JEFF FIELDER Editor
GERING – Madi Schlaepfer, who will be a junior at Gering High School this fall, is this week’s Nspire Today! Female Athlete of the Week, sponsored by Kristy Culek Agency, LLC-American Family Insurance. Schlaepfer, one of the top golfers in Class B the last two years, earned a 47th-place finish recently in the National High School Golf Association Tournament at Falcon’s Fire Golf Course near Orlando, Florida. She fired rounds of 86 and 85, helping Gering place seventh in the team standings. Gering’s other players were Ali Boswell (55th, 92-87), Avery Mitchell (tied for 57th, 93-88), Kelsey Le (77th, 106-116), and Tayber Meyer (78th, 120-107).
Q: Were you pleased with your performance in the national golf tournament in Florida?
SCHLAEPFER: “It was definitely different because there was different competition there, and it was on a different type of golf course. But overall, I feel like I performed the best I could. It was a really fun experience because I got to play with girls from all around the nation. It was also fun competing on a different type of grass because if I play college golf in the south somewhere, I’ll see that type of grass throughout my college career.”
Q: How would you describe the type of grass that you played on in Florida?
SCHLAEPFER: “It was definitely different than Nebraska. It was very thin, so you have to stay down on the ball or else you might not get a good shot. It was just different than grass that’s around here.”
Q: How did the different type of grass there affect your style of play?
SCHLAEPFER: “It didn’t really affect it that much. I just kept my swing the same, and I tried to keep my routine the same.”
Q: Did you enjoy the course?
SCHLAEPFER: “Yes, it was fun because it was a different type of layout than I have ever seen. On the back nine, there were four or five holes that went right around this one lake. It was a little challenging, but it was still fun.”
Q: How did you and your teammates decide to play in that tournament?
SCHLAEPFER: “We had heard about it before we went to state. That was one of our goals – to play in that tournament. Since we placed high at state, [tournament organizers] contacted us. I was the first one who said I was going, so I was hoping the rest of the team would want to go, too. It was fun playing there with our team.”
Q: How long were you and your teammates in Florida?
SCHLAEPFER: “We were down there for over a week. We played practice rounds on that Monday and Wednesday, so we got two good practice rounds in before the tournament.”
Q: Did you and your teammates do some other fun activities while you were in Florida?
SCHLAEPFER: “Yes. We went to the Fun Spot, and it had roller coasters and go-karts, and it had this bungee thing where they raise you up to 250 feet and then you pull the cord and drop down. Me and Ali and Tayber did that. That was super fun. We had some good memories at the Fun Spot.”
Q: Was the bungee ride scary?
SCHLAEPFER: “It kind of was at the beginning, but once I was up there, I was OK. I was in the middle because I was the tallest.”
Q: Did Ali and Tayber enjoy it, too?
SCHLAEPFER: “They really liked it. Ali was the one who pulled the cord. She just pulled it and down we went. It was fun.”
Q: What kind of an experience was that for you and your teammates – getting to go to Florida to play golf and enjoy some other fun activities?
SCHLAEPFER: “It was different because I had never gone there in the summer before. It was really hot, but it was fun going with my friends and family. It was special to me because not a lot of people get to do that in their high school career.”
Q: Are you also competing in the Panhandle Junior Tour this summer?
SCHLAEPFER: “Yes, I am, and I’m also competing in the Nebraska Junior Golf Tour. I did the match play, and I’ll compete in the Nebraska Girls Amateur in Beatrice July 30-31. I might play in a couple other tournaments, too.”
Q: You’re playing in a lot of golf tournaments this summer. How much is that helping you?
SCHLAEPFER: “I really enjoy it because I get to meet new people and have different experiences golfing. But I also feel like it’s helping my golf game because I get to see different courses, and I get to see different competition.”
Q: Do you practice every day?
SCHLAEPFER: “Yes, I do, even if it’s at my house for 10-20 minutes. I’ll get some kind of practice in every day.”
Q: Do you feel like you’re just as passionate about golf as you were when you first started playing?
SCHLAEPFER: “I think I’m even more passionate about it now because I found that I really love it. I love playing all the time. I know I can get better, and I want to get better.”
Q: What are your goals for the upcoming high school season?
SCHLAEPFER: “I think my goal will be to shoot in the mid to high 70s.”
Q: What was your golfing average last season?
SCHLAEPFER: “80.”
Q: Have you started thinking yet about possibly golfing in college?
SCHLAEFPER: “Yes, I have. There’s a couple schools that have contacted me. I’m going to keep my options open, though, and see how I do this season.”
Q: In addition to playing golf, what else have you enjoyed doing this summer?
SCHLAEPFER: “I work, and I enjoy hanging around with friends.”
Q: Do you like to watch a lot of golf on TV?
SCHLAEPFER: “Yes. I watch it all the time. If we’re at my grandpa’s house, we’re watching golf, and we watch golf at home, too.”
Q: Which player do you like to follow the most?
SCHLAEPFER: “Well, now it’s Nate Lashley. He’s been doing really good. I like watching a lot of golfers, though.”
Q: How exciting is it for you to see Nate Lashley playing so well right now?
SCHLAEPFER: “It’s super exciting. I’ve kind of followed him through the years because my dad grew up with him. It’s exciting to see him doing so well because he really deserves it.”
Q: Does he inspire you in any way?
SCHLAEPFER: “Yes, he does. Seeing where he came from and what he’s overcome, it shows that anybody can achieve their dream if they work hard enough.”
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. If you would like to increase your subscription to $20, Nspire Today! will donate the extra $5 in July to the local DOVES program.
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