JEFF FIELDER Editor
CHADRON – Jalei Marcy, who will be a senior at Chadron High School this fall, is this week’s Nspire Today! Female Athlete of the Week, sponsored by Kristy Culek Agency, LLC-American Family Insurance. Marcy is a standout defensive specialist in volleyball, starting each of the last three seasons for the Cardinals. She also plays basketball (point guard). Another school activity she’s involved with is FFA. After high school, she’s considering attending either UNK or Black Hills State University. Her parents are Jada and Nate Marcy.
Q: Talk about how your volleyball career has gone up to this point.
MARCY: “Individually, I feel like I’ve improved quite a bit during high school. I was pretty excited to come in as a freshman and play on varsity. As a team, my freshman year we had lost a lot of people, so we didn’t play very well. We didn’t win many games. My sophomore year, we got a little bit better, but we weren’t quite there yet. But as a junior, our team really came together, and we ended up making it to state.”
Q: How much are you looking forward to your senior volleyball season?
MARCY: “I’m extremely excited, but I’m also a little nervous about being able to play this season because of the coronavirus. If we do get to play, I think we’ll have a good season. We did lose Olivia Reed, and she was a pretty strong part of our team. But I think we’ll still be pretty good.”
Q: Are you able to do much this summer to prepare for either volleyball or basketball?
MARCY: “Yes, we’ve been doing open gym a couple times a week and lifting, too. But not as many people are able to participate in open gyms at the same time, so that’s slowed things up a little bit.”
Q: What are your personal goals for the upcoming volleyball season?
MARCY: “I’m pretty excited about this season. I did have an ACL injury last year during basketball, so that’s kind of slowed me down a little bit. But, hopefully, I’ll keep improving and have my best season this year.”
Q: Are you just as passionate about basketball as you are volleyball?
MARCY: “In middle school, I was very passionate about basketball. I practiced almost every day. It was kind of my life. But there was something about high school that kind of changed it for me. I ended up liking volleyball a little more. But I still like basketball. I was pretty sad when I couldn’t play last season [because of the ACL injury that occurred in the first half of the season-opening contest]. But I’m looking forward to this next season.”
Q: Are you hoping to continue playing volleyball in college?
MARCY: “I would love to play volleyball after high school. I love being around the game.”
Q: You’re also involved in FFA. How has that activity been going for you?
MARCY: “I really like it. I made it to state my sophomore year and my junior year. State is really fun, going up there for a week. You get to meet so many new people and do a lot of different things.”
Q: How excited are you for your senior year of school? Is it hard for you to believe that you’re now a senior?
MARCY: “It’s crazy. I feel it was just yesterday that I was a freshman. But I’m excited to move on to the next chapter in my life and see how it goes.”
Q: Outside of your school activities, what do you like to do for fun?
MARCY: “I live on a ranch, so I love working with cattle. I also like to do different DIY projects in arts and crafts. I like learning how to do different things. I’m also always up for hikes, hunting and fishing.”
Q: Where do you like to go fishing?
MARCY: “Mostly around here, like Walgren Lake and Smith Lake. Sometimes we’ll go to South Dakota, too.”
Q: How much have you enjoyed growing up in that area?
MARCY: “I love it. I love the country life. I like being away from the city and the politics. It’s nice to be away from all the business and just be free out in the country.”
Q: Does your family have a farm and ranch?
MARCY: “We mostly do hay. We don’t do crops very much. We also own about 200 head of cattle.”
Q: Do you help quite a bit on the farm and ranch?
MARCY: “Yes. I work every day during the summer, just doing whatever my dad tells me to do.”
Q: What would you like to do for a career?
MARCY: “I have no idea yet. I have thought about different things. Ever since I was little, I wanted to be a teacher, but the money isn’t great in that, so I’m not sure I want to do that anymore. I also kind of want to be a chiropractor or a rancher’s wife someday. Maybe farm and ranch management. Those are a few of my options.”
Q: During your educational career, which teacher do you feel has made the biggest influence on you?
MARCY: “I would say Jonn McLain because he’s been my coach, and he’s inspired me to do a lot of different things. My freshman year, he made us memorize all these quotes to make us better people and better players. He’s always pushed me to do my best.”
Q: What kind of music do you enjoy listening to?
MARCY: “Definitely country music. George Strait is probably my favorite artist.”
Q: What is your favorite TV show?
MARCY: “I’d have to say All American.”
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in the area?
MARCY: “Wilds Bar and Grill in Chadron.”
Q: What is one thing you wish people would do more of?
MARCY: “Be nice. I hate when bully other people. I wish everybody would treat everybody else nicely instead of judging people by how they look or by what they do.”
Q: What do you think is the coolest attraction in the WyoBraska region?
MARCY: “Fort Robinson is pretty cool because of all the acts they have there. My grandma and I will go there to watch those. It’s fun.”
Q: Name one person who you think is a big difference-maker in the Chadron community.
MARCY: “Probably my mom. She’s always there for everyone, and she always puts everyone else before herself. She does everything she can to help everybody.”
Q: If you could give a shoutout to one business in Chadron, which one would it be and why?
MARCY: “Wilds Bar and Grill because [relatives] own that business, and they’re great people. I love them to death.”
Q: Do you have any siblings?
MARCY: “Yes, I have an older brother. His name is Theo. He’s 22. He’ll be a senior at UNL. I also have a younger brother, Mason. He’s 15. He’ll be a freshman this next school year.”
If you would like to nominate someone for Nspire Today!’s Athletes of the Week, sponsored by Kristy Culek Agency, you may do so by sending an email to jeff.fielder@nspiretoday.com or by mailing a letter to Nspire Today!, P.O. Box 454, Scottsbluff, NE 69363. Nominations may also be submitted by sending a text to 308-220-8865.
In addition to being recognized online, athletes of the week will also be recognized in Nspire Today! magazine. To sign up for a one-year subscription (12 issues) to the magazine, please send $15 to Nspire Today!, P.O. Box 454, Scottsbluff, NE 69363. To pay with a credit card, please call 308-220-8865.
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.
