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Athlete Awards

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Austin Smith headshot

Austin Smith

  • Award
    Central Close-Up
  • Week Of
    11/23/2023
  • Sport
    Men's Cross Country
  • Bio
    View Full Bio

Austin Smith
Olathe, Kansas
Class of 2025


Why did you choose Central?

I chose Central because both of my parents went to Central and throughout middle school and highschool I went to the men's basketball camp here and was able to live on campus and eat at CUIFS. I quickly fell in love with the school, town and people here. 

Favorite professor and why?

My favorite professor has to be Shelli Green because of how much I learned in her anatomy class and how helpful she was with me and making my schedule and planning my future with graduate school.

You’re majoring in kinesiology because?

I plan on becoming a physical therapist and helping others get back to their regular activities and I wanna make big money moves.

Besides athletics, what else are you involved in on campus?

I am involved with team bible studies and being a friendly smile to everyone :)

Who are your go-to musical artists?

Juice WRLD, Post Malone, POLO G, Koi, Noah Kahan 

How has attending Central and playing a sport impacted your life? 

Being at Central and running cross country has impacted my life extremely positively. I have met my friends for life here and I couldn’t be happier with where I am right now.

If you received a salary for a non-athletic thing your passionate about, what would you do?

Easy 10 Productions check it out on youtube :0

Favorite place to run (examples: mountains, beach, farm, any other specific place)

The mountains and behind Grant Goodman

Favorite animated movie of all time?

Spider-Man Across the Spider Verse

Guilty pleasure candy?

Milk Dud

Favorite TV Show

Breaking Bad or Ted Lasso 

What’s it like to run for Coach Dunham?

Running for coach Dunham is awesome. He’s a major part in why I came to Central. He is very passionate about Central XC and believed in me from the start. 

What’s your favorite part about being a member of the Central men’s cross country team? 

Definitely having a built in friend group. I love hanging out with the guys and playing Mario Kart mostly and sometimes we do homework together if we get bored of Mario Kart

What do you hope to be doing 10 years from now?

Living in the mountains with my own physical therapy practice. Playing golf all the time and riding a bike up the mountains to come home to my very beautiful wife

Favorite food from Central Market

CTO Brisket Quesadilla and FRESH COOKIE TUESDAY

Bucket list

Boston Marathon 

Skydive

Golf in another country 

visit all 50 states 

visit Grant Goodman in Alaska 



Athlete Awards
Date Athlete Sport
11/21/2024 Selena Snell Women's Wrestling
11/14/2024 Leah Bontrager Women's Cross Country
11/7/2024 Kade Tippet Football
10/31/2024 Sydney Buseman Cheerleading
10/24/2024 Taylor Jones Women's Triathlon
10/17/2024 Taylor Thunstedt Men's Cross Country
10/10/2024 Gracie Pierson Volleyball
10/3/2024 Bailey Huizenga Women's Soccer
9/26/2024 Jessie Pospisil Dance team
9/19/2024 Gavin Hierseman Football
9/12/2024 Coleman Manuel Men's Soccer
9/5/2024 Emma Wagler Volleyball
8/29/2024 Becca Vala Women's Tennis
8/22/2024 Alex Slaymaker Men's Tennis
8/15/2024 Leslie Snow Volleyball
8/8/2024 Derek Beiner Men's Soccer
8/1/2024 Grant Nelson Football
7/25/2024 Blake Wynn Men's Golf
7/18/2024 Lydia Grond Women's Golf
7/11/2024 Ronan Murphy Men's Soccer
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