JEFF FIELDER Editor
SCOTTSBLUFF – Anna Kelley, a sophomore at Scottsbluff High School, has been named Nspire Today!’s Female Athlete of the Week, sponsored by Kristy Culek Agency, LLC-American Family Insurance. Kelley won the Nebraska Class B girls state golf tournament last week in Gering, shooting a two-day score of 156 (81-77). She claimed first place in a playoff. Her performance helped Scottsbluff win the team title. Kelley was also the district champion. She was the state runner-up her freshman year. Kelley also competes in basketball [guard] and soccer [attacking mid-fielder). Also at school, she’s involved in DECA and FCA. She has a 4.0 GPA. Outside of school, she volunteers at Blessed Beginnings Early Childhood Center in Scottsbluff, and she also helps with the CatPack program. Her parents are Jane and Chris Kelley, and she has one brother, Nate, a seventh-grader at BMS. For being named an Athlete of the Week, Kelley will receive a gift card for a free drink at Scooter’s Coffee.
Q: Describe how it feels to be a state champion.
KELLEY: “It feels great. It’s nice knowing that all my hard work paid off.”
Q: What were your goals coming into the season?
KELLEY: “I wanted to win some tournaments here and there. I really wanted to win districts and state, but I also wanted to keep my score low so that my team could win.”
Q: How do you feel your season went overall?
KELLEY: “We won almost every tournament, and we ended winning districts and state. I felt like I improved quite a bit. I hit it like I’ve never hit it before.”
Q: How did you feel going into state?
KELLEY: “I felt relaxed. I knew I had a chance [to win]. I also play basketball and soccer, so I have that competitive mindset.”
Q: Did you get nervous at any point?
KELLEY: “I got a little nervous at some points. For the most part, though, I stayed relaxed.”
Q: How did you feel during the playoff at state?
KELLEY: “I wasn’t really nervous because I’ve been in close basketball games and soccer shootouts. So, I knew what I needed to do. I just stayed calm and hit the shots I needed to hit.”
Q: Talk about your reaction as soon as you won the state title.
KELLEY: “The team ran onto the green and hugged me. It felt good. I knew if I scored low enough, I would have a chance to win individually. Afterward, I thought, ‘Wow, my hard work really paid off.’”
Q: Before you entered high school, did you see yourself winning a state title in your first two years of high school?
KELLEY: “No. My eighth-grade year, I didn’t think I would win my first couple years, but I was hoping to win as a junior and a senior.”
Q: How much better do you feel you played this season compared to last year?
KELLEY: “Way better. I progressed a lot, especially with the mental part of it. My chipping and putting and hitting all got better, but the big thing was the mental game. I got more steady. I was more focused and more locked in when it mattered. I feel like I was a better all-around player this year.”
Q: How much did it help you and your team playing state on the course in Gering?
KELLEY: “I definitely think us and Gering had an advantage because we knew the course. This summer I got the course record there [64 during the Junior Tour], so I knew I had the ability to shoot low on that course.”
Q: How much did the weather – especially the strong winds – affect the golfers at state?
KELLEY: “On the first day, the winds were brutal. Our bags were blowing over every time we set them down. Putting was tough. It was a challenge for everyone. The second day was more like golfing weather. On the second day I knew I needed to cut down five to six strokes because I was four shots behind the leader [after the first day]. I knew I needed to keep getting birdies and pars.”
Q: How do you top your performance at state?
KELLEY: “I want to keep getting better for next season. Next year I would like to win another title.”
Q: Talk about how things went for the team this year.
KELLEY: “I think we all got a lot better. Me and Emily stayed pretty steady, and freshman Nielli Heinold helped a lot. She’ll be really good the next couple years. Halle Shaddick and Haley Holzworth got better, too. We all progressed through the year and really came together as a team during districts and state.”
Q: Was anyone on the team surprised that Scottsbluff won by such a large margin at state?
KELLEY: “I don’t think anyone thought we would win by 51 strokes. I thought we came out and performed our best.”
Q: After winning state last year, what gave Scottsbluff the drive to win another title this year?
KELLEY: “We’re so competitive. We practiced a lot. Even on weekends, we went out and played together. We didn’t even go to Homecoming because we were so driven to win state.
We just hung out as a team. We’re all very good friends.”
Q: What do you think made this team special?
KELLEY: “We’re all such good friends. We didn’t have any problems on the team. Our team chemistry was very good.”
Q: How did the team feel going into state?
KELLEY: “I think we were all confident. We knew we had the ability to shoot low.”
Q: Scottsbluff has a rich tradition of success in girls golf. How is the program able to keep excelling every year?
KELLEY: “We definitely have great coaches. Our head coach [Brock Ehler] really knows what he’s doing. He has us doing what we need to be doing. I think that’s a big part of it. He gives us the drive to work hard and succeed.”
Q: Have you shifted your attention to basketball yet?
KELLEY: “Yes, I’ve already started shooting. I’m really excited for the basketball season. I’m hoping we get a basketball season.”
Q: What are your goals for the basketball season?
KELLEY: “I just want to be able to contribute to the team any way I can.”
Q: How do you think the Scottsbluff girls will perform this basketball season?
KELLEY: “I think we have the potential to be better than last year. We lost some good players, but we have a lot of good players back, so I think we’ll still be pretty strong this year. Also, we have some freshmen coming up who will help, too.”
Q: What are your expectations for the soccer season?
KELLEY: “I’m pretty bummed that we didn’t get a season last year [due to COVID-19], so I’m really excited for this next season. I think we’ll have a pretty strong team.”
Q: You said you have a 4.0 GPA. How important is it to you to excel in the classroom?
KELLEY: “I think it’s really important for me to get good grades in school. I want to have a 4.0 all through high school and college. It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it.”
Q: What is your favorite non-sports activity at school?
KELLEY: “I like FCA and Bible studies.”
Q: Outside of your school activities, what do you like to do for fun?
KELLEY: “I usually go to the gym and shoot or play golf – something related to my sports.”
Q: What is your favorite post-game snack?
KELLEY: “Definitely something sweet and cold like ice cream.”
Q: Who is your favorite professional golfer?
KELLEY: “I like Jordan Spieth. I love what he can do in golf – he’s a really good golfer – and I also love what he does outside of golf.”
Q: If you could be president of the United States for one month, what would you try to accomplish?
KELLEY: “I would try to make world peace. I would try to make it a better place as far as how people treat each other.”
Q: What is something you’ve never done before that you would like to try?
KELLEY: “I’d like to try snowboarding. We snow ski all the time, but sometime I want to try snowboarding.”
Q: Do you have any pets?
KELLEY: “I have one dog. It’s a goldendoodle – half golden retriever and half poodle. Her name is Carly. She’s very shy and is a nervous dog. For example, we have wooden floors, and she gets nervous walking on it sometimes. She just does some weird things.”
Q: What are your three favorite apps on your cell phone?
KELLEY: “Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok.”
Q: What do you like best about living in Scottsbluff?
KELLEY: “I like how it’s a small town and that everyone knows everyone.”
Q: What do you hope to get for Christmas this year?
KELLEY: “A new phone – the iPhone 12.”
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.
