JEFF FIELDER Editor
HARRISON – Tommy Watson, a senior on Sioux County High School’s football team, is this week’s Nspire Today! Male Athlete of the Week, sponsored by Kristy Culek Agency, LLC-American Family Insurance. Watson also competes in basketball and track & field (110 hurdles, 300 hurdles, triple jump, long jump). He also participates in FFA, speech, and One Acts. Watson scored seven touchdowns Friday – five rushing and two passing – to help the Warriors cruise past Sterling 48-8 in the first round of the 6-man state football playoffs. Sioux County (8-1) plays at Harvard this Friday at 2 p.m. in the quarterfinal round. His parents are Barb and Ty Watson.
Q: How pleased are you with how things have been going for Sioux County’s football team?
WATSON: “I’m really happy with how we’ve been doing. This is the first time we’ve been to the playoffs in about five years, so that’s huge for our team.”
Q: How exciting was it to get the first-round playoff win last week?
WATSON: “I thought it was the best team defensive game we’ve had all year. We only gave up one touchdown. I was really happy with how we played.”
Q: How do you feel about Sioux County’s chances of beating Harvard?
WATSON: “I think we have a good chance. They are a really good team. They’re undefeated, and they’re the No. 2-ranked team. But we know what it’s like to play a really good team, so we’re prepared for this one.”
Q: What has helped Sioux County have such a successful season?
WATSON: “I think a lot of it is all of us putting in the work over the summer. In past years, some players didn’t want to come in because they would rather work on the ranch and or do other things, but this year everyone knew we had a chance to have a really good season if everyone worked hard. So, everybody decided that they wanted to come in and lift and run and just get prepared for the season. That really helped us get off to a good start.”
Q: How special has this season been for you, especially being a senior?
WATSON: “It’s been a very special season. I couldn’t ask to be on a better team or have a better way to go out.”
Q: How many years have you been starting?
WATSON: “All four years.”
Q: What positions do you play?
WATSON: “I’ve played a lot of positions. I’ve mainly played quarterback, running back and linebacker. But I’ve also played safety and wide receiver.”
Q: What are your plans after you graduate from high school?
WATSON: “I’m thinking about going to play football in college and maybe pursuing an engineering degree. I’m not sure where yet, but that’s my plan.”
Q: What do you hope to do for a career?
WATSON: “I live on a ranch right now, so I would really like to take that over at some point. But until then, I would like to be an engineer for a big corporation. I’ve also thought about being an athletic trainer for a college.”
Q: Do you and your family live in Harrison?
WATSON: “No, with my mom, we live about 30 miles southeast on a ranch. With my dad, I live about 5 miles south of Crawford. There we only own horses, but he has a construction company [Watson Construction Company out of Crawford] that I work on.”
Q: How much have you enjoyed growing up in that area?
WATSON: “I really like living the ranch life. There’s not much to do in the town of Harrison, so when we want to go to a movie or go bowling or anything like that, we’ll travel south to Scottsbluff.”
Q: Outside of your school activities, what do you like to do for fun?
WATSON: “I like to play sports, lift weights, and I like to go hunting and fishing. I also enjoy working on the ranch. I like to spend most of my time outdoors.”
Q: What is your favorite TV show?
WATSON: “I like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Family Guy, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.”
Q: What is your favorite type of music?
WATSON: “It kind of depends on the day, but I like country, rap – a little bit of everything.”
Q: What is your favorite non-sports activity?
WATSON: “FFA, for sure. I’m the secretary for our FFA chapter.”
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in the area?
WATSON: “Probably the Village Barn [in Harrison]. That’s the only actual restaurant in Harrison besides the bar. That’s my favorite one.”
Q: How would you describe that restaurant?
WATSON: “It’s really good. It has a little bit of everything, like Mexican food, American food and Chinese food. They have burgers, country fried steak, burritos, tacos, Lo Mein – a lot of good stuff.”
Q: What do you like to order there?
WATSON: “I like to order the Lo mein with shrimp. That’s my favorite, for sure.”
Q: If you could give a shoutout to one business in Harrison, which one would it be and why?
WATSON: “Probably D&S Market.”
Q: Name one person who you feel is a big difference-maker in your community.
WATSON: “Our principal, Dr. [Brett] Gies. He does a lot in town. Like [recently], they had a Goodwill fundraiser in our parking lot. Everybody brought stuff they don’t use anymore, and he had Goodwill send a truck here. We filled that completely full with stuff to send to Goodwill. He’s also helped to organize blood donations. Those are big things for the community.”
Q: Do you have any siblings?
WATSON: “Yes, I have one sister and I have two step sisters. My oldest sister is Becky, and she is 19 and is going to Chadron State. Another one of my sisters is Jillian, and she’s a junior. My youngest sister is Kiera. She is an eighth-grader.”
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. 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.
