High schools | Going to School: Josh Roseler, Wellington

By The Columbus Dispatch  • 

Josh Roseler, Wellington

Age: 18

Class: Senior

Grade-point average: 4.1

Sports: Swimming and baseball

College choice: Has been nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy by Rep. Pat Tiberi, R-Genoa Township, and is finishing the application process.


Question: I’ve noticed that you appear to be behind the controls of an airplane in Wellington Magazine. What’s up with that?

Answer: I shouldn’t have taken that “selfie” when I was in the airplane. It’s a single-engine prop plane. It’s really light — probably lighter than a Harley Davidson motorcycle — and it uses close to a snowmobile engine. It’s carbon fiber, about 750 pounds. I take lessons at Ohio State’s Don Scott Field. I’ve pretty much finished all my flight training, and I’m going for my sport pilot license. I’m trying to find an instructor to ride along with me.


Q: How many hours do you need for the license?

A: The minimum for sport pilot is 20. The minimum for a private license is 40 hours. The sport pilot has limits to flying. You are limited to the weight of the plane, there can’t be more than two seats, you can’t fly at night and you can’t fly unless there is a certain amount of visibility — things like that. Flying is expensive. This aircraft is about $115 an hour to rent. Instruction is about $40 to $50 an hour. I’m trying to pay for it by myself.


Q: What gave you the bug for flight?

A: I had the opportunity to visit Africa when I was 12 years old. We went on a safari and were in a bush plane with the family. The pilot said, “Hey, you want to try flying?” and I said yes. He gave me control and then pulled out a newspaper and started to read. My parents (Cynthia and Dan) were nervous. I flew about five minutes. That was the catalyst for my interest in flying. It hit me 10 minutes after we landed that I had flown a plane over Africa. I was overwhelmed with excitement.


Q: Was your visit to the Air Force Academy what you thought it would be?

A: I wouldn’t call the experience fun, but it was worthwhile. I went to a summer seminar and saw what I was getting into. The brochures build it up to be a utopia, but the visit showed me what it would be really like. It’s a wonderful place. I’m thinking of studying aeronautical or mechanical engineering and maybe becoming a pilot afterward. Until then, general airplane maintenance is what I want to do.


Q: Wellington Magazine also shows you in a play. Which one is that?

A: It’s Urinetown, a giant parody of a bunch of plays. It’s hilarious. I played Officer Lockstock, who is the main enforcer and also the narrator. I don’t get stage fright, which probably is attributable to my time at COSI. I’ve done a lot of shows there since I’ve been 12. I have about 800 hours of service. They let me do the electrostatic generator show and the basketball show. It’s called the experienced programs team. What we’re in charge of is teaching and entertainment guest interactions. I’m a science and math guy.


Q: What got you involved in COSI?

A: My sister, Kim, volunteered at the zoo when she was 13. She’s two years older. I thought about volunteering, but at a different place. I had to apply, go through an interview and demonstrate a science experiment. There I was, a 12-year-old demonstrating in front of 12 people who are staring at me. My experiment didn’t work, either. That was daunting.


Q: Let’s backtrack: Any close encounters with animals during that African safari?

A: We were in an enclosed Land Rover with two gas tanks. You’d see lions and leopards, but there were no real close encounters. But we almost got locked out of the compound. They lock the gates firmly at 9 p.m. We came back at 8:59 and the doors were shut. We were yelling. The driver told us not to yell or the hyenas would come. They let us back in. It never crossed my mind about the truck breaking down. Hey, I was 12.


Q: What is swimming practice like when it’s so cold? Is it a salvation when you are in the warm water?

A: We didn’t have practice when it was zero degrees because we didn’t have school. I dread jumping into the pool because it’s always cold. Cold pools are great for competition. For practice, I’d like it to be a hot tub. But I love swimming. It’s funny: During competitions, everyone watching the meet is sweating, but the swimmers are freezing. People ask, “Why are you wearing parkas?” We tell them it’s really cold.