O-R Athlete of the Week: Haleigh Rush, Avella
Name: Haleigh Rush
Grade: Senior
School: Avella
Sport: Basketball
Rush’s Week: Rush put up good statistics in two games last week, but the most important number to her was two. That’s how many wins the Eagles had last week.
Rush played a big part in each victory. She scored 19 points in a 56-48 win over Frazier last Tuesday and followed that up with a game-high 21 points in a 49-31 win over Mapletown in Avella’s section opener two days later.
“Honestly, we all played very well,” Rush said. “That was the best two games we played all year. My teammates were a big part in how I played. I got a lot of amazing passes.
“It was a good week to build on for sure.”
The two wins helped Avella improve its record to 3-4 overall and 1-1 in Class A Section 2.
Sports family: Some of the passes Rush received last week were from her younger sister, Madison, who is a sophomore. The pair not only play basketball together, but volleyball in the fall and softball in the spring.
“It’s amazing having her with me,” Rush said. “She definitely had the most assists for me over those two games last week.”
Rush is the second oldest of four children. Her older sister, Jordan, graduated from Avella in 2020 and played basketball.
Her younger brother, Chas, is the quarterback of the Avella football team and pitcher on the Eagles’ baseball team. He’s a junior.
It’s not uncommon for them to go outside
“It can get competitive,” Rush said. “We play backyard football a lot together.”
Three-sport standout: Rush spends the school year playing sports from the first day to the last. She’s an outside hitter on the volleyball team in the fall and a center fielder on the Avella softball team.
When asked to choose her best sport and her favorite sport to play she gave two different answers.
She considers basketball her best sport, but enjoys playing volleyball the most.
“I enjoy the bonding I’ve had with my teammates, and it might sound weird, but I like running and there’s a lot of running in basketball,” Rush said. “I don’t know what it is about volleyball, but I just enjoy playing it.”
Though she enjoys running she does not have time in her busy schedule to run cross country or track.
Future plans: Rush will attend college, but does not plan to play competitive sports past high school.
She wants to focus on her studies and has narrowed her path down to two choices, which are very different.
Rush said she’d either like to be a lawyer or an ultrasound technician.
“My dad’s cousin is a lawyer and I like what he does,” Rush said. “For ultrasound, I just find it very interesting.”
Compiled by Jerin Steele