The athletes of the Sept. 16-20 week are seniors Joe Coulter and Lauren Battin.

Varsity football head coach Casey Webb explained why Coulter was his choice for this week’s Athlete of the Week.

“Joe is a 3-year starter at the offensive line who has been an anchor for the Oak Park football team,” Webb said.

Coulter is excited about the Eagle’s winning record and upcoming Homecoming game. He has been playing football for 6 years, and takes it very seriously.

“I think I just put in the work that I needed to put in, and I just do what I have to do. I don’t like to mess around or do crazy things,” Coutler said.

About what originally got him into football, Coulter described the atmosphere of his previous school.

“At my old school, it’s pretty heavily [embedded] in the fabric of the school,” Coulter said.

Battin was nominated by volleyball Varsity Head Coach Kendall Bilbruck for athlete of the week based on her performance on the volleyball court.

“Lauren has been working on improving her passing these last few weeks, in our matches and in our matches last week did a very good job of that. I would like to nominate her for girls volleyball,” Bilbruck said.

The match Bibruck is referring to is the Sept. 12 home game against Grace Brethren which resulted in a 3-2 win for Oak Park.

Battin expresses her excitement about being chosen as an athlete of the week.

“I’ve never been athlete of the week and I have been a two-sport athlete for four years, so it’s really nice,” Battin said.

Battin is a dual athlete, playing volleyball since the 7th grade and soccer since she was four. She loves being able to enjoy her sports the past four years.

“It’s become something that is really fun for me, not so much competitive, but just fun,” Battin said.
Battin expressed her enthusiasm for the Oak Park team.

“Oh, I love being on the Oak Park team,” Battin said. “Everyone is so nice, we’re all so close, especially on the [varsity] team and in the program.”

According to Battin, juggling two sports and school was not easy, but “she would never have gone through high school any other way.”

“It’s been tough, but I feel like if I did it any other way then I wouldn’t have had the best high school experience that I could have had because I made so many friends through soccer and volleyball,” Battin said, “I wouldn’t change anything.”