JEFF FIELDER Editor
CHADRON – Dan Dunbar, who graduated from Chadron High School in May, is this week’s Nspire Today! Male Athlete of the Week, sponsored by Kristy Culek Agency, LLC-American Family Insurance. Dunbar had a superb senior football season, earning him a spot in this week’s West Nebraska All-Star Football Game in Scottsbluff. Dunbar, an outside linebacker, running back and wide receiver at Chadron High School, is a Chadron State College football recruit. His parents are Shelley and Brett Dunbar.
Q: How exciting is it to be part of the West Nebraska All-Star Football Game?
DUNBAR: “I’ve grown up watching older guys compete in it, so I’ve always wanted to play in the game, too. It means quite a bit to me.”
Q: Describe how your high school football career went?
DUNBAR: “It went pretty good. I played quite a bit my sophomore year, and I feel like I’ve been improving since then.”
Q: What helped you achieve so much success in football?
DUNBAR: “Just working hard and taking advantage of every single opportunity that I was given. I spent a lot of time in the weight room, and I worked as hard as I could in practices.”
Q: Do you like how your senior year went?
DUNBAR: “It went pretty good. I had to really step up and be more of a leader than I had in the past. We had some younger guys playing with us, so I wanted to help them figure out what to do because I remembered being in their spot earlier in my career. As a team, we ended up 5-5 and made it to the playoffs, so I felt like we did pretty good overall.”
Q: You also competed in basketball and play baseball, but is football your favorite sport?
DUNBAR: “Yes, by far. I like baseball, too, but I don’t enjoy it as much as football.”
Q: How excited are you about playing football at Chadron State College?
DUNBAR: “I’m really excited. I’ve already started preparing for my first season there just because I live in Chadron. I’ve been able to go up to the weight room to start lifting and running. It’s been pretty fun so far.”
Q: How big of a transition do you think it will be for you, going from the high school level to the college level?
DUNBAR: “I expect it to be a pretty big jump because it’s definitely a lot faster-paced game. But I’m looking forward to it.”
Q: What position will you play at Chadron State?
DUNBAR: “Right now, I’m listed as a linebacker.”
Q: Is that the position you’ve always liked the best?
DUNBAR: “Yes. That’s definitely where I wanted to be.”
Q: Why did you decide to go to Chadron State College?
DUNBAR: “I looked around at some other colleges that had contacted me, and none of those places really made me feel how Chadron State did. I grew up in Chadron, and I’ve always loved Chadron State College, especially with what they’ve been doing lately. Plus, they have the major I want to pursue. I’m going into ag banking and financing, and I can do that there. And then I’m really impressed with the whole football program. Everything is almost new there, and I really like all the coaches.“
Q: Have you always followed the Chadron State College football program pretty closely?
DUNBAR: “Yes, definitely, especially when I got into high school because they asked the older high school guys to ball boy for them on Saturdays. Being on the sidelines got me pumped; I wanted to play there someday.”
Q: Why did you decide to pursue ag banking?
DUNBAR: “Our family has a ranch in Oelrichs, South Dakota, which is about 30 minutes from Chadron. So I’ve always been interested in the ag part of life and ranching and stuff, so I thought it would be fun to go into ag. I was able to get a full tuition scholarship to go into ag banking, so that’s exciting.”
Q: Ten years from now, what do you see yourself doing for a career?
DUNBAR: “I plan to stay around the Chadron area, hopefully working at a bank.”
Q: Have you always lived in Chadron?
DUNBAR: “No, I was born in Kearney. We lived there until I was 4, and them we moved to Chadron because my grandpa needed help on the ranch.”
Q: How much have you enjoyed spending most of your life growing up in Chadron?
DUNBAR: “I’ve liked it a lot. Chadron is a good place to raise kids. I like the small town feel of it. I don’t know if I would have liked growing up in Kearney with it being a bigger town. I like being in a smaller town.”
Q: Athletically, what was your top memory from high school?
DUNBAR: “Definitely making the state playoffs two years in a row – my junior and senior years. That was fun. We lost in the first round both years, but we went from a 3-5 record both my freshman and sophomore years to being on a winning team my junior year. We went 8-2, and we were seeded fourth or fifth or something like that, and then my senior year we went 5-5, but we were able to make the playoffs. Making the playoffs was definitely my favorite memory.”
Q: What was your favorite class in school your senior year?
DUNBAR: “Probably welding and woodworking just because I’ve always kind of liked the hands-on stuff. I was fine with the other classes, too, like math class, but I would have to say welding and woodworking was my favorite.”
Q: Outside of sports, what do you like to do for fun?
DUNBAR: “I’ve rodeoed a little bit. When I can, I like to team rope. That’s pretty fun. I also go fishing quite a bit in the summertime. That’s always fun.”
Q: Where is your favorite place to go fishing?
DUNBAR: “We go out to the Chadron city dam quite a bit just because it’s pretty close.”
Q: Do you have any brothers and/or sisters?
DUNBAR: “Yes. Dana Dunbar, 20; Dawn Dunbar, 17; and Dawson, 15.”
For all your insurance needs, visit The Kristy Culek Agency, LLC-American Family Insurance, located at 1012 Ave. I in Scottsbluff, or call 308-632-8598.
