JEFF FIELDER Editor
HEMINGFORD – Brian Turek, a junior on Hemingford High School’s football team, is this week’s Nspire Today! Male Athlete of the Week, sponsored by Kristy Culek Agency, LLC-American Family Insurance. Turek plays quarterback and middle linebacker for the Bobcats, who advanced to the first round of the Class D-1 state football playoffs and finished the season with a 5-4 record. In addition to football, he also competes in basketball and track & field. He also participates in FFA and student council. His parents are Troy and Molly Turek.
Q: Are you pleased with how this season went for the Hemingford football team?
TUREK: “We had a decent year. We had some ups and downs, but the togetherness of the team really brought back the good in those bad times. We accomplished a lot of the things we wanted to accomplish.”
Q: What were the team’s goals coming into the season?
TUREK: “Of course it was to make the playoffs, but it was also to get the district title. We came up short with that, but we still made the playoffs.”
Q: Hemingford has had a lot of success in football over the years. How gratifying was it to keep that tradition of success going this year?
TUREK: “Yes, we’ve had a pretty good football program the past 10 years or so. That’s the standard and the tradition and the culture that we want to maintain.”
Q: What was the biggest highlight of the season for Hemingford?
TUREK: “Probably the biggest highlight of the season was after our loss to Sutherland, we fought back and got the job done [winning the next three games]. We ended up going to the playoffs and had a good attitude and finished the season the best we could.”
Q: What were the strengths of this year’s team?
TUREK: “I think our biggest strength was our line. We have a very explosive line. They did very well with their jobs, so we were able to run the ball really well in those last three games.”
Q: How many years have you been a starter on the football team?
TUREK: “Three years.”
Q: Have you played quarterback and middle linebacker throughout high school?
TUREK: “My freshman year I was a defensive back, but I still played quarterback on offense.”
Q: Are you happy with how you performed this season?
TUREK: “Yes. I knew if I did my job to the best of my ability, I would be happy no matter what the result was.”
Q: Which side of the ball – offense or defense – do you enjoy playing on more?
TUREK: “That’s a good question because I really like playing on both sides.”
Q: How many seniors were on this year’s team?
TUREK: “Eight.”
Q: What’s the outlook for next year’s Hemingford football team?
TUREK: “We’ll have some good returners, and we’ll have some pretty talented younger guys stepping up. So, I think we’ll have another good season next year.”
Q: Has your focus shifted to the basketball season yet?
TUREK: “Yes. I’m on to basketball now. I’m ready to go.”
Q: What’s your expectations for Hemingford’s basketball team this year?
TUREK: “We’ll be young, but I think we’re pretty talented. I think we’ll do all right. We’ll compete the best we can and, hopefully, we’ll have a great outcome.”
Q: What events do you compete in during the track and field season?
TUREK: “I usually do the long jump, 200, 4×100 relay and the 4×400 relay.”
Q: Which sport do you enjoy the most?
TUREK: “Probably football. Football teaches boys how to become men, and that’s probably my favorite thing about it.”
Q: Have you started thinking yet about what you want to do after you graduate from high school?
TUREK: “I’m not sure yet what I want to go into, but I would like to go to UNL.”
Q: Outside of your school activities, what do you like to do for fun?
TUREK: “I really like to play the piano and guitar. At home, I’ll kind of mess around with those. I also like to watch TV.”
Q: Have you always lived in the Hemingford area?
TUREK: “Yes, I have.”
Q: How much have you enjoyed growing up in the Hemingford area?
TUREK: “I’ve definitely enjoyed it. I’ve made a lot of great memories here, and I have a lot of good friends here.”
Q: What makes Hemingford special?
TUREK: “It’s the people. The people here are very supportive of one another.“
Q: What’s your favorite class this year?
TUREK: “My favorite class is probably Algebra II just because I’m pretty good in math. I like math.”
Q: Which student at Hemingford High School makes people laugh and smile the most?
TUREK: “There’s a few of them, but I would have to say Jake Sellman. He’s a senior. He played on the football team. He’s a character, for sure, and he always makes me smile. He’s a great person on and off the field. He’ll definitely make you smile.”
Q: Who do you think is the kindest student at Hemingford High School?
TUREK: “That’s a hard one to pick because there’s a lot of kind students here. But one student who I really admire a lot is Jayden Walker. He’s a senior, and he’s in one of my classes. I like the way he treats other people. He doesn’t mess around; he gets things done when he needs to get things done. He’s very kind to other people around him and makes other people smile. Also, he’s going into the Marines, so that shows what kind of person he is, too.”
Q: If you could give a shoutout to one business in Hemingford, which one would it be and why?
TUREK: “Village Pizza. They have really good food there.”
Q: What do you think is the coolest attraction in the WyoBraska area?
TUREK: “I would say Chimney Rock.”
Q: Do you have any siblings?
TUREK: “Yes. I have two older siblings – Brooke, 20; and Brady, 23.”
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 November to the Veterans and Military Families Emergency Relief Organization.
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.
