JEFF FIELDER Editor
GERING – Riley Gaudreault, 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 part of the Gering Platte Valley Companies senior Legion baseball team that won the Panhandle COVID Conference Tournament in July. Gaudreault, a catcher and outfielder, helped the Gering seniors finish the season with a 20-11 record. During his senior year at Gering High School, he also competed in basketball. In addition, he participated in Student Council and National Honor Society, and he was also his class vice president. Outside of school, he’s been involved with the Gering Volunteer Fire Department for about a year, and he also participates in the Gering United Methodist Church youth group. He graduated from Gering High School with a 3.84 GPA. This fall he’ll be a freshman at WNCC. He wants to earn an associate’s degree in emergency medical services at WNCC before transferring to the University of Nebraska at Omaha. His parents are Mike and Jan Gaudreault.
Q: Describe how this baseball season went for Gering?
GAUDREAULT: “I couldn’t have asked for a better season. With all the COVID stuff going on, the season started off a little different than it has the last few years, but overall, it turned out well for us. We ended right where we wanted to be.”
Q: How exciting was it to win the Panhandle COVID Conference Tournament?
GAUDREAULT: “It was indescribable. It was a great way to end the season. I’ll hold onto that memory for the rest of my life.”
Q: What made this year’s Gering baseball team so strong?
GAUDREAULT: “I think a lot of it was our teamwork. Everyone bought in. People showed up to practices, and everyone supported each other. That helped us get through the season.”
Q: Are you done playing Legion baseball?
GAUDREAULT: “Yes, unfortunately, I’m done playing Legion baseball. I’ll really miss playing for Gering. But, hopefully, one day I’ll be able to come back to help coach some of the younger guys. I’ll plan to stick around Gering and help the baseball program any way I can.”
Q: How did your senior year of basketball go?
GAUDREAULT: “Basketbal was a whole different story. Gering has had different coaches the last few years, so that made it hard on the players, getting a feel for a coaching style. But overall, I thought we worked well together as a team. No matter what was going on, we always put 100 percent into what we did.”
Q: Talk about how your senior year of high school went overall.
GAUDREAULT: “Coming in, I was really excited to finish out my high school career. When the semester break came, you could almost see the finish line. But then the pandemic hit, and it all kind of went downhill from there. We didn’t get the traditional way of finishing the last year of high school, but it’s history now. I’m grateful I got to do the things I did get to do in high school.”
Q: Why did you pick WNCC?
GAUDREAULT: “When I joined the fire department, I really got into the fire and rescue side of things. I fell in love with it. I like being able to help the community and be there when people need us. I felt like going to WNCC and getting my paramedic license would be the next step in my career path.”
Q: What got you interested in joining the fire department?
GAUDREAULT: “My grandpa was involved in the volunteer fire department a long time ago, so that helped me learn more about it. Then my sophomore year in high school, we had a career day, and we went to the fire department to see what they did and how they helped the community. I got to see them go on a call. Ever since then, I’ve really been interested in that.”
Q: What are you wanting to do for a career?
GAUDREAULT: “My career goal is to end up on a fire department somewhere.”
Q: Other than playing sports, what do you like to do for fun?
GAUDREAULT: “I like to hunt and fish. I’m a big outdoors guy.”
Q: During your educational career, which teacher has made the biggest influence on you?
GAUDREAULT: “Mr. Rick Kinnaman. He was my auto teacher. I think I learned more from him my entire school career than any other teacher. I knew him from seventh grade through high school. He taught me a lot of life lessons as well as how to change the oil on a vehicle.”
Q: What’s the best part about living in Gering?
GAUDREAULT: “The community. The community is always there to back you up no matter what. At a young age, I moved to Gering. I wasn’t quite sure who I would meet or what I was going to do, but I fell in love with the city and the people in the community.”
Q: What’s your favorite local restaurant?
GAUDREAULT: “My favorite local restaurant is Goonies. I like their Philly cheesesteak sandwich. That’s what I get every time I go there.”
Q: Name one person who you think makes a big difference in your community?
GAUDREAULT: “Danny O’Boyle. I have nothing but good things to say about that guy. He’s been around since I started my baseball career, and even in the Gering school system, he’s been there to help me.”
Q: What do you think is the coolest attraction in the WyoBraska area?
GAUDREAULT: “Definitely the Monument. It’s something different compared to the rest of Nebraska. It has a pretty landscape, and you can hike it. It’s pretty special having that big Monument sitting in our backyard.”
Q: What’s the most exciting place you’ve ever traveled to?
GAUDREAULT: “Definitely Quantico, Virgina. I went there the summer after my freshman year. That was for a youth leadership program at the FBI National Academy.”
Q: Do you work?
GAUDREAULT: “Yes, I work at Monument Shadows Golf Course.”
Q: Do you have any siblings?
GAUDREAULT: “Yes. I have an older brother, Kyle. He lives in Kearney. My younger brother is Mason. He’s starting his freshman 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.
