Ed. Note: This concludes another successful summer of features looking at top returning athletes at the area schools. Fall sports coverage begins next week.

Sports has always been a way of life for Bethel senior Olivia Rust. The Bethel High School senior will soon be stepping onto the field for her last season with the Bees, and she hopes that the old saying comes into play of “saving your best for last”. With this being her final season, she is ready to leave it all on the field for the Bees, and has her eyes on only one thing.

“The biggest goal I have for myself and the team is to win the CCC this season,” Rust said. “I know we are capable if we use all of our individual strengths and come together to work hard. I’m excited to see what the season brings.”

Rust realizes that no matter how well things went at times during her junior year, she is always ready to do better. She has been working toward making her senior year the best year yet.

“I believe there is always something to work on in a sport,” she said. “It doesn’t matter is you are just starting out or if you are a professional and have been playing for years.”

“The goal of every athlete is to help their team succeed in any way they can. For me, I would like to see myself grow as an offensive midfielder.” In the past, Rust has played as a defender, but this year her role could change.

“My goal was to get the ball upfield, out of pressure and look for opportunities to set up for my teammate to capitalize on,” Rust said. “I would like to see myself improve on the offensive side, and help the team as much as I can to score. At the end of the game, all other good things aside, it all comes down to who has the most goals.”

Rust was named a captain last year as a junior, and she feels that helped prepare her for a stronger senior year.

“I have learned so much from that and I hope I can continue to learn to be better for myself and for the team,” she said. Rust was honored last year as all-Dayton North, a Sportsmanship Award and the Scholar Athlete Award.

“In the off-season, I like to keep myself busy working hard,” she added, stating she has been involved with club soccer since fifth grade including Warriors Soccer Club and FC Tippecanoe Lightning.

“I love to get out of my comfort zone and try fun activities to keep myself in shape. Last year, I made the crazy decision to keep myself in shape by running a marathon. The experience helped me realize that if you want something bad enough and you work hard for it, then you can achieve it.”

Rust credited her brother Collin for her love for soccer.

“Even at the age of three, I was already a little competitor and wanted to be just like my big brother,” she said. “I am very thankful for the decision to start playing because soccer has shaped me into who I am now.”

Outside of soccer, Rust is involved as Student Council Vice President, National Honor Society Secretary, Magnified Giving Student Representative, Student Liaison and senior class vice president. She also participates on the prom committee, S.A.D.D. and the Bethel Leadership Team.

Rust plans to major in Strategic Communication and minoring in Management and Leadership.