JEFF FIELDER Editor
GERING – Mark Karpf, 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 was one of the region’s top high school tennis players his senior year, earning 16 wins at No. 1 singles. He played tennis all four years of high school. Also in school, he participated in band, show choir, mock trial, jazz band, speech, and musical. He’s also been involved in Boy Scouts with Troop 17. He ended his high school career with a 3.75 GPA. He plans to go to school and play tennis at Midland University in Fremont. He wants to major in secondary education. His parents are Zac and Cristina Karpf. For being named an Athlete of the Week, Karpf will receive a gift card for a free drink to Scooter’s Coffee.
Q: Describe the way your senior year of tennis went overall.
KARPF: “It went very well. I put in a lot of hard work in the offseason, and it really paid off. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end my high school tennis career.”
Q: What do you feel is the strongest part of your tennis game?
KARPF: “Probably my baseline play. I do a lot better at that than I do up at the net.”
Q: What is your top memory from this past season?
KARPF: “Definitely the Scottsbluff Invite. It was a long, hot day, but I ended up getting third. It was also a great day for our whole team.”
Q: How many years have you been playing tennis altogether?
KARPF: “Five years. I started when I was in eighth grade.”
Q: Why did you decide to start playing tennis?
KARPF: “When I was in scouts, my troop leader, Matt Palomo, invited me to come to his youth tennis league. I went, and I got hooked on it. For the first two years, I did it mostly just for fun. But then when I started to realize I could actually go somewhere with it, I started to put in a lot more time practicing.”
Q: How passionate are you about tennis right now?
KARPF: “It’s definitely my favorite thing to do.”
Q: How excited are you to have a chance to play tennis in college?
KARPF: “I never thought I’d have a chance to keep playing tennis in college. I just figured I would go to college and not play any sports. So, I’m really excited for this opportunity.”
Q: What are your tennis goals going into college?
KARPF: “I just want to play as much as I can and try to improve my game. I want to try to be the best player I can be at the end of my four years in college.”
Q: Do you watch tennis on TV very often?
KARPF: “I watch it as often as I can.”
Q: Who’s your favorite professional tennis player?
KARPF: “Denis Shapovalov. He’s young, and he’s fun to watch. He’s got a lot of energy on the court.”
Q: What was your favorite non-sports activity in school?
KARPF: “Definitely speech. I liked the event I did – Oral Interpretation of Drama. I had so much fun with my group. I think we won every invite except for one. My junior year we got sixth place at state, and this year I thought we had a chance to do really well again at state. But we didn’t get that chance because of the coronavirus.”
Q: What’s another activity that you really enjoyed in school?
KARPF: “I really enjoyed mock trial. I kind of was talked into doing it by Mr. [Andy] Stobel. I didn’t always enjoy practices, but once we got into the courtroom, there was something about it that was just exhilarating.”
Q: Besides playing tennis, what else do you enjoy doing for fun?
KARPF: “I like to go fishing. One of my friends and I just bought a boat. We like to go to Lake Minatare.”
Q: Any other hobbies or interests?
KARPF: “I like music a lot. I’ve been in the Gering City Band the last couple years.”
Q: What kind of music do you enjoy listening to?
KARPF: “Country music.”
Q: What is your favorite TV show?
KARPF: “Designated Survivor.”
Q: What is one thing you wish people would do more often?
KARPF: “I wish people would listen a little more.”
Q: During your educational career, which teacher do you feel has made the biggest influence on you?
KARPF: “Definitely Mr. [Tyler] Thompson. He kind of took me under his wings and opened up my eyes to some things. He pushed me. He’s one of the main reasons I want to be a teacher.”
Q: So you would like to be a high school teacher?
KARPF: “Yes, I would like to teach high school kids, but I also want to get a master’s degree in administration so I can hopefully become a principal or a superintendent someday.”
Q: What is your favorite local restaurant?
KARPF: “Goonies.”
Q: Who do you think is one of the kindest students in Gering?
KARPF: “Definitely Faith Kennedy. She’s so nice. She says ‘Hi’ to everybody. I’ve gone to school with her since kindergarten, and she hasn’t changed one bit.”
Q: What do you think is the coolest attraction in the WyoBraska region?
KARPF: “The number of outdoor opportunities in this area, like hiking, hunting and fishing. I think that’s the main attraction here.”
Q: Name one person who you think is a big difference-maker in the Gering community.
KARPF: “Matt Palomo. He does a lot for our community through scouts – he’s the scout leader for Troop 17 – and other things. He’s built so many good relationships with people, especially youth. I think he’s made a huge difference in the community. He’s been a mentor of mine for as long as I can remember.”
Q: If you could give a shoutout to one local business, which one would it be and why?
KARPF: “Platte Valley Bank because that’s where my dad works.”
Q: Do you have any siblings?
KARPF: “Yes, I have a younger brother, David. He’ll be a junior this next school year.”
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.
