The Most Interesting Athlete at Valparaiso

Pusateri's journey just getting started with the Beacons

Most of the bios at ValpoAthletics.com are filled with the same run-of-the-mill demographic information.

Family members get a mention. High school academic achievements, such as National Honors Society, get top billing. Even the occasional personal tidbit like enjoying music and long walks on the beach find their way into the profile.

Taylor Pusateri’s bio has all of that information, and much, much more

I’m going to break the fourth wall here before I go any further. My reasoning is to explain the context of how I came across this story. I’m wrapping up coverage of the Valparaiso women’s basketball game on Saturday afternoon when I get an email from Brandon Vickrey. Brandon is, among other things, the media contact for the Valparaiso track & field programs. He sent a story from Saturday’s meet at Purdue and he led with a freshman sprinter breaking the school record in the 300. I looked at it briefly and went back to writing my story.

Fast forward to late Saturday night and I go back and read the entire news release. I’d never heard of this athlete before, so I went to the Valpo Athletics website and clicked on her bio. I scanned the basic demographic information and then my jaw started to drop. I rubbed my eyes, turned on a light and continued to read. It was well past midnight at this point and it was all I could do to stop myself from texting Brandon. By Sunday morning I had done a little more research and started to schedule some interviews. By Monday afternoon I found myself sitting in the Valparaiso track & field offices introducing myself to someone that I had just learned of 36 hours earlier.

This is the story of the most interesting athlete at Valparaiso.