JEFF FIELDER Editor
SCOTTSBLUFF – Paul Garcia, a junior at Scottsbluff High School, has been named Nspire Today!’s Male Athlete of the Week, sponsored by Kristy Culek Agency, LLC-American Family Insurance. For being selected as an athlete of the week, Garcia will receive a free drink at Scooter’s Coffee. Garcia captured a state championship in February at the Nebraska state tournament in Omaha. As a freshman [106], sophomore [113] and junior [120], he placed first at both districts and state. He finished this season with a 40-9 record. His career record is 114-23. His parents are Mike and Celeste Garcia.
Q: How thrilling was it to claim another state title?
GARCIA: “I think everybody thought I was going to have a lot of pressure because I was coming in as a two-time state champ. But I didn’t feel any pressure. It felt like another tournament to me.”
Q: Have your first three years of high school wrestling gone just like you hoped they would?
GARCIA: “When I was younger, I saw Colton Adams win a fourth state title. I knew then that I wanted to try to accomplish that, too. My freshman and sophomore years went really well. This year, though, was kind of an off year for me. I went to flight school, and I took two months off from wrestling. I had never done that before. When I came back, I didn’t feel the greatest. I just didn’t feel the same this season until about a week before districts.”
Q: Talk to me a little more about flight school.
GARCIA: “It was in Utah. I got my private pilot license [for single engine planes].”
Q: How did that come about?
GARCIA: “I got asked to take a couple tests with my ROTC. I got really high scores on them, and since I got high scores, I filled out an application. The paper came back, and I was one of 150 kids who got accepted into flight school out of thousands of kids all across the country from ROTC. I went [to flight school in Utah] right after school got out, and I came back in July.”
Q: How much fun did you have at flight school?
GARCIA: “It was hard at first. Being away from my parents was different. But it taught me how to take care of myself. I was one of the youngest kids who went into the program. It was quite an experience, especially being in Salt Lake City. There’s mountains everywhere, and you go over the lake. It was very beautiful.”
Q: What kind of plane did you fly?
GARCIA: “It was a single engine small aircraft called Diamond Star.”
Q: So do you have your private pilot’s license now?
GARCIA: “Yes, I do. I can fly any single engine aircraft. It’s kind of like a hobby license. It’s the first step to getting a commercial pilot license. I was able to do quite a bit of flying on my own.”
Q: How much flying have you done since you came back from flight school?
GARCIA: “I haven’t done a lot of flying, just because I’ve been busy with school and wrestling. But now that state is over, I’m definitely going to go flying pretty soon.”
Q: Are you going to compete in a spring sport?
GARCIA: “I’m thinking about doing soccer. Usually, though, I never stop wrestling, so I’m going to try to get on a couple wrestling teams. I’m going to try to get on the world team this year. The Junior Olympics is this year, so I’m going to try to get on that team this summer.”
Q: Are you just as passionate about wrestling as you’ve ever been?
GARCIA: “For awhile this year, I thought my passion wasn’t there anymore. But I kept working hard, and I definitely beat that passion back into myself. My passion, now, is the biggest it’s ever been because I realized how much it means to me.”
Q: How challenging will it be to win a fourth state title next season?
GARCIA: “I’m hungry for it right now. I’ve already started training for it. I’m going to try to be the best I can be next year. I think if I were to win again, that would help me [get a wrestling scholarship].”
Q: What’s the biggest thing you feel like you need to work on as a wrestler?
GARCIA: “I need to get bigger. This summer I’m going to be in the weight room all the time.”
Q: What do you feel are your biggest strengths in wrestling?
GARCIA: “I’m able to be coached pretty well. I love learning about the sport, like watching videos and learning new techniques. I believe that’s one of my strengths, along with my quickness.”
Q: What weight class do you think you’ll be at next year?
GARCIA: “Well, we’ll see how big I get. I think I’m going to try to be at 126 next year, but it’s most likely going to be 120 again.”
Q: What are your plans after you graduate from high school?
GARCIA: “I definitely want to go to college and get a degree in something – maybe in the medical field. I would also like to wrestle in college. Also, I’m thinking about going into the military – the Air Force Academy. But we’ll see how things go my senior year.”
Q: Besides wrestling, what do you like to do for fun?
GARCIA: “I like to fly planes. I’m in the flight club at the Scottsbluff airport. I like to fly, and I also like to collect rocks.”
Q: Have you taken any of your friends flying?
GARCIA: “I haven’t yet. I definitely would like to take some of my friends flying, but I haven’t asked them yet because I feel like they’re going to say ‘no’ for now. I’m going to perfect things before I try to get my friends out there.”
Q: What do your friends think about your ability to fly a plane?
GARCIA: “They love it.”
Q: How much have you enjoyed going to school in Scottsbluff?
GARCIA: “I love it. The atmosphere is really good. The school spirit is great, and everyone is awesome – from the teachers to the coaches to the kids to the lunch ladies and janitors. I love everything about Scottsbluff High School.”
Q: You’ve lived in Bayard your whole life. How much have you enjoyed living in Bayard?
GARCIA: “The drive to Scottsbluff can be not so great sometimes, especially when it snows. But I love the drive most of the time. It settles me down in the mornings, especially when you look out and see Chimney Rock and then the Bluffs. It’s great living in Bayard. It’s a great community. I have a lot of friends here.“
Q: What is your favorite class this year?
GARCIA: “My English class.”
Q: What is your favorite type of music?
GARCIA: “I like country.”
Q: What is your favorite TV show?
GARCIA: “Narcos.”
Q: What are your three favorite apps on your cell phone?
GARCIA: “Jimmy John’s, McDonalds, and Subway.”
Q: What is your favorite local restaurant?
GARCIA: “Antonio’s [in Scottsbluff]. I love Mexican food, and they have one of the biggest burritos in town.”
Q: What is one thing you wish people would do more of?
GARCIA: “I wish people would not bully other people, and I wish people would show more sportsmanship.”
Q: If you could give a shoutout to one local business, which one would it be and why?
GARCIA: “Definitely Scottsbluff Screenprinting. I love the people who work there. They’ve always treated me well and are always cheering me on.”
Q: Name one person who you think is a big difference-maker in the Scottsbluff community?
GARCIA: “Trey Blanco. He’s the owner of No Limit Nutrition, and he’s also my trainer. He’s also a trainer for many other kids at the high school, especially kids on the football team. I’ve been training with him ever since my freshman year. He’s definitely improved my speed and agility, and I’ve gotten a lot stronger. I owe a lot to him.”
Q: Do you have any siblings?
GARCIA: “I have a sister, Hilaria.”
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.
