Football
5 to Know: Bluffton’s Axton Beste
Bluffton’s Axton Beste Shines in Shootout Win
Bluffton junior Axton Beste delivered a statement performance in Friday’s 44–41 victory over South Adams. The 6’2”, 200-pound dual-sport athlete completed 15 of 23 passes for 194 yards and 3 touchdowns, while also adding 43 rushing yards and another score on the ground.
With just 36 seconds left, Beste found AJ Streveler for a 22-yard touchdown strike that sealed the Tigers’ dramatic win.
Beste isn’t just producing on the field — he carries a 4.0 GPA in the classroom and was named First Team All-ACAC Quarterback as a sophomore. He’s also a standout on the baseball diamond, where last season he led Bluffton with a blistering .595 batting average and 25 RBI in just 42 at-bats, while also posting a 0.00 ERA with a 2–0 record in four mound appearances.
A true two-sport star with leadership and poise, Beste continues to prove he’s one of the premier athletes in Northeast Indiana. Check out the 5 to Know with Axton Beste!
Who or what has had the biggest impact on your athletic journey so far?
Knowing that there is always somebody out there who is doing more than I am. That’s what’s had the biggest impact on my athletic journey, and it’s what keeps me going.
What’s your pregame routine or ritual that gets you locked in?
Show up about 30 to 40 minutes before I need to take the field. Then when it is time for me to take the field, I always throw with the same coach I have since freshman year. After all of our team pregame routine is finished, I make sure my teammates and I are all on the same page and locked in for the game.
What’s your proudest moment in sports — and why does it stand out?
My proudest moment in sports would be all of my previous teammates during my freshman year believe in what I could do while being put in during the third quarter against one of the best teams in Northern Indiana, Bishop Luers. Even though we didn’t get the win, I still threw a touchdown pass, and just knowing the confidence my teammates had in me made me proud.
What are your goals — both short-term and long-term — in your sport or beyond?
My goals for the short-term would be to make it to state in either football or baseball. My personal long-term goal is to continue playing sports beyond high school and the next level.
What’s one thing most people don’t know about you — on or off the field?
One thing I think people don’t realize about me is that I get really nervous before games. I don’t act like it or look like it, but I am. Except I’m not scared of nerves, I embrace them.
Up Next: Bluffton (3-0) travels to Woodlan (1-2) for an ACAC matchup, kickoff at 7pm!
