New Tuesday Profile: Creasy Clauser

ARNIE AURELLANO
Journal Review
NEW MARKET — Creasy Clauser is far from a typical high school senior.
She’s one of the most decorated student runners in Southmont High School and Montgomery County history. She also plays varsity basketball, plays the clarinet in marching band, concert band and pep band, performs as a drum major, and is involved in Key Club, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honor Society, Science Club and the student ambassadors.
She manages to do all of it while maintaining a top 10 GPA among Southmont seniors. Oh, and she has a state High School Heisman sitting on a shelf in her bedroom.
All of which begs the question: When does she sleep?
“I get seven and a half, eight hours of sleep at night no matter what,” said Clauser, who gets up five days a week at 6:15 a.m. “That’s more than a lot of people my age get.”
That seems like an accomplishment in itself, given her daily grind. It’s all just business as usual for Clauser, though. If anything, her years of involvement in sports and extracurricular activities have taught her how to organize.
One look in her student planner reveals a neatly arranged, though heavily packed, day-to-day schedule, with every weekday having time allotted for at least one afterschool activity.
“This week is actually a light week,” she chuckled.
So why does she continue to push herself during a time when many kids her age are winding down their high school years, kicking back, and taking a little senior break?
“The reason that I do everything is that I really like being involved,” Clauser said. “I can’t stand not doing something. If I was sitting at home, I would go crazy.
“I don’t really think it’s that hard,” she said. “I’ve learned how to be a really good time manager. I can multi-task. Honestly, I guess I just really like being busy.
“My mom even said sometimes that I overexert myself, but you know, that’s just who I am. I love to push myself.”
Clauser, who is named after her maternal grandmother — Creasy is her grandmother’s maiden name — has seen that drive pay dividends on the track. A four-season veteran of the Mounties’ track and cross country teams, Clauser has received many accolades over the years for her running, culminating in a second place finish in last year’s 800-meter dash at the state tournament.
According to her, she owes it all to her parents, Brenda and Allan Clauser.
“My parents pretty much made it possible for me to do whatever I wanted to do whenever I wanted to do it,” she said. “They were very supportive, and they always have been.
They put a lot of good morals in me about hard work and effort.
“In the beginning, they pushed me a lot. They had me join a lot of different activities and sports teams so I could find out what I liked. Once I started running, they just got behind me 100 percent. They helped push me so much, and the work ethic that they gave me is something that made me a better runner.”
Her father, Clauser said, was a big influence in her decision to become a runner.
“My dad was the one who got me started in seventh grade. He was a runner all through high school.
He was always saying, ‘You’ve got to be a runner, you’re built to be a runner, you’ve got to run.’ I hated running, hated it with a passion. I just refused. Sometimes, I cried when we ran laps. But my dad just kept encouraging me, and I tried out for track in seventh grade and just absolutely loved it.”
Clauser said she gets some of her competitive nature from her dad.
“I hate to lose. I hate it, she said, smiling. “I’d do anything to win.”
Always a gracious competitor, Clauser also credits her coaches for her development as an athlete.
“Our head coach, Coach (Marvin) Walters, he’s been amazing. I don’t know how he keeps doing it. He’s been such a good influence and I’ve learned so much from him.
“Also, (Southmont track/cross country assistant) Coach Lindsay Carlile, he’s been the best person in the entire world for me. He gets inside my head and he knows how to motivate me to go faster. I couldn’t be where I am without him.”
“I’m more of a guilt motivated person,” Clauser said, smiling. “Coach knows that.”
Clauser also praises Reasley Thompson, the girls basketball coach at Southmont, for doing his part in helping her develop athletically.
“Coach T is awesome,” she said. “We had a rough start to our basketball program here. I didn’t have the same coach two years in a row since I started until he came along. He’s been so supportive of me since he’s been here, again, pushing me, helping me get better. It’s just easy to see that I wouldn't be the player I am if it wasn’t for him.”
Despite all of her athletic and extracurricular achievements, Clauser never neglects her other commitments.
She maintains a 4.0 grade point average on a weighted scale, good for sixth in the senior class. Her favorite classes are AP biology and calculus.
She also sets aside time during some of her mornings to tutor.
Outside of school, she always makes sure to keep her Sundays open for her church activities — a faithful member of New Hope Christian Church, she is involved in the Youth Leadership Council and attends youth group meetings every week.
Clauser said her busy schedule sometimes gets in the way of her personal life. She recently had to bow out of seeing a movie with friends because her schedule is packed so tightly. Still, the easygoing Clauser knows that life can’t be all work and no play, and she makes time accordingly to relax and unwind.
“I love Guitar Hero,” she said. “Right now, my favorite song is ‘Rooftops’ (by Lostprophets).”
While the end of basketball season will afford Clauser a little more free time, she’ll soon be adjusting to a new schedule. A couple of weeks ago, she committed to Rose-Hulman Institute of technology, where she’ll study biomedical engineering and continue her on-track efforts.
She said she will “probably join the band” and get involved with the college’s faith and fellowship organizations, which, according to her, were a big draw to the school.
“Rose-Hulman has a really nice chapel with regular Sunday service, which I found helpful,” she said.
“And they’ve got two or three fellowship organizations in Terre Haute and a few more on campus that I want to get involved with.”
Clearly, Clauser has every intention of taking her busy schedule with her to college
“I wouldn’t know what to do with myself if I didn’t,” she said.
Out of all the things on her plate, though, it doesn’t take long for her to pick out her first love.
“Track. Definitely track,” she said. “Band is a really close second, but if I had to pick one, I’d have to say track.
“I’m a runner. I just love being out on the track, going as fast as I can.”

Boiler debut new uniforms

Video at the bottom, includes thoughts from Chris Kramer and Keaton Grant...

Live from Purdue/Penn State

Welcome from a soggy Mackey Arena this Wednesday evening. Jon Sicotte courtside for Penn State and Purdue. Log in, make comments and tell us how good the Boilers can do tonight. They are 10.5 point favorites against a Nittany Lion team that they lost to earlier this season.

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Expect a 3 guard, two post set to start the game. Robbie Hummel is in uniform, but that doesn't mean much since he has suited up for the last two games as well. Right now expect JJ, Calasan, Moore, KG and CK to start. Jackson and Marcus Green will sub in frequently.

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Players hit the court. CK has a new mask, more form-fitting, he also also switched to a black headband to secure it instead of gold...a possible good luck charm?

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Starting lineup: LewJack, E'Twaun, JuJuan Johnson, Chris Kramer and Keaton Grant.

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Good pace to start for the Boiler, leading 5-2 early, 5-5 now. JJ and LewJack almost connected for a Top 10 SC nominee...maybe next time. JJ looks toygh on the boards. He's playing with instensity and Purdue is now up 7-5.

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A three by KG and a first-possesion turnover, a good start...3-0 Purdue 18:36
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13:21 to go, tied at 9. Bobby Riddell makes his way into the game. Good to see the bench opening up for the guards. It may hurt the overall talent of the team for a few minutes, but it could help down the stretch.
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A great defensive stand, but once again, an offensive rebound by Penn State. Calasan takes another ill-advised 3-pointer, it goes in though. The big man likes the long ball. He's a 30.6 percent 3-point shooter, so it's scary when he lines one up...but 14-11 Boilers thanks to the shot. 11:47 left in the first.
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An ugly set of bad shots, but a good defensive stand before Calasan tried -- and failed -- on a 3-point attempt. Coach Painter talks about poor shot selection, I wonder who he is talking about?
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A turnover and sweet behind the back save by LewJack leads to a bucket by Smooge. PSU tried to take the momentum away, but Purdue effectivly gets it back. Down two (22-20, 5:41)
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4:13, 25-22 Boilers. Bobby Buckets comes up big. A defensive stop on one end, Purdue takes its time to set up a shot and Bobby Riddell makes a currently, game-changing three to take back the lead.
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Purdue will head to the half with a lead. It's been a rough and tumble Big-Ten first type of first half. The Boilers will have to take it a step better in the second half to win.
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The fans demand, he delivers. 17:15 35-28 Purdue, Bobby Buckets rains on the Lions.
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A 9-2 run to start the second half, 4:01 total. The shots from Riddell and Calasan have woken up the crowd. Not like that needs much to spark the Paint Crew. It's looking good right now. The defensive pressure could be stepped up a notch if they want to drive out the Lions.
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With that layup, Riddell is outscoring JJ in the game, 11-7. Just saying. Now his third trey in the corner...um, the Lafayette faithful are loving this. The Bobby Buckets chants are going during the timeout. (Note, 11 points is Riddell's career best, his former best was 10 against Chicago State on Dec. 6, 2005)
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A strong start blew the lead up to 18 points, but Penn State is still fighting, now 49-33 with 11:33 to go. The Boilers have stuck to the hard defense and the refs are letting them play, to the shagrin of the Boiler faithful, but that's Big Ten basketball.
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Key stat, PSU leader Talor Battle's line so far: 0-7 from the field (0-4 from 3) and five assists. That helps. JJ is a monster on the boards still, now couting at 11 with 12 points to lead the team.
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Mid-game grades:
Bench - B+ (Bobby Buckets has been electricfying, Nemmy is doing well (despite his three-point shooter delusions of granduer), Green has been ineffective for the most part.
JJ - 14 and 12, good line, he's been solid, he gets the A
LewJack - great on D, has been making good drives...a solid B+
KG - just seems to be there, but it's OK, because the rest of the cast is doing well...C+
CK - solid, does what he does, be a pest...A-
E-Twaun - making PSU watch him makes him valuable, he's shooting well....B+
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Taking stupid shots could be the downfall, they need to take 20 seconds to set up a shot at this point.
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3:34 to go, I didn't think this would be a "cover" game for the Boilers (for you gamblers out there), but that's all that is left to wonder in this game. Penn State, unless they come out of this TO on fire, will fall and the 2-game skid will be over. Great job by the Purdue bench in this one.

Time to revive this sucker

OK, this is attempt No. 2 to revive the site. I hope to intergrate it with facebook and myspace sites to make it very easy to look at any of the three and be up-to-date with everything.

Be on the lookout, we are going to try to wow you. At least 'Whoo' you. Maybe a 'yippie'.

Volleyball draws set

The 2008 High School Volleyball draws were set this morning...here is the listing for area teams:

Tournament starts Tuesday, Oct. 21

Class 3A
Sectional 25 - at North Montgomery
Match 1 – North Montgomery vs. Danville.
Match 2 – Western Boone vs. Crawfordsville.
Match 3 – Winner of Match 1 vs. Winner of Match 2.
Match 4 – Southmont vs. Lebanon.
Championship – Winner of Match 3 vs. Winner of Match 4.

Class 2A
Sectional 46 - at Covenant Christian
Match 1 – North Putnam vs. Tri-West Hendricks.
Match 2 – Speedway vs. Covenant Christian.
Match 3 – South Putnam vs. Cascade.
Match 4 – Monrovia vs. Cloverdale.
Match 5 – Winner of Match 1 vs. Winner of Match 2.
Match 6 – Winner of Match 3 vs. Winner of Match 4.
Championship – Winner of Match 5 vs. Winner of Match 6.

Class A
Sectional 56 - at Covington
Match 1 – North Vermillion vs. Turkey Run.
Match 2 – Attica vs. Covington.
Match 3 – Winner of Match 1 vs. Winner of Match 2.
Match 4 – Riverton Parke vs. Rockville.
Championship – Winner of Match 3 vs. Winner of Match 4.

Moving Daze

Sorry with the lack of commitment to this site.

Then again, I haven't heard much from you either, so take that for what it is worth...

I am in the process of moving from Crawfordsville to Lafayette and it's exactly that, a process. Just got the DirecTV installed, waiting on the trailer with our stuff from Michigan and then waiting to get the internet installed as well (how I am connected now, well, that's grounds for removal of your tounge), so it's been a busy start to the week.

The football draw is Tuesday night at 7 p.m., I will post it as soon as I can here.

Soccer Draws now up

2008 Boys Soccer Sectionals
Oct. 9 & 11
15. at Benton Central
Match 1 – Covington vs. West Lafayette.
Match 2 – Delphi vs. Harrrison (West Lafayette).
Match 3 – Benton Central vs. Winner of Match 1.
Championship – Winner of Match 2 vs. Winner of Match 3.

16. at Crawfordsville
Match 1 – Crawfordsville vs. North Montgomery.
Match 2 – North Putnam vs. Southmont.
Championship (Oct. 11) – Winner of Match 1 vs. Winner of Match 2.

33. at Zionsville
Match 1 – Western Boone vs. University.
Match 2 – Zionsville vs. Lebanon.
Championship (Oct. 11) – Winner of Match 1 vs. Winner of Match 2.

2008 Girls Soccer Sectionals
Oct. 13, 14, 16 & 18
17. Hamilton Southeastern
Match 1 – Carmel vs. Lebanon.
Match 2 – Hamilton Southeastern vs. Western Boone.
Match 3 – Zionsville vs. Fishers.
Match 4 – Noblesville vs. Winner of Match 1.
Match 5 – Winner of Match 2 vs. Winner of Match 3.
Championship – Winner of Match 4 vs. Winner of Match 5.

22. at Brownsburg
Match 1 – Crawfordsville vs. Avon.
Match 2 – Danville vs. North Montgomery.
Match 3 – Brownsburg vs. Southmont.
Match 4 – Tri-West (Hendricks) vs. North Putnam.
Match 5 – Winner of Match 1 vs. Winner of Match 2.
Match 6 – Winner of Match 3 vs. Winner of Match 4.
Championship – Winner of Match 5 vs. Winner of Match 6.