By Chris Cox

For Central Christian senior Drew Yoder basketball has been about two things: winning and building relationships. 

“I love competing,” he says. “I’m competitive and I love winning. But I love competing with friends and having fun.”

Yoder wants to make the most out of his senior year. For him that means success on the court but, more importantly, building bonds that go beyond the gym.

“This year, I’m just trying to focus on being a good example for the younger player,” he says. “If someone doesn’t know or understand what they’re doing, I try to go in and help them. I just try to make sure they are doing things right. We want to have a winning record and also have a good, fun season.”

Individually, Yoder says he is really focusing on being a leader.

“I want to be a good leader this year,” he says. “I want to lead the team on the court and off the court.”

The relationship aspect of basketball is something that has appealed to Yoder since he was kid playing ball with his older brothers Evan and Ben.

“I grew up watching my brothers play basketball,” he says. “We would always go to the YMCA and play basketball. I always looked up to my brothers and loved playing basketball with them. They were always the cool guys and inspired me to play sports.”

Outside of basketball, Yoder is a member of the Central Christian golf team. Following high school, Yoder plans on going straight into the workforce. 

“I want to go into sales,” he says. “I really like interacting with people, so the type of sales is not too much of a worry.”