<p>As of Sunday, three former Center Grove High School athletes are within close proximity of one another despite being two states away.</p>
<p>Belmont University men’s basketball player Michael Benkert will soon begin his second year at the NCAA Division I school in Nashville, Tennessee.</p>
<p>Two members of Center Grove’s Class of 2016, Lauren Rau and Cameron Tidd, will be a short distance away in the same city, best known for the Grand Ole Opry.</p>
<p>Rau, a 5-foot-5 point guard, is playing women’s basketball at Lipscomb University. Tidd, a defensive tackle who helped lead Center Grove to the Class 6A state football championship in November, plays for Vanderbilt University.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]
<p>Vanderbilt Stadium, where Tidd will play, is four miles north of Allen Arena, where Rau will play, and a little more than a mile south of the Curb Event Center, where Benkert will play.</p>
<p>“I love it down here. It’s kind of a combination of everything,” said Benkert, the Trojans’ No. 5 all-time point producer (1,177) who was redshirted this past season at Belmont and will be eligible to play this winter.</p>
<p>“Belmont, Lipscomb and Vanderbilt are all no more than five miles from each other,” Benkert said. “Belmont and Lipscomb are literally on the same road.</p>
<p>“I’ll definitely try to catch some Vandy football games and see as many of Lauren’s games as I can.”</p>
<p>All three former Center Grove athletes are currently in Nashville.</p>
<p>Rau started all four seasons for the Trojans girls basketball program. She was part of the Daily Journal’s All-County Team as a senior after leading Center Grove in scoring (14 points per game), assists (4.4) and steals (2).</p>
<p>Rau arrived at Lipscomb on May 29 to start preseason conditioning with her Bison teammates. She is also taking two classes this summer.</p>
<p>Lipscomb, a Div. I program, struggled during the 2015-16 women’s basketball season. However, the Bison return four of their top seven scorers and welcome a talented freshman class.</p>
<p>“I love Nashville, and I like my teammates a lot,” said Rau, who leaves with her new teammates July 29 for a week-long mission trip to Managua, Nicaragua.</p>
<p>“It’s hard adjusting to the pace. It’s a faster pace and everyone plays at the level you do,” Rau said. “Cameron and I are really good friends.</p>
<p>“It’s kind of comforting knowing someone down here and knowing they’re going through some of the same things you are.”</p>
<p>Rau also has family close by.</p>
<p>Her stepbrother, former Center Grove student-athlete Jordan Luallen, is the strength and conditioning coach at Franklin Road Academy, a high school in Nashville.</p>
<p>Tidd won his second consecutive state discus championship Saturday at Indiana University’s Robert C. Haugh Track & Field Complex.</p>
<p>He left for Vanderbilt early the next morning.</p>
<p>Like any 6-4, 275-pound athlete working along the line of scrimmage, Tidd has already pinpointed some of his new city’s better eating establishments.</p>
<p>“Nashville is a beautiful city and always has things for you to do,” Tidd said. “Some of the best restaurants are down here, so there is never a shortage of good food.</p>
<p>“Also, many of these good restaurants are within walking distance, so it’s easy to get to them.”</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="Nashville athletes pullout" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>NASHVILLE CATS</p>
<p>Name;College;Graduated from CG;Sports at CG</p>
<p>Michael Benkert;Belmont University;2015;Basketball</p>
<p>Lauren Rau;Lipscomb University;2016;Basketball/track</p>
<p>Cameron Tidd;Vanderbilt University;2016;Football/track</p>[sc:pullout-text-end]