Marty Neuhardt

Honorable mention male Scholar-Athlete
Marty Neuhardt
Dublin Scioto
Grade-point avg.: 4.43
$1,000

Sports played: Football (4 years), baseball (4)

Academic highlights: AP Scholar; National Honor Society member; scored 32 on ACT

Athletic highlights: Special-mention all-district in football; honorable mention all-league in baseball

College choice: Ohio State (anticipated major: mechanical engineering)

Photo location: On the baseball diamond at Dublin Scioto

Home front: I live with my mom, Tish Neuhardt. My dad, Dennis, has four children including myself, my brother, Ben (33), and my sisters, Ashley (35) and Christin (32), who each have their own families in Barnesville, Ohio.

Favorite subject: Applied mathematics and chemistry. I love to learn about what makes the world spin and the science and technology embedded within things we see in our everyday lives.

Least-favorite subject: English/literature. My mind works in a very structural form and, in my opinion, English is too wishy-washy. I like to search and solve for concrete answers rather than subjective solutions, hence my love for math and science.

Prized possession: My 2005 Dodge Durango. Even though it is just a car, it holds memories and life lessons like nothing else. My family and I have created countless memories between road trips traveling across the country, sporting events, traveling to concerts and visiting family around the nation all within the four silver doors of that car. It is what allowed me to start my small landscaping business and no matter how beat up, broken down or old the vehicle may get, it has taught me that integrity and hard work can fix almost anything and that determination with a little bit of elbow grease will always prevail.

Favorite book: “The Things They Carried,” by Tim O’Brien. The structure of narrative and the hidden literary devices throughout the book, which told intricate and heart-wrenching stories of a Vietnam war soldier, were incredibly interesting. I have read the book multiple times, despite not being the most passionate reader.

Favorite movies: It is a tossup between “Project Almanac” and “In the Shadow of the Moon.” Both movies cover the idea of time travel, exploring the possibilities and problems of traveling through time and space. Both movies keep your mind working throughout the entire film and are extremely captivating.

Favorite television show: “Drake & Josh,” hands down — although “iCarly” is a close second. When I think of iconic and hilarious shows, Drake, Josh and Megan win every time.

Favorite musician: Lil Wayne was one of the first rappers I listened to and, in my opinion, one of the most creative and best lyricists of the 21st century.

Essential app: TikTok. Don’t hate. It started as a joke, ended up an addiction.

Favorite home-cooked meal: Shepherd’s pie, which my mom makes about once a week. I usually like to eat it for dinner. Or lunch. Or breakfast. Also delicious as a midnight snack. Pretty much good 24/7 or anytime I’m hungry.

My cooking specialty: Breakfast foods. I’m a grill cook at Bob Evans. I also make excellent pizza rolls and Top Ramen.

Favorite restaurant: Applebee’s. Their honey barbecue wings are unbeatable. I was heartbroken when I found out the local location went out of business.

Guilty pleasure: Watching “iCarly.”

Proudest sports moment: Personal: Hitting a walk-off, three-run triple my sophomore year against Hilliard Bradley while behind 0-and-2 in the count as the ninth batter on the varsity baseball team. As a team: Senior year win against Bradley in football. I was the holder as I watched my lifelong friend kick a career-long field goal to win the game as time expired.

Sport I’d like to try someday: Wakeboarding or surfing. One of my strongest passions is snowboarding, and I have always wanted to see what it is like to try it on water.

Story behind my uniform numbers: In baseball I wore No. 3. My birthday is Jan. 3, and 3 has always been my lucky number. In football I wore No. 12, which I wore for my mom, whose birthday is Dec. 12 (12/12).

Favorite athlete: Adrian Beltre is a fantastic baseball player but even better is that he knows how to make light of and have fun in every situation. He never takes anything too seriously.

Inspiration: My mom paved the way for my success throughout my life. She is a breast cancer survivor and the hardest-working person I know. She taught me how to put others before myself and how to love others unconditionally, one of the lessons I hold closest to my heart.

Dream job: Exotic car engineer or a ski resort owner. My two greatest passions are snowboarding and learning the ins and outs of cars. If I got paid to live through my passions, I would have no complaint in the world.

Place I’d like to travel: I’ve always wanted to snowboard in the Alps, so I would have to say Europe. Not only would I have the time of my life up in the mountains, but I have always wanted to have deep exposure to cultures from around the world.

Something most people don’t know about me: I have been to 48 states and four countries. I am also an Eagle Scout and played the French horn for six years.

Least-favorite household chore: Changing the cat litter. I love my cats to death,  and I’d take a bullet for any one of them, but something about cleaning up their you-know-what doesn’t sit right.

Something I can’t get right no matter how hard I try: Figuring out where my girlfriend wants to eat.

Words to leave by: “Don’t take life too seriously, nobody makes it out alive.” — origin unknown

By Ray Stein
rstein@dispatch.com