No matter the sport, Simley's Busch likes to crank it up

Junior quarterback Michael Busch just finished guiding Simley to the Prep Bowl in Class 5A, a 42-19 setback at the hands of Mankato West in the finals on Nov. 22. The Spartans finished with an overall record of 10-4.

Busch is quickly making the transition to defense with the hockey squad. Simley is 2-3-1 through its first six games.

Here is a closer look at Busch, who is also an infielder for the baseball team in the spring:

Q: What is the best movie you've seen in the last year?

A: "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes."

Q: Three words your friends or teammates might use to describe you?

A: Fun, smiley and nice.

Q: A couple of songs I never skip on my iPod are …

A: … "Blank Space" by Taylor Swift, and any Carrie Underwood song.

Q: What are your three favorite apps?

A: The weather app, Google maps and Twitter.

Q: Who do you like to follow the most on Twitter, and why?

A: For sure football teammate Cole Veith. I don't know where he gets them or how he thinks of them, but they are always great.

Q: Who got you started playing sports?

A: My father. I'm so glad he got me involved in sports because I don't know what I would do without them.

Q: At my first varsity practice, I was …

A: … nervous, excited, and every other emotion possible.

Q: What did you work on most in the offseason before the start of the school year?

A: I don't really have an offseason. I feel like all three sports I play help with different aspects of each sport.

Q: What are your sports goals for the remainder of 2014-15 school year?

A: Enjoy the memories with friends, family and coaches, and make the most out of all of them because sooner or later they're all going to be gone.

Q: What is your favorite pregame meal?

A: I get Jimmy John's with football teammates Brad Rechtzigel and Anthony Guevara.

Q: To get focused for a game, I …

A: ... listen to music. Usually if nobody's home I just play music super loud in my house.

Q: I know I have an edge on an opponent when …

A: ... they start to get frustrated.

Q: Who is your school's biggest rival, and why?

A: South St. Paul. Always was and always will be. Good friends with a lot of the kids because we played hockey together growing up and then were separated once high school sports came around.

Q: How do you balance school and sports during the year?

A: I try and finish it right after practice. I make sure I have all my homework turned in and my studying gets done.

Q: Who is your favorite college or pro sports team and why?

A: South Carolina because it's a sweet college. The sports atmosphere is sweet, too.

Q: Do you have a secret talent — and if so, what is it?

A: Pingpong. I can only be beaten by Chris Hansen and Alex Reynolds.

Q: What is the best sports advice you ever received?

A: There may be people who have more talent than you, but there is no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do.

RON HAGGSTROM