Oluwatobi Adebulu is a 17-year-old junior at Parkersburg South High School. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — Oluwatobi Adebulu loves taking on new challenges in his life and stays busy doing so.

Adebulu moved from Nigeria to Chicago in 2010 with his family. In December 2014, he moved to Parkersburg where he and his family have lived since.

He is a junior at Parkersburg South High School and dreams of going into the medical field after graduation. Adebulu is unsure of what school he wants to attend, but wants to practice physical or sports therapy. He said he’s always been around people in related fields, like his mother, a nurse, or his sister, who is working toward becoming a surgeon.

“I’ve always wanted to be in the medical field,” he said. “It’s very hard to get in to that field, so I always have to push myself to get to that point.

“I like to help people out,” he said. “And as an athlete, I always feel the pains and sores of sports, so I know how those people feel.”

Oluwatobi Adebulu participates in the hurdle event during a track meet for Parkersburg South High School. (Photo Provided)

Adebulu has a love for basketball and would like to continue to pursue it or soccer in college. He is a member of the varsity team at Parkersburg South High School and has been playing basketball since the fourth grade.

“I just love the pressure-filled adrenaline you feel,” he said, after being asked what he liked about the game. “But it’s also tactical, just like any game, you need to be able to move fast but also think correctly.”

Adebulu has always grown up around the sport of soccer, as he used to watch his dad play it in Nigeria. In his freshman year, Adebulu started as a varsity player on the soccer team, and has continued to play since.

“It’s just a very fun sport,” he said. “I’ve always loved it, but never got around to playing it until freshman year. And I was lucky to come to South where they needed a guy so I just jumped in running.”

He is also a member of the school’s track team, and participates in the hurdle and high jump events.

Oluwatobi Adebulu’s favorite sport is basketball. He plays on the varsity Parkersburg South High School team. (Photo Provided)

Adebulu is a 4.2 GPA student who takes several honors, AP and dual credit courses to get a leg up on his education. He is currently taking AP English, European History and Dual Credit Anatomy. He plans on trying to take four or five more dual credit classes next year, if he has the space in his schedule. He said they are cheaper to take now, than after he gets to college. He also likes the challenge of the harder classes, which help him focus on his studies more.

When he isn’t playing sports, Adebulu enjoys volunteering in the community. He and the rest of the Parkersburg South basketball team help at Old Man Rivers food pantry by sorting and arranging the food available to those in need. He also volunteers at his church, Broadway Church of the Nazarene, by taking care of the younger kids during Sunday School. Adebulu is a member of the Parkersburg South student council where he has been helping with the Toys for Tots drive.

In his spare time, Adebulu reads science fiction stories, spends time with those close to him and enjoys sleeping as much as he can.

James Dobbs can be reached at jdobbs@newsandsentinel.com

Oluwatobi Adebulu has always loved soccer, but only started playing during his freshman year at Parkersburg South High School. (Photo Provided)

Oluwatobi Adebulu kicks the ball during a soccer practice for the varsity Parkersburg South High School team. (Photo Provided)