By Bruce Karnick

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This week’s Student Spotlight is Senior Tyler Bushinski. Tyler is a captain for the Raiders Cross Country team and general all-around great guy. Let’s run right to it!

Q: When did you start organized running? TB: Organized running? Sixth grade, so, middle school. I’ve been running ever since. I did take a break in ninth grade, I thought the workload of school would be too much, but I am back!

Q: Why did you join cross country.

TB: I’ve always just kind of been fast. I’m not a huge fan of running, but I just feel I have a duty to be here.

Q: What other activities are you involved in sports choir anything like that so TB: I do track, I’m in the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, I do new link crew, I do SCA, Peer Helpers and youth in government.

Q: What is, what is your favorite thing about being in cross country.

TB: My favorite thing is definitely the team, it’s just, it’s so awesome how close we are. We go to team dinners, and it’s just so much fun.

Q: What is your least favorite thing? TB: It’s kind of disorganized to be honest. That’s probably my one thing with it.

Clarifying question: The sport is inherently disorganized?

TB: Yep. (He’s definitely not wrong, it is a chaotic scene at cross country meets.) Q: When you guys have tons of fans at the finish line cheering you on. What does that mean to you?

TB: It’s awesome to see all the families that come out support us, it shows that our parents are really proud of us, and what we do matters to them.

Q: Athletes go through a lot to keep their body healthy. Is there anything you do special outside of team practices to keep yourself in game shape?

TB: I tend to eat pretty healthy. I get it a lot of sleep every night. And then like every night, I’ll do like a 10-minute little workout thing. It’s just become a practice of mine for the past couple years.

Q: What’s your pre-race ritual?

TB: Just get in a good warm up, and then some good food to maybe an apple with a granola bar.

Q: What did you learn from being on this team?

TB: I think I’ve gained my work ethic, I have a really good work ethic and just coming out on these courses and giving it my all, has given me the power in my life to just do my best at everything that I do.

Q: Who do you look up to as your hero?

TB: I would say our captain from last couple years Nolan Meyers is just… He’s a great leader. He’s amazing, and I really look up to him. I hope to be like him some day. He’s a great dude.

Q: What are your post high school aspirations, will this sport be part of that?

TB: Post high school. I’m looking at either St Thomas University or Northwestern Chicago. This sport probably will be part of it. I don’t think I’ll compete, but just for fun.

Q: Most memorable moment with this team?

TB: Team dinners every team dinner is new more exciting more fun. Just connecting with this team and it’s awesome.

Q: Anything else you would like people to know?

TB: Well, if you’re in high school and, maybe you don’t even like running, you just want to be part of an amazing team. Come join us. We’re awesome people to be around, you’ll have lots of fun.

Thank you, Tyler, for taking a few minutes after the meet to answer the questions. Keep an eye on the Hastings Journal Facebook page for the video of the interview!