JEFF FIELDER Editor
SCOTTSBLUFF – Luke Rohrer, a junior on Scottsbluff High School’s track and field team, is this week’s Kristy Culek Agency, LLC-American Family Insurance Male Athlete of the Week. At Saturday’s Binfield Invite in Scottsbluff, Rohrer placed first in both the 110- and 300-meter hurdles. Going into Wednesday, Rohrer’s times in the 110 high hurdles (15.35 seconds) and 300 intermediate hurdles (41.88) both ranked second in Class B. Rohrer said he sometimes also runs on the 4×100 and 4×400 relays. Rohrer and his teammates will compete again Saturday in the Buffalo Bill Invite at North Platte. In addition to track and field, Rohrer competes in football.
Q: How do you feel like you performed in the Binfield Invite?
ROHRER: “For my first meet, I thought I performed pretty well. There’s some little things that I know I can do better, but all in all, it was all right.”
Q: How exciting was it to sweep the hurdles races?
ROHRER: “It was pretty exciting. I was happy with it. That’s always been my goal – to try to sweep the hurdles events. That’s the first time I’ve been able to do that.”
Q: Did you surprise yourself, or were you expecting to perform the way you did?
ROHRER: “I knew the Torrington kid (Bryan Lemmon) was really good. We’ve been competing against each other for a couple years. I knew he would be really tough in the 110s. In the 300 hurdles, I had no idea how that would go.”
Q: Were you ecstatic about your times?
ROHRER: “Yes, I was really happy with those times. Those are right around my best times from last year.”
Q: What are your goals for this season?
ROHRER: “This track season I definitely want to make it to state, and as far as times, I would like to break 15 in the 110s, and in the 300 hurdles, I would like to break 40 seconds. If I could do that, I would be really happy.”
Q: With how you performed in the Binfield Invite, did that boost your confidence a lot?
ROHRER: “Yes, it made me feel a lot better about things because going into the meet, we hadn’t had very many outdoor practices, so I was kind of nervous. We hadn’t gone over hurdles that many times. But it all worked out. I’m happy with how I competed.”
Q: How have your previous track and field seasons gone?
ROHRER: “They’ve been all right. My freshman season went OK. I was pretty successful, I thought, for being a freshman. My sophomore year went a little bit better. I didn’t compete at districts that well that season, so I didn’t make it to state, but it was still a good season overall.”
Q: How serious are you about track and field?
ROHRER: “I think I take track pretty seriously, especially since we have a really good team this year. We have a lot of good competitors on the team, so it should be an awesome season. Everyone – the coaches and the athletes – are really excited about our team’s potential.”
Q: How did you get involved with track and field?
ROHRER: “I’ve been in track for a long time. There was a track club here called the Lizards – it was for elementary school kids – and we would compete in one meet a year. I got involved in that because all my brothers were involved in track. I started hurdling when I was in seventh grade. I was awful at it at first. But I slowly progressed, and in eighth grade I got a little faster and a little bigger, and I made it to state that year for middle school. I think I got seventh place. Then after that, I really got hooked on it. Hurdling is fun.”
Q: What is your favorite meet to compete in?
ROHRER: “It’s either Broken Bow or Best in the West. Those two meets are really, really fun to compete in. I really like the environment in Broken Bow – it’s awesome – and the Best in the West meet is fun because everyone there is really good.”
Q: What made you decide to try hurdling in middle school?
ROHRER: “My seventh-grade year I signed up for it just because some of my friends were doing it. All of my brothers did it as well, so I figured I would try it.”
Q: I know you like hurdling the best, but which event would you least like to compete in?
ROHRER: “Definitely the mile or the two-mile. I’m not built for that endurance. It’s a killer.”
Q: So what would you do if your coach said, ‘Hey, we need somebody else to compete in the 2-mile run?’
ROHRER: “I would probably duck really fast and be like, ‘No, that’s not for me.’” [laughs]
Q: Which person on the team makes people laugh the most?
ROHRER: “I would have to say Jeremiah Delzer [a senior]. He’s fun to have around the team. He’s always in a good mood and is happy, and he always makes people laugh.”
Q: What is something that your coach has told you that has really stuck with you?
ROHRER: “[Assistant coach Linda Meininger] always says, ‘Keep going and work hard.’ She always says those two phrases – ‘keep going and work hard’ – and they’ve really stuck with me because that’s all you have to do in hurdles. You’ve got to put the work in, and you’ve got to keep going.”
Q: How much do enjoy competing as a Scottsbluff Bearcat?
ROHRER: “I love competing as a Bearcat. I would not want to run for any other team or school. I love Scottsbluff. You’re full of energy being around this program. All the coaches are great. It’s awesome.”
Q: What’s your favorite class?
ROHRER: “I love weight’s class. But other than that class, I enjoy English class. I like to learn that stuff. It’s fun.”
Q: During your years in school, which teacher has made the biggest impact in your life?
ROHRER: “I would probably have to say Mr. [Mark] Moran. He’s had a big impact on me. He was my American Government teacher. He’s a great coach, too. He’s always there. You can talk to him about anything. He’s awesome.”
Q: Were you born in Scottsbluff?
ROHRER: “Yes.”
Q: Have you enjoyed living in Scottsbluff?
ROHRER: “Yes, it’s a good, little town. I really like the support from people in the community. Like this past football season, it felt like we had the entire community behind us the entire season. And when we went to state, we had a big sendoff and a parade. It’s a good community to live in.”
Q: For you and your friends, what’s the best place to hang out in Scottsbluff?
ROHRER: “In middle school, it was Runza. Runza was the place to go and hang out with all your friends. Right now, it’s probably the middle school. You can just come to the parking lot and hang out.”
Q: What’s your favorite restaurant around here?
ROHRER: “Around here, I would say Scotty’s. It’s the best. Their burgers and fries are so good.”
Q: Name one person who you think makes a big difference in your community.
ROHRER: “Jake Roberts [the Associate Pastor at Monument Bible Church in Scottsbluff]. He goes to my church. He does so many nice things. Like one day I saw him at Taco Bell, and he was behind me, and he paid for my lunch. He just does little things like that. He’s very kind. He makes a big impact in this community.”
Q: Outside of school activities, what do you like to do for fun?
ROHRER: “I like traveling a lot. Also, I like to go backpacking. I like being outdoors and hanging out with my family.”
Q: If you could travel to any place in the world, where would you go?
ROHRER: “I would like to go to some place in Europe.”
Q: What’s the most exciting place that you’ve traveled to?
ROHRER: “I recently went to Puerto Rico for a week, and that was super awesome. It was a fun experience. It was just me and my brother.”
Q: What is something that you wish people would do more often?
ROHRER: “Just do the little things. It’s the little things that count, like making your bed, cleaning your room, and eating breakfast every day. All those little things make a big difference.”
Q: How many brothers and sisters do you have?
ROHRER: “I have four older brothers: Joey, 31; Sam, 29; Seth, 26; Daniel, 23.”
Q: What was it like growing up with four older brothers?
ROHRER: “It was hectic at times. It was a little rowdy – a lot of teasing and wrestling going on. But it was fun. It was awesome.”
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.
