Nashville, Tennessee. Stiles, who saw his club soccer defensive and offensive side the tion,” said Barber, who retired Around that time, he decided to season canceled, as well, plans to ball while covering more ground from coaching after the season. run track for the Olympians for leave for Belmont in August. He on the pitch than any other For Stiles, though, it wasn’t the first time in his high school is considering majoring in com- player.” about the awards. It was about career. puter science or data sciences. Following the season, Stiles the wins and the memories he Soon after, track, along with all “I’m extremely excited and was named first-team All-State made with his teammates. other spring sports, were can- hopefully ready for the chal- by the Indiana Soccer Coaches “It’s always great to have not celed because of the COVID-19 lenges I’m going to face my first Association. He also became only a great team, but a great pandemic. year,” Stiles said. “It’s an experi- the first player from East to be season caps it all off,” Stiles said. “I ran track back in seventh ence I want to be a part of.” selected to the United Soccer “I’d say it was my most enjoy- and eighth grade, and I really Meanwhile, Stiles hopes East Coaches Fall Boys High School able season, not just because of enjoyed it, and because of club can continue the success they All-Region Team for the Great the success, but the team bonded soccer, I never had the time to built during his time with the Lakes Region. more than it has in past seasons, do it in high school,” Stiles said. program. Stiles also was this year’s The and it was more enjoyable. It “But because I had already com- “I feel like throughout my Republic Boys Soccer Player of was an amazing senior season, mitted (to Belmont), and a lot of career, there was definitely more the Year. playing with some of my friends. my friends were running track, I I could have done, but I enjoyed “Eric was a difference maker I’ve played with all of them since decided to do it my senior year. every minute of it, and I just for Columbus East since his I was 10 years old, and it was It was fairly disappointing when hope for success in the years fol- freshman year, but really took his amazing to play with them again track season got canceled, but lowing for them,” Stiles said. ATHLETE OF THE YEAR SPECIAL SECTION | CELEBRATION OF ATHLETES 3 Olivia Morlok THREE-SPORT FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR STANDOUT Morlok is one of most decorated athletes in North history When it comes to reaching the highest level of multiple high school sports, not many local athletes have fared better than Olivia Morlok. In amassing 12 varsity letters in cross-country, swimming and track Wand field at Columbus North, Morlok qualified for the state finals 10 out of a possible 11 times. She earned All- Conference Indiana honors four times each in cross-country and swimming and once in track. “I’m not going to lie, sometimes it was a lot, and sometimes I questioned, ‘What if I just focused on STORY BY one sport?’ But looking TED SCHULTZ back, I wouldn’t have PHOTOS changed a thing,” Morlok BY MIKE said. “The friends I made, it WOLANIN was so much more memo- rable how my high school experiences were. I got to run or swim at 10 different state meets, and that’s so cool to look back on.” Morlok’s versatility and performance has earned her The Republic 2020 Bartholomew County Female Ath- lete of the Year award. The male and female winners typically are honored at The Republic’s Athlete of the Year Gala, but that was canceled this year because of COVID-19. As accomplished as Morlok was her first three years of high school, her senior year may have been her best. In cross-country, she finished fourth in the conference meet and 33rd at state, 4 ATHLETE OF THE YEAR SPECIAL SECTION | CELEBRATION OF ATHLETES leading the Bull Dogs to a fifth- THE REPUBLIC FEMALE place team finish and a spot on the ATHLETES OF THE YEAR: medals podium. 2020: Olivia Morlok, Columbus North “My senior cross-country season was amazing,” Morlok said. “It 2019: Megna Chari, Columbus East was by far the best season I’ve 2018: Adi Minor, Columbus East ever had and the team has ever 2017: Cortney VanLiew, Columbus had. State podium finishes don’t happen very often. The team was East awesome. Everybody was in it for the team and not for themselves, and I think that’s why everybody had so much fun.” In swimming, Morlok won the of doing three sports, Morlok’s 500-yard freestyle for the fourth most memorable moment was year in a row and finished sixth leading the cross-country team to at state, her third consecutive the podium finish for the first time top-10 finish in that event. She in her career. also placed 15th at state in the 200 “We didn’t want to be the first freestyle. class in like 20 years that didn’t “It was a little bit rough going get on the podium,” Morlok said. into swim season coming off “I wanted to be a leader of a cross,” Morlok said. “I was a little team that won a state medal. Just bit behind, not really in shape. I achieving that was such a big just focused on the 500 all season, moment because we had built so and being able to place, it was a much into that.” great way to end my career.” With Division I potential both as Following the swimming season, a runner and a swimmer, Morlok Morlok continued to train for club had a decision to make. Just swim meets while beginning to before the beginning of her senior train for track season. That track school year, she opted to continue season never materialized because swimming at Ohio University. of COVID-19. Morlok took two months off “As soon as cross season was after shutdown before rejoining over, I started looking forward her Club Olympia swim team for to running with my teammates two weeks of training in Grand- again,” Morlok said.