JEFF FIELDER Editor
MITCHELL – Jayden Kanno, a senior at Mitchell High School, has been named Nspire Today!’s Female Athlete of the Week, sponsored by Kristy Culek Agency, LLC-American Family Insurance. Kanno is entering her fourth year as a starter on the Tigers’ varsity volleyball team. She’s a right-side defensive specialist. In basketball, Kanno has started two years, and in track and field she competes in the 100, 200, and 4×100 relay. Also this school year, she’s participating in National Honor Society, Tigers Committed, and FBLA. She has a 3.7 GPA. After she graduates from high school, she plans to attend either Chadron State College or the University of Wyoming. She wants to be a veterinarian. Her parents are Eliasar and Michael Kanno. For being named an Athlete of the Week, Kanno will receive a gift card for a free drink at Scooter’s Coffee.
Q: How excited are you for this volleyball season?
KANNO: “I’m really excited for this season. I’m also kind of sad, though, because it’s my senior year, and I don’t know what’s going to happen with all this coronavirus stuff. But I’m just glad we get to play. I’m so close with my teammates. I love spending every minute I can with them, and we play so well together on the court.”
Q: What are your goals this season?
KANNO: “One of my goals is to be a good leader for all the underclassmen coming up. Also, I want to play as hard as I can each game. I also want us to make it to state. I think we have a good chance to make it to sate. If we keep improving, I think we’ll get there.”
Q: How much do you enjoy being a right-side defensive specialist?
KANNO: “I really like it. I think that role fits me perfectly.”
Q: Up to this point, what’s been your top athletic highlight?
KANNO: “I think my top highlight is making it to state in basketball when I was playing with my sister, Kenzey, [during Jayden’s sophomore year].”
Q: How strong do you think the Mitchell girls basketball team will be this year?
KANNO: “I think we’ll be very strong. We have most of our girls back from last season. I think if we work hard, we could be way better than last year. Basketball is my favorite sport, so I would definitely love to make it to state my senior year in basketball.”
Q: Why is basketball your favorite sport?
KANNO: “I really like playing basketball because I grew up with it. I’ve played basketball since second grade. Ever since my dad started coaching me, I’ve enjoyed it more and more.”
Q: What will your goals be during your final track and field season?
KANNO: “I just want to try my hardest in track. I know I’m not that fast, but I still want to work hard. I like to push my teammates to be better, too. I think one of my biggest goals is to make it to the Best in the West meet in the 100 and 4×100 relay. Those are my two favorite events.”
Q: Talk about why you want to be a veterinarian?
KANNO: “I’ve always loved animals, and I grew up on a farm. We had animals, and I helped my dad take care of the cows and dogs, and we also had a horse. So, that’s a big reason I’ve wanted to be a veterinarian.”
Q: What is something that a coach has told you or your team that has really stuck with you?
KANNO: “What coaches in Mitchell say all the time is that good kids come first, and athletes come second. That’s what has really stuck out to me. They want us to work hard in the classroom and be good kids no matter how things are going in sports. They’ve also emphasized to us that if we feel tempted to make a bad decision, we need to think about everything. So, it’s taught me to be a good kid first, and doing that has helped me become a better athlete.”
Q: What is your favorite non-sports activity at school?
KANNO: “I would say Tigers Committed because it’s a group of athletes, and we work hard to lead the school. A lot of younger kids look up to us a lot. When little kids look up to me, it makes me strive to be an even better person overall.”
Q: What is your favorite class?
KANNO: “The class I’m most excited about is anatomy and physiology because I love the teacher, and the way she teaches it makes it really fun. Also, learning about all the stuff that goes on in the body really fascinates me.”
Q: During your educational career, which teacher do you feel has made the biggest influence on you?
KANNO: “I would say Mrs. Liliana Rada. She’s a Spanish teacher. I think she’s made a big influence on me because she’s a genuinely kind person to everyone. She always finds the good in people. I love that about her.”
Q: What do you like to do for fun outside of your school activities?
KANNO: “I like to hang out with my friends.”
Q: What is your favorite local restaurant?
KANNO: “The Steel Grill in Gering.”
Q: What do you like to order there?
KANNO: “Steak nachos.”
Q: What do you think is the coolest attraction in the WyoBraska region?
KANNO: “The Monument because I like to go hiking up there with my friends.”
Q: Name one person who you think is a big difference-maker in your community?
KANNO: “I would say Michelle Peters. Everyone looks up to her. She’s a great leader in the school. Also, she helped me a lot when I came to Mitchell High School, and I really appreciated that.”
Q: Who do you think is one of the kindest students at your school?
KANNO: “I think one of the kindest students is Marjie Schmitt. She’s a junior. She always has a smile on her face; she’s always so happy. I love seeing her. She always fills the room with positivity, and I love that about her.”
Q: Do you work?
KANNO: “I worked at the Mitchell pool.”
Q: If you could give a shoutout to one local business, which one would it be and why?
KANNO: “I would say RedZ restaurant in Mitchell. I really like their food, and their service is really good, too.”
Q: Do you have any siblings?
KANNO: “Yes, Kenzey. She’s a sophomore at Chadron State.”
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.
