JEFF FIELDER Editor
SCOTTSBLUFF – Jade Walker, a senior at Scottsbluff High School, is this week’s Nspire Today! Female Athlete of the Week, sponsored by Kristy Culek Agency, LLC-American Family Insurance. During high school, she participated in volleyball (middle), cheerleading (captain), and track and field (high jump). She started three years in volleyball, and she was involved in track and field all four years of high school. Unfortunately, the track and field season this spring ended up being cancelled due to COVID-19. In cheerleading, Walker participated in that activity all four years of high school. She also was involved in National Honor Society, HOSA, and Math Club. She has a 3.9 GPA. After high school, Walker plans to take some classes this summer, and she’ll stay at WNCC this fall and next spring. She plans to graduate from WNCC in spring 2021. She then plans to transfer to UNL. She wants to pursue dental hygiene. Her parents are Terje and John Walker. For being named an Athlete of the Week, Jade will receive a gift card for a free drink at Scooter’s Coffee.
Q: I know you wish you could still be high jumping right now. How much do you miss participating in track and field?
WALKER: “I miss it a lot. It’s very disappointing [the season was cancelled]. Last year I almost made it to state. I was one place off. So, I was hoping this year I could make it to state, so it’s disappointing that I didn’t get that chance.”
Q: What was your best high jump last year?
WALKER: “It was 5-1.”
Q: What were your goals coming into this track and field season?
WALKER: “I wanted to get at least 5-4.”
Q: What had you been doing to prepare for this track and field season?
WALKER: “The high jump requires a lot of leg work, so I was doing a lot of leg-strengthening exercises and also working on my conditioning.”
Q: How much has track and field meant to you over the years?
WALKER: “I really liked track. It was different than any other sport I had done because of the atmosphere. I think it’s a really fun atmosphere for the athletes. Sitting at the meets all day, you get really close with the other athletes. It’s a very social sport, so that’s why I always liked it.”
Q: What is your top memory from your track and field career?
WALKER: “Probably when our team went to Broken Bow last year. It was a really fun meet. Everyone on our team – both the field and track athletes – had a really good time down there.”
Q: Describe the way your high school volleyball career went.
WALKER: “It was rough. Our team was never very good record-wise, but it was still very enjoyable to play, especially my senior year. We had a new coach, and she really helped me out. I have a lot of good memories from my volleyball career.”
Q: Individually, did you accomplish in volleyball what you had hoped to accomplish coming into high school?
WALKER: “Things went better than I thought they would individually. I didn’t expect to play varsity until maybe my junior year. So, to get that opportunity sooner than that was a lot of fun. I wasn’t expecting that.”
Q: How much fun have you had being a cheerleader the last four years?
WALKER: “It was a lot of fun. I’ve always done sports, but I had never done anything like dance or cheer. I decided to participate in cheer, and I ended up really liking it. Our team even got to go to California one year during Christmas, and the next year we got to go to Florida. So, those are my favorite memories [in cheerleading].”
Q: For you, what was the best part about being a cheerleader?
WALKER: “My favorite thing was when we did kid camps. The little girls really liked to cling on to you.”
Q: Talk a little more about how you got involved in cheerleading.
WALKER: “I transferred over to Scottsbluff in eighth grade, and at the end of eighth grade, I had a little friend group, and they all wanted to try out for cheer. So, I tried it, too, and I ended up making it, and I really liked it.”
Q: How would you describe the way your high school career has gone overall?
WALKER: “It was a good experience overall. It’s sad that it got cut short. It kind of makes you realize what you were taking advantage of. At one point, I was so ready to be done. But then when things were cut short, I was like, ‘Wow. It’s over now.’ It’s sad that it ended the way it did.”
Q: What is it that you’ve missed the most about being in school?
WALKER: “I just enjoy being in school. I enjoy learning, so at home it’s been different. I’m not really learning the material the same way. I’m kind of just running through it. In class, I felt like I was learning more.”
Q: How strange have the last few weeks been for you?
WALKER: “It’s very weird. It’s weird that it happened the year I graduated. This is going to be a story I’ll tell my kids – that we had to quarantine when I graduated.”
Q: What have you been doing to stay busy the last few weeks during the COVID-19 outbreak?
WALKER: “I like to hike, so I’ve been doing that. I’ll go up to the Wildcats and hike every day. Or I’ll do chores around the house. It’s been tough, though, not being able to do other things that I normally like to do. I like to be around people and hang out in groups, so this has been weird to me. I haven’t hung out in a group since this whole thing started.”
Q: You’re planning to go to WNCC. Why did you pick WNCC?
WALKER: “I like what WNCC has to offer, including the scholarships I’ve received.”
Q: What got you interested in going into dental hygiene?
WALKER: “When I was younger, I wanted to be an orthodontist. But then I realized I didn’t want to go to college for that long [to obtain that degree]. So, I picked dental hygiene instead because it would mean less time in school.”
Q: Outside of your school activities, what are some other things you enjoy doing for fun?
WALKER: “I spend a lot of time painting and drawing. I also like to do things outside.”
Q: Do you have any plans for this summer besides taking classes at WNCC?
WALKER: “I’m going to get a job. I had a job, but then I got busy. Now that I’m not as buys, I’d like to get a job again.”
Q: What kind of music do you enjoy listening to?
WALKER: “Indie.”
Q: What is your favorite TV show?
WALKER: “That’s a hard one because I don’t watch a lot of TV. But I would say the best show I’ve ever watched was ‘Prison Break.’”
Q: Who do you think is one of the kindest students at Scottsbluff High School?
WALKER: “I would say Gracee Michael. She’s a junior. I’ve never seen her be mean to someone, and I’ve never seen her in a bad mood. She’s always optimistic, and she’s always trying to find the best in everything.”
Q: During your educational career, which teacher do you feel has made the biggest influence on you?
WALKER: “I would say Mr. [Todd] Menghini. I really like how he teaches. It just sticks really well with me. I was never bored in his class. He always kept things interesting.”
Q: What is your favorite local restaurant?
WALKER: “TDO. I’ve been going there for a long time. Our family has always gone there. It’s really good.”
Q: What do you think is the coolest attraction in the WyoBraska region?
WALKER: “I’d say Lake Minatare. I like the lake.”
Q: If you could give a shoutout to one business in Scottsbluff, which one would it be and why?
WALKER: “Elite Physical Therapy because they always sponsor me. They’re so supportive.”
Q: What is one thing you wish people would do more of?
WALKER: “Keep the city clean because in the summer for cheer I had to pick up trash around town, and it’s very bad.”
Q: Do you have any siblings?
WALKER: “Landon. He’s a junior at the University of Wyoming.”
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.
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.
