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IllustrateD volume 24, issue 4 85 f the flowers that come with the first-place finish — at the national meet is calling to her. The 18-meter goal in the shot put is taunting her. So there's no satisfaction gained from past successes. Those medals, rings and certificates are stuffed in a box at her mom's house. They'll probably be displayed at some point, but not soon. Not when there's still more to add. Bunch will only admit to being proud of her All-America first-team honor because "it took me like four years to get it." Still, even that is buried in a box. "I don't brag about that stuff. It's weird," she said, sheep- ishly. "If someone wants to know, they can ask, but I'm not just going to tell them, 'Hey, I've got so many titles. Don't you want my autograph?' "I like to keep it hidden, I guess. Is that weird?" Nope, it's just Bunch. Always has been, Debbie Bunch, senior teammate Tay- lor Morrison and Purdue throws coach Keith McBride said. She's been pushing herself to attain heights, even having to work on her own without a training partner for several years, persevering through back, wrist, elbow and ankle injuries, following the strength program set by Pur- due's sports performance and working in partnership with McBride on technique. She's emerged as a leader through the process, too, be- ing called "mom" by the younger throwers in the program, and being an empowering example of work ethic to team- mates her own age. They see her wrapped from head-to-toe in ice, "every day," Morrison said with a laugh, but also no- tice when she's back attacking and improving the next day. And then they see her launching a weight 73 feet, 4 Potent Pair Dani Bunch isn't the only Purdue thrower having a monster season. "Every single meet the guys or the girls have bro- ken a school record on the throws, so it's been a heck of a ride this year," throws coach Keith McBride said. Chukwuebuka Enekwechi has been one of the best in the world in the weight throw, actually holding that mark of 23.62 meters (77-feet, 6-inches) after a throw earlier this season. It was the second-best collegiate mark since February 2010. That throw is eighth all- time among Division I throwers, per Purdue. The success of Enekwechi and Dani Bunch has vaulted the Boilermakers into the top-ranked Big Ten team heading into the indoor conference meet. "There's something about having both of us on the same squad. When we go into a place, it's like peo- ple are like, 'Oh crap, Purdue is here,'" Bunch said. "That's the best feeling ever, knowing it's because Chuk is as good as he is and I'm as good as I am and we're different genders. "It's a motivation for sure because him doing so well is a result of the work we've done. We've done the same thing. It's like, if he's throwing that good, I'm going to be throwing that good in 10 minutes." — Stacy Clardie Purdue Bunch is about as humble as an athlete can be, according to coaches and teammates. As soon as she wins, which is often, it's on to the next event.