Dusty AlbaughDusty Albaugh likes getting the baton for the anchor leg of a relay in a tight race. For him, it's the best part of running for the Marion High School track team.

"When the third guy comes around and it's really close and then you get the baton, I like that feeling," he said. "I like being the guy that has to run last and has to catch up or has to keep the lead. It's kind of nice."

Albaugh also likes the change of seasons. That's kind of nice, too, especially for Marion High School. He's one of the top four-sport athletes in the state and has starred for the Indians in football, basketball, track and baseball.

He's had his share of bumps and bruises - a hip flexor problem last spring, a shoulder injury last fall - but he takes little time off between seasons.

"Either I'm in an ice bath or the hot tub, most of the time," he said, laughing. "And this summer is going to be even more hectic."

The track season will overlap with the baseball season in May, and the baseball season could overlap with his appearance in the 39th Annual Shrine Bowl on July 23. Marion will have to go deep into the baseball playoffs to create a conflict with the Shrine Bowl, "so hopefully I'll be doing both," he said.

Albaugh is doing what comes naturally in his family. His father, Brad, was a multi-sport athlete at Marion High School. So was Dusty's older brother, Brent, a 2000 graduate. "It's kind of a family thing," he said.

Weighing his college options

Albaugh has options for college. He's considering Wartburg College or Iowa Western Community College for football, but he's also considering Mount Mercy University for basketball. He plans to make a decision fairly soon.

"I'd like to have it done by mid-April, if not earlier," he said.

Albaugh is a tough, hard-nosed football player with good size, speed and strength for a defensive back. He's 6-foot, 187 pounds, runs the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds and likes to hit. He seems to have the right ingredients for Division I football, but except for a nibble from the University of Northern Iowa, there hasn't been much interest.

"Maybe I didn't get my name out there enough. Maybe I should have sent a few more tapes," he said. "I don't know."

He wonders if being a four-sport athlete affected his status with Division I football programs. "I know Iowa is big on having kids come to their camps, and I never had time with baseball," he said.

That's part of his dilemma now. He could go to Wartburg and play football for a strong Division III program, or he could go to Iowa Western Community College and hope that leads to a Division I offer in a year or two, or he could go to Mount Mercy and play basketball. He has a 3.7 GPA, so grades are not a problem.

"Every kid wants to go Division I and play for Iowa, but at one point if it's just not going to happen, there's always D-3s," he remarked.

Choosing his sports

He's considered playing more than one sport in college, but knows how demanding that would be. He has to make a decision, and make it fairly soon.

"It's going to be tough to narrow it down, because you kind of have to give up one (football or basketball)," he said. "That's tough for a four-sport athlete, because I'm used to playing them all."

In a dream world, he'd play in the NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball and run in the Olympics. He claims he doesn't have a favorite, enjoying whatever's in season.

"If I had to choose, if I were a little bigger, I'd probably want to play football or basketball," he said. "In football, you get to hit people, and that's fun. Basketball is more of a finesse sport."

Albaugh optimistic about track season

Track is a finesse sport, too, especially those tricky handoffs on sprint relays. Albaugh plans to anchor the 4x200 and 4x400 relays, which he loves. He also might run the open 200 and compete in the long jump.

Marion placed eighth in the 4x200 relay at the Class 3A state meet last spring with Albaugh and Cale Cannoy in the lineup. The Indians also finished seventh in the shuttle hurdle relay with Taylor Rogers and Issac Frazier.

Marion placed 38th and scored only three points at the 2010 state track  meet, but Albaugh likes what he sees this season. "I think this will be one of our better years," he said. "I think we'll do pretty good things this year."

Win or lose, Albaugh will graduate from Marion this spring with no regrets about being a non-stop athlete for four years.

"If I had a choice, if I were at the freshman level again, I'd still be playing four sports," he said. "Not everybody goes on to play college sports, and there's a time to enjoy them and have fun."