JEFF FIELDER Editor
GERING – Maddie Seiler, a sophomore at Gering High School, has been named Nspire Today!’s Female Athlete of the Week, sponsored by Kristy Culek Agency, LLC-American Family Insurance. Seiler won the Nebraska Class B state cross country meet in Kearney, finishing the race with a personal-best time of 18 minutes, 55.8 seconds. That was one of six meets that she won this season. She also placed first at districts, completing that course in 18:58 – the first time she finished a race in under 19 minutes. Last year at state cross country, Seiler placed fourth. In addition to cross country, Seiler competes in basketball and track and field. Other school activities she participates in are the Book Club and FCA, and she’s also on the dance team. Outside of school, she volunteers at the Midwest Theater in Scottsbluff. She has a 3.9 GPA. Her parents are Shawn and Amy Seiler. For being named an Athlete of the Week, Maddie will receive a gift card for a free drink at Scooter’s Coffee.
Q: Talk about how it feels to be a state cross country champion.
SEILER: “It’s definitely very exciting. After the race, I didn’t know how to feel because there was so much of an adrenalin rush. It was crazy. I was excited to win, but I look at it as a team win because I wouldn’t have been where I was without my team.” Editor’s note: The Gering girls cross country team placed eighth at state.
Q: What was your goal going into state?
SEILER: “My goal was to be in the top three. I knew there would be a group of four to five runners in the mix to win.”
Q: How did you feel during the race?
SEILER: “I felt confident and relaxed. I knew what I had to do going into the race. I was prepared for that race both mentally and physically.”
Q: What was your race strategy?
SEILER: “I didn’t want to start out in the lead. I wanted to let some of the other runners do the work and provide me with a little break from the wind. I had talked to my coach about it, and our plan was for me to start picking it up after the first mile. When we started to hit the second mile, I knew I needed to really pick it up. There was a girl from Omaha Skutt who wanted to go right with me, so I let her lead for a little bit until almost the three-mile mark. Then I surged ahead and took off from there.”
Q: How did you feel at state compared to the other meets you competed in this season?
SEILER: “State felt so different. I felt so confident going into the race. I was ready for it. I was ready for the other races, too, but I felt like I was more mentally ready. I felt like I could run really fast. I thought, ‘I can do this.’”
Q: What made you so driven to win this year?
SEILER: “My team. My teammates support me so much, and it makes me want to run really hard for them. I love my team. I definitely wouldn’t be where I am without them.”
Q: How did you feel this season compared to your freshman season?
SEILER: “The first meet this year was the first time I had won a [high school] race. That was a nice way to start the season. Building on that was important to me because I wanted to do really well at state. Compared to last season, I think I was more focused this year. I had a really positive mindset, and I think part of that was because of the training I did during the summer. I put in a lot of miles, and I worked a lot harder. I enjoyed the sport even more than I did last year.”
Q: Talk about how things went this season for the team.
SEILER: “We all went into the season not knowing how things would go. But it turned out to be an amazing season. We won [state] last season, and even though we didn’t win this year, we reached our personal goals, which was a win for us. I’m really proud of my teammates.”
Q: What will your goal be for next season?
SEILER: “I know I’ll need to put in a lot more work because my goal for next year is to run in the low 18s. I would really like to run sub-18 next year. That would be huge for me. To do that, I know I’ll have to run a lot of miles and eat the right things. I’ll need to make sure I have a healthy diet and take care of myself physically.”
Q: You and your two brothers all performed very well in your respective state meets. How cool was that?
SEILER: “Being able to run as well as we did was truly a gift from God. I also thank my parents for pushing us to get better. It definitely helps when you have family and friends supporting you throughout the year. It’s also nice having siblings who are as passionate about running as you are. It’s fun to go home and talk about running with them.” Editor’s note: Peyton Seiler, a senior, placed third at state, and Nate Seiler, an eighth-grader, placed fourth in the junior high state meet.
Q: Is your entire family big into running?
SEILER: “My uncle and my dad were really good runners. They loved to run, and they ran in college. My mom was a volleyball player, but she has run in a few races, like Festival of Hope. She’s also run a half marathon.”
Q: Have you shifted your focus to basketball yet?
SEILER: “I’m still kind of taking some time off, just to be rested before we start basketball. But I have gone into the gym to shoot a little bit.”
Q: How good do you think the Gering High School girls basketball team will be this season?
SEILER: “I’m not sure. Last year we lost three seniors, but we’ll have a lot of freshmen this year, so it will be exciting having them on the team. I think it will be a fun season.”
Q: How excited are you for the basketball season?
SEILER: “Basketball is really fun and competitive. I enjoy basketball a lot. I enjoy the coaches and the team environment.”
Q: What are your goals for the track and field season in the spring?
SEILER: “In the mile, I would like to run in the low 5-minute range. It would be huge if I could do that. I’m also planning to do the 4×800 and 4×400 as well as the two mile and 800. It just depends on the meet.”
Q: Which sport do you like to compete in the most?
SEILER: “Definitely cross country because of the family environment. Everyone who is there is so positive and happy to be there. That makes me want to be there even more. All of the runners are amazing, and the coaches are awesome, too, and they’re very supportive.”
Q: What’s another activity at school that you really enjoy?
SEILER: “I like being on the dance team. I love dancing. Being able to do that and being involved in sports is great. The girls on the team are really awesome.”
Q: How much do you enjoy being in the book club?
SEILER: “I was involved in it last year, too. I haven’t been there a lot this year because I’ve been so busy, but once things settle down, I’ll definitely be there more often. I love reading. I read a lot. Some of my favorite books are the Harry Potter books.”
Q: You said you’re also involved in FCA. How has that been going?
SEILER: “We meet every other Wednesday night. [Huddle leaders] Holly Williams and Tamaris Houser have helped us a lot. I love FCA. I love learning how to use God in our sports and how He can help us through all of it. Everyone who’s involved in it encourages everyone. It’s so much fun. It’s a fun, family environment, too.”
Q: What do you like to do during your free time?
SEILER: “I love solving the Rubik’s Cube. We learned how to do it in class, and now I enjoy trying to solve it all the time. I also enjoy just going for runs. Running really helps me if I’m stressed about something.”
Q: What is your favorite class this school year?
SEILER: “Western Civilization. I love our teacher [Kristian Schank]. He’s so much fun and is so full of energy. It’s fun learning about history in his class. He’s a great teacher because of how he teaches it and also because he loves history so much. It’s awesome.”
Q: If you could be President of the United States for a few months, what would you try to accomplish?
SEILER: “If I were the president, I would be very concerned about the raging forest fires in the west. I would want to make sure they had plenty of resources to slow the fires down and save the big trees that I love and one day want to see.”
Q: How much do you enjoy volunteering at the Midwest Theater?
SEILER: “My mom and I volunteer with some teachers, and it’s so much fun. It’s so much fun seeing all the people who go there, and I love the smell of popcorn.”
Q: What’s the best movie you’ve ever seen?
SEILER: “I love the Star Wars movies. I’m a huge Star Wars fan. Our family loves Star Wars.”
Q: What is your favorite post-competition treat?
SEILER: “We’ll stop at a gas station, and sometimes they’ll have these milkshakes with different flavors. I love to get the Sour Patch milkshake. I know it sounds gross, but they’re so good.”
Q: What is your favorite local restaurant?
SEILER: “Scotty’s. I love Scotty’s. Scotty’s is amazing. A friend recently showed me one of their sandwiches – a pizza burger. It’s one of the best burgers I’ve ever had.”
Q: What is one thing you wish people would do more of?
SEILER: “Plant more trees and don’t throw waste onto the highways. It amazes me how some people can’t take the time to throw trash away at home and instead will just throw it on the side of the road.”
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.
