Olson blends athletics with musical talent

Lute Olson has probably been called “a chip off the old block” on many occasions. The Ankeny High School senior combines a love for athletics instilled in him by his father with a talent for singing passed down to him from his mother.
Olson currently plays for the Hawks basketball team. He also runs cross country for Ankeny in the fall and plays on the tennis team in the spring. Sports have always been a constant in his life. Olson grew up watching his father, Tim, coach high school basketball in Boone.
“I’ve been around basketball since I was born,” said Olson. “I was a water boy and ball boy for the teams he coached in Boone, where I was born. I think that’s why I’ve always enjoyed basketball the most of the sports I’ve done.”
When Olson’s family moved to Ankeny several years ago, his father continued coaching when he accepted a job as a math teacher at Ankeny High School. Tim Olson now coaches the sophomore boy’s basketball team.
In addition to sports, music is a priority in Olson’s life. “With my mom as a music teacher, there was always a lot of music around the house,” Olson said.
Olson’s mother, Michelle, teaches vocal music at Parkview Middle School. During his sophomore, junior and senior year, Olson was selected as a member of the All-State Choir. He also sings in a male a cappella vocal group called Skim Milk.
But being a three-sport athlete and standout vocalist only account for a portion of how Olson spends his time. Participation in several school-sponsored organizations and clubs add to the puzzle that is Olson’s weekly schedule. He is a member of the National Honor Society, show choir, choir, Students Against Drunk Driving, French Club, National Council on Youth Leadership, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Students Of Active Prayer.
“I think it’s necessary that you do a lot of stuff and don’t just do one thing,” Olson said. “You are just one knee sprain or torn ACL away from never playing again. Basketball is fun and good for teaching you leadership, but being involved in other stuff is crucial for the future.”
Olson said his involvement in a variety of activities has helped him meet all kinds of people and given him a frame of reference to appreciate different perspectives.
Academic performance is also important to Olson, who started his year with a grade point average of over 3.9. After graduation in May, Olson plans to attend a liberal arts college, where he expects to study math or science and possibly play tennis.