By Derrick Smith

Athletes put in a lot of work and preparation in order to be prepared for when it is time to hit the field. While they put in all that work, they also depend on the support and encouragement from those around them to help them along the way. Taten Rupp says that he has learned a valuable lesson from his dad concerning his sports.

“My biggest role model is my pops,” he said. “He has taught me to never quit on anything and to always give it my 100 percent no matter if I am on the court or the field.”

Rupp is a senior at Morrison High School, where he plays multiple sports. On the football field, he is a wide out and a defensive end, while on the basketball court, he plays guard and forward. On the baseball diamond, he plays middle infield and catcher. He has been playing basketball and baseball since he was five years old, but he did not start football until he was a junior in high school.

Playing multiple sports has given Taten the opportunity to train almost year around. He knows what it takes to be the best he can be no matter what sport he is playing. 

“It has taken many years of practice,” he stated. “I have put in a lot of arduous work in order to get where I am today. And I am going to keep working until I am done playing.”

Taten also has another person that has had a big impact on his life, this time in the classroom.

“Mrs. Carr is an English teacher, and she would have to be my favorite teacher,” he said. “Not only has she taught English, but she has also taught me many life lessons that I will carry with me long after high school.”

He has had some memorable moments during his career, but Rupp says that there is a moment when he started taking sports more seriously.

“I think my career took a turning point in the summer between my sophomore and junior years,” he recalled. “I took lifting seriously and I really worked on getting faster and stronger.”