JEFF FIELDER Editor
GERING – Taylor Philbrick, a junior soccer player at Gering High School, is this week’s Kristy Culek Agency, LLC- American Family Insurance Female Athlete of the Week. Gering has a 7-4 record going into Monday’s matches in Kearney. In Gering’s most recent win, a 3-0 victory at Scottsbluff, Philbrick scored two of the Bulldogs’ three goals. Philbrick, a striker who has already committed to play soccer at UNK, has 16 goals for the season. She has one sister, Lauren, who is a sixth-grader. Taylor’s parents are Angela and Trent Philbrick.
Q: How do you feel Gering has played so far this soccer season?
PHILBRICK: “As a team, we’ve been working really well together, and I think that’s helped us a lot. Everyone is doing great this year.”
Q: What’s been the most exciting win so far for Gering?
PHILBRICK: “Definitely Hastings when we beat them in the GNAC Tournament. That was crazy for us. They were ranked higher than us, so we knew that they were really good. They have a couple Division I players, but we played really well together as a team. We weren’t being selfish. We were playing together, and that really helped us a lot. That was a huge win.”
Q: Two of Gering’s wins have come against the Bulldogs’ rival, Scottsbluff. How exciting is that?
PHILBRICK: “We treat all of our games the same, but we feel that there’s more pressure on us playing our rivals because we really want to win. I think we were more confident going into [Gering’s most recent match against Scottsbluff] than the first time we played them. We didn’t really know what to expect our first time playing them because they had lost some people [to graduation], and we did, too. But we won that game, so we were more confident going into this most recent game. But it’s still Scottsbluff, and it’s a huge rivalry, so we were still a little nervous.”
Q: How do you feel like you’ve performed so far this season?
PHILBRICK: “I definitely feel like this has been my best season so far.”
Q: How much fun are you having this season?
PHILBRICK: “It’s been a lot of fun. We’re a family, and we really support each other no matter what. We’re not selfish. We’re happy for each other. We just care about improving as a team and trying to win subdistricts and districts to get to state. That’s our ultimate goal. To do that, we know that we have to be a family and be happy for one another. It’s been an amazing season so far.”
Q: I know you’re pretty much a year-round soccer player. How much has that benefitted you?
PHILBRICK: “I think it’s been paying off a lot. I’m putting a lot of my time into soccer, and I’m finally starting to see the results that I wanted to see. But I want to keep getting better.”
Q: Outside of sports, what do you enjoy doing?
PHILBRICK: “I really love just being with my family. I love my family.”
Q: What kind of things do you enjoy doing as a family?
PHILBRICK: “We’ll go out and eat sometimes and we’ll watch a movie together. We also like to play a lot of games at my house. We’re very competitive, but it’s a lot of fun.”
Q: What other activities are you involved with in school besides sports?
PHILBRICK: “FCA.”
Q: What do you enjoy about being involved with FCA?
PHILBRICK: “I just think it’s really important to me to remember that the reason I’m doing what I am is for God. Also, Josh Hiatt kind of started the program up again, and he’s doing a great job.”
Q: What’s your favorite class in school?
PHILBRICK: “Definitely not math. I would say physiology. I really enjoy that kind of stuff – learning about the body.”
Q: Which teacher has influenced you the most during your educational career?
PHILBRICK: “Probably Mrs. [JoAnn] Wilson. She’s my accounting teacher. I’ve had her for two years, and she is the nicest teacher ever. I feel comfortable telling her anything. She’s the sweetest lady ever.”
Q: What kind of music do you like to listen to?
PHILBRICK: “I like country music.”
Q: Do you feel like you use your cell phone a lot?
PHILBRICK: “Yes – probably more than I should. [laughs]”
Q: What’s your favorite cell phone app?
PHILBRICK: “Twitter probably.”
Q: For you and your friends, what is the coolest place to hang out around the Gering/Scottsbluff area?
PHILBRICK: “We love the new movie theater seats. Other than that, probably Dairy Queen.”
Q: In your opinion, who is the kindest person at Gering High School?
PHILBRICK: “Faith Kennedy [a junior] is the nicest person ever. She walks down the hall, and she says ‘Hi’ to everybody. She’s always in the best mood ever. It’s just really amazing. Everyone knows who Faith Kennedy is.”
Q: What’s your favorite place to eat in the Scottsbluff/Gering area?
PHILBRICK: “Probably Applebee’s. I really like Applebee’s.”
Q: What is something that a teacher or a coach has told you that has really stuck with you?
PHILBRICK: “[Gering girls soccer coach Henri Preels] this year has been telling me that my work has been paying off, and that’s kept me motivated to keep working harder to improve.”
Q: Name one person who you think is a big difference-maker in your community.
PHILBRICK: “I would say Josh Hiatt [Gering High School football and soccer coach and teacher]. He wants the best for the football team, and he’s trying his hardest for the soccer team. Also, he started the FCA program up again and is really involved in that. He’s also doing summer weights for us. For this being his first year, he’s started up a lot, and he’s giving his full effort for all the students.”
NOTE: Area high school students named Athlete of the Week or Student of the Week will be included in the upcoming issue of Nspire Today! magazine. To sign up for a one-year subscription (12 issues), please send $15 to Nspire Today!, P.O. Box 454, Scottsbluff, NE 60363, or call 308-220-8865. If you would like to increase your subscription to $20, Nspire Today! will donate the extra $5 this month to the Golden Halo Foundation, which helps area children with long-term disabilities. Nspire Today!, a locally owned and operated business based out of Scottsbluff, focuses on positive, feel-good and inspiring content on people in the Panhandle and eastern Wyoming.
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.
