Winnetka, Sports

Athlete of the Week: 10 questions with Ruby Awtry, New Trier powerlifting

Ruby Awtry is a senior for the Trevians who placed first at the national competition and second in her division at state. She also earned two state-wide awards: Beyond Strength and Resilience.

1. Do you have any pre-competition rituals or superstitions?

Honestly not really. Just surrounding myself with my teammates gets me in the right head space. A lot of them have their own traditions and I feed off them and I think that’s what gets me ready to compete.

2. What are your plans for next year?

I am going to Colorado State. I love the mountains. I love nature. I love the outdoors. I was attracted to the campus when I visited. I got on campus and honestly was like, ‘I can’t imagine spending four years anywhere else.’

3. How did you get into powerlifting?

I had a few friends freshman year who did it and one of them was like, ‘Hey you should come to one of the practices’ and I wasn’t much of an athlete but said OK, I’ll come see. I showed up and thought it was kind of cool and showed up the next day and the next day.

4. What do you enjoy about the sport?

That it brings in different people from everywhere in the school, and when we go to competitions, the people are all so different, a lot of people who never really played team sports, people who have played since they were little kids and now. … It’s really the community aspect of it.

5. What is your favorite thing to do outside the gym?

Play rugby. If I’m not at the gym, I’m out on the field practicing. Next year, I’m playing for Colorado State’s team and I’m super excited.

6. What is your dream job?

Occupational therapist. That’s what I’m going to school to do. I’ve grown up with people with disabilities and the past two years I’ve worked with (North Suburban Special Recreation Association) as an inclusion companion, helping younger kids with disabilities. It’s so fulfilling. There’s nothing else I could imagine myself doing every day.

7. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

Maybe Maldives. I love the ocean, and it’s beautiful. I love swimming and love the water. It’s a very different type of nature than I’m used to.

8. If you’re in Walgreens with a couple of bucks, what are you buying?

Haribo Starmix. It’s like the mix of all their different candies in a bag. It’s me and my dad’s favorite thing. Every time we go to the store we split a bag.

9. What is something people don’t know about you?

I think when people first meet me they don’t know I can sing pretty well, but I don’t sing in front of people. I have terrible stage fright.

10. How would you summarize your senior year with New Trier powerlifting?

It could not have been better. The team was so amazing this year. They were all behind me, supporting me every day, every practice. It was amazing. Our season was so good. At state, I took second and the girls took second. We did really well overall as a team.


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joe coughlin
Joe Coughlin

Joe Coughlin is a co-founder and the editor in chief of The Record. He leads investigative reporting and reports on anything else needed. Joe has been recognized for his investigative reporting and sports reporting, feature writing and photojournalism. Follow Joe on Twitter @joec2319

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