JEFF FIELDER Editor
SCOTTSBLUFF – Trayton Travnicek of Minatare, a senior on Scottsbluff High School’s football team, is Nspire Today!’s Male Athlete of the Week, sponsored by Kristy Culek Agency, LLC-American Family Insurance. The 6-foot-2, 260-pound Travnicek starts at nose guard on defense, and on offense he plays right tackle and also is in the backfield on certain plays. Travnicek is in his first year as a full-time starter. Scottsbluff (12-0) will battle Omaha Skutt (12-0) on Monday night at 6:15 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln in the Class B state championship game. Scottsbluff lost to Omaha Skutt 48-27 in last year’s state title game. In addition to football, Travnicek competes in the Nebraska High School Rodeo Association. He also plans to wrestle this school year. His parents are Tommy and Heather Travnicek.
Q: How much have you enjoyed this season?
TRAVNICEK: “I’ve had a lot of fun this season. It’s been the best year I’ve ever played.”
Q: How does it feel to be going back to the state championship game?
TRAVNICEK: “It feels good. Us seniors have a responsibility to make sure everybody is hyped up and thinking the right way. We’re ready.”
Q: Talk about the challenge of facing Omaha Skutt.
TRAVNICEK: “We’re going to go in confident, and we’re going to play as hard as we can. It should be a great game.”
Q: How does Omaha Skutt look this year?
TRAVNICEK: “They’re a lot like us. They run the ball well, and they can throw the ball, too. It’s going to be a really tough game. I think it will be either a really high scoring game or a low scoring game.”
Q: Has Scottsbluff talked about getting revenge in this game?
TRAVNICEK: “Not really. We’re just going into it like it’s just another game.”
Q: How does it feel going into this year’s state championship game versus going into last year’s title game?
TRAVNICEK: “I think our team is more confident this year. Since we were there last year, we know what to expect this year.”
Q: How does this year’s Scottsbluff football team compare to last year’s team?
TRAVNICEK: “We had a lot of good players last year, too, that we lost [to graduation]. But I think we’ve played just as well this year.”
Q: Are you surprised at all with just how well Scottsbluff has played this season?
TRAVNICEK: “I’m not surprised because we went into every game feeling like we were going to play really well.”
Q: What’s been the biggest key to Scottsbluff’s success this season?
TRAVNICEK: “We’ve been in great condition. We ran a lot at the beginning of the year, so we were ready to play longer and harder than the other teams. Also, we’ve been really mentally focused on the games.”
Q: How’s your school year been going?
TRAVNICEK: “It’s been going well. I’ve been taking some college classes because I plan to go to college for welding.”
Q: Where do you plan to go to college?
TRAVNICEK: “I’ve had a few colleges talk to me about rodeo, and all of them have good welding facilities, too. I’m considering Torrington, Cheyenne, McCook or Chadron.”
Q: How many years have you been participating in rodeo?
TRAVNICEK: “I’ve done rodeo pretty much all my life. I started when I was 4 or 5 years old. It’s been a big thing in my dad’s family, and I’ve carried it on.”
Q: Why do you enjoy rodeo so much?
TRAVNICEK: “I just love it, and my family really loves it, too. We have the horses to do everything, and we have the facilities.”
Q: What events do you compete in?
TRAVNICEK: “I steer wrestle, team rope, and calf rope.”
Q: How successful have you been?
TRAVNICEK: “I’ve gone to state two out of the three years I’ve been in rodeo so far at the high school level. I also went to nationals when I was a seventh and eighth grader. I’ve gotten some buckles, so I’ve been pleased with how things have gone.”
Q: In the fall, how do you manage competing in both football and rodeo?
TRAVNICEK: “Rodeos are usually on Saturdays and Sundays, so after the football games, I usually drive most of the night and go to the rodeo the next morning. We’ll compete all over the state of Nebraska. The farthest one I’ve been to was Bloomfield, which is in the northeastern part of the state. That was a drive.”
Q: How tough is it making time for school, football and rodeo?
TRAVNICEK: “It’s usually not too bad. I’m able to keep my grades up.”
Q: Have you thought about trying to play football in college?
TRAVNICEK: “I’ve had a couple colleges talk to me about it, but I’m not planning on it.”
Q: What do you like better – football or rodeo?
TRAVNICEK: “I really like rodeo. My biggest goal has always been to make it to the national finals rodeo.”
Q: Outside of sports, what do you like to do for fun?
TRAVNICEK: “I farm, too. That’s what my grandparents do on my mom’s side, so I usually work there.”
Q: So where do you live?
TRAVNICEK: “I live north of Minatare on a farm. We have an arena and stuff where I practice.”
Q: How much do you enjoy living and working on the farm?
TRAVNICEK: “I love it. My grandparents have the Adams Family Pumpkin Patch and Christmas trees, so it’s fun helping with that. My grandma [Cheryl Adams] loves doing it for the kids.”
Q: What would you like to do for a career?
TRAVNICEK: “I’m planning to do something in the ag industry.”
Q: How much have enjoyed living in this area?
TRAVNICEK: “I really like it. I have a lot of friends here. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.”
Q: What’s one place you recommend people visit in the WyoBraska area?
TRAVNICEK: “I would say either the Monument or Chimney Rock. Both of those are pretty cool.”
Q: Which coach has made the biggest impact on you in your athletic career?
TRAVNICEK: “Coach [Derek] Deaver and Coach [Joe] Benson. They always encouraged me.”
Q: What is your favorite class this year?
TRAVNICEK: “My college welding class. It’s a lot of fun.”
Q: Who do you think is the kindest student at Scottsbluff High School?
TRAVNICEK: “The kindest student would probably be my friend, Jakob Ratliff. He’s really friendly.”
Q: What is your favorite TV show?
TRAVNICEK: “My favorite TV show is probably ‘Trailer Park Boys.’”
Q: Favorite type of music?
TRAVNICEK: “Country.”
Q: Which player on Scottsbluff’s football team makes people laugh the most?
TRAVNICEK: “I would say Caleb Walker.”
Q: What is one thing you wish people would do more of?
TRAVNICEK: “Probably just think more positive.”
Q: Favorite local restaurant?
TRAVNICEK: “Backaracks.”
Q: What do you like to order there?
TRAVNICEK: “Just a normal cheeseburger.”
Q: If you could give a shoutout to one business in Scottsbluff, which one would it be and why?
TRAVNICEK: “I would give a shoutout to Warehouse Fitness because Isaac Holscher does a great job. I went to him last year after school, and he helped me get a lot bigger and a lot faster. I recommend other athletes go there to work out. It’s a great environment there.”
Q: Do you have any siblings?
TRAVNICEK: “Yes, I have a younger brother [Trace, 16] and a younger sister [Tallee, 11].”
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.comor 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. If you would like to increase your subscription to $20, Nspire Today! will donate the extra $5 in November to the Veterans and Military Families Emergency Relief Organization.
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.
