JEFF FIELDER Editor
GERING – Anthony Walker, a 2020 Gering High School graduate, has been named Nspire Today!’s Male Athlete of the Week, sponsored by Kristy Culek Agency, LLC-American Family Insurance. He’s currently in his fourth season playing baseball for the Gering Platte Valley Companies senior Legion team [pitcher and first baseman], and this past school year he competed in football. He was also planning to play soccer this past spring, but COVID-19 forced the spring sports season to be cancelled. He plans to go to school at Central Community College-Hastings, where he wants to study to become a diesel mechanic. His parents are Ron and Micki Walker.
Q: Talk about how the baseball season has been going so far for Gering.
WALKER: “I feel like the season started off a little slow for us overall. I feel like we were a little behind where we should have been as far as our potential goes. I think not being able to practice for about a month or two [because of COVID-19] hurt us. But we’ve been getting better.”
Q: How nice has it been to be out on the field playing baseball?
WALKER: “I think I can speak for everyone on the team when I say that it’s been a blessing. Legion baseball in Gering is more than just a summer program. Our coach likes to incorporate life lessons, and I think all of us learn a lot of life lessons during the summer. For example, Coach Kinnaman makes sure we respect not only umpires but also other older adults and each other. He always tells us, ‘Everybody deserves respect.’ Another thing that sticks out in my mind is that he always tells us, ‘If you’re on time, you’re late. If you’re late, don’t show up.’ We love learning from him. I think if we could play baseball year-round, we would.”
Q: How do you feel like the players have responded to not having a state tournament this summer?
WALKER: “When we first started practicing, that was a big deal, especially for the seniors. We’ve been part of a couple teams that have won area tournaments, so when we first started practicing this year, there was a cloud over us, asking, ‘Why would we still play if there’s no end of the season tournament?’ But our coaches stepped in and said, ‘You have to knock that stuff off because there’s going to be a season.’ Coach K said, ‘You’re going to be playing for pride.’ That’s where life comes in over baseball. He said, ‘It will be the same way in life. Some things aren’t going to go your way, so how are you going to respond? Are you just going to give up? No, you need to stay positive and do the best you can with what you have.’”
Q: What are your personal and team goals for this summer?
WALKER: “I just want it to be a memorable season. I’m also hoping to have a winning record. As a senior team, I hope we accomplish something that can be finished next year.”
Q: In your opinion, what’s one of the toughest restrictions you and your teammates have to abide by this season?
WALKER: “I think the toughest one is that we don’t get to shake the other team’s hands, whether we win or lose. That’s really tough because the other team deserves a handshake.”
Q: How much do you enjoy pitching and playing first base?
WALKER: “I love first base. I’ve played first base since the start of Legion. As far as pitching, it’s not my favorite. But when we were freshman, Coach K said everybody is a pitcher. He said we do not have the numbers to have people just sitting and then pitching. So, everybody is counted on for that. I don’t mind it. I like helping wherever I can.”
Q: Are you kind of sad that this will be your last sports season?
WALKER: “It does make me sad. I’ve always enjoyed playing sports. That was one thing that really kept me going in school – to keep my grades up. So, it’s going to be tough not playing anymore, but I think I’m ready to move on to other things in life.”
Q: Talk about how your football career went at Gering High School, especially your senior year.
WALKER: “We didn’t win a lot of games, but we stuck through things. It was fun playing with my brothers out there.”
Q: How disappointing was it that your final soccer soccer got cancelled?
WALKER: “It was tough. I played soccer just because I wanted to hang out with the guys. Those guys were really good to me. They had the mentality that, ‘This is going to be a family. Win or lose, we’re going to stick together and have fun.’ So, we were really looking forward to my senior year and traveling with each other and having a blast. It was disappointing that we didn’t get a season, but we accepted it and moved on.”
Q: Why have you decided to go to CCC-Hastings?
WALKER: “I picked that school because I’m a farm kid. I’ve always been interested in agriculture. I’ve done 4-H forever. I’ve always enjoyed taking something apart and then putting it back together. My initial plan was I wasn’t going to go to college. I was going to stay home and help a farmer out. But my mom stepped in and said, ‘You’re going to go to college. It’s important for you to get that education.’ So, I dug a little deeper, and at the beginning of my senior year, I thought, ‘OK, after the football season, I could go get a job working on tractors for somebody.’ I ended up going into [now Titan-HorizonWest, Inc.], and I talked to the general manager there. He said, ‘We can partner with your school, and we could do a work-based learning class to see if it’s something I enjoyed.’ So, I ended up working there, and I liked it. Later, Titan asked me if I was interested in working in this field. I said, ‘Yes, very much so.’ They said, ‘OK, well, we’re prepared to offer you our Titan machinery scholarship.’ They said, ‘Here’s a list of schools you can choose from.’ I liked what Hastings had to offer, so that’s where I chose to go.”
Q: Do you plan to move back to the Gering/Scottsbluff area after you graduate from college?
WALKER: “Yes, I do. … I like it here. Sometimes you’ll get bored on a Friday night, but I think this community is great. I can’t say enough about the people here because they’ve supported me through everything.”
Q: Outside of sports, what do you like to do for fun?
WALKER: “I like to work on random stuff, and I really like to hang out with my dad. It’s fun to hang out with him no matter what we do.”
Q: What kind of music do you enjoy listening to?
WALKER: “I’m an 80s kind of guy, so stuff like AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, REO Speedwagon. I could sit all day and listen to that stuff.”
Q: What is your favorite TV show?
WALKER: “The Ranch.”
Q: Name one person who you think is a big difference-maker in the Gering community.
WALKER: “I would say Danny O’Boyle. He’s always been a role model for me. He really cares about people. I think anybody could learn a lot from him. If you want to know what it takes to be a good person, look at him.”
Q: What is your favorite local restaurant?
WALKER: “The Log Cabin.”
Q: What do you like to order there?
WALKER: “Their biscuits and gravy on Saturday mornings before 11.”
Q: What is one thing you wish people would do more often?
WALKER: “Support people more – no matter what it is. Help people out.”
Q: Do you have any siblings?
WALKER: “I have three: Tanner Walker (21). He’s going to be a senior at UNO; Madison Walker (17). She’ll be a senior at Gering High School; and Hannah Walker (16). She’ll be a sophomore at Gering High School.”
If you would like to nominate someone for Nspire Today!’s Athletes of the Week, sponsored by Kristy Culek Agency, LLC – American Family Insurance, 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.
