How this exceptional athlete from a small Midwestern town became an exceptional role model
There’s a checklist for determining which athletes are most deserving of the BFS Female High School Athlete of the Year. We’re looking for an exceptional multi-sport athlete, a great student and a person of exceptional character. Many times, our candidates have traits that are extra exceptional: 2004 winner Sarah Cardinal could clean and jerk 220 pounds, and 2005 winner Valerie Davis had a full plate of charitable activities. What sets our 2006 winner, Jennifer Walter, apart is the wide spectrum of her achievements.
Jennifer is an exceptional athlete who last year was selected all state in track and volleyball, and all conference in basketball, where she was chosen team captain. She’s strong and fast, with a 145-pound power clean at 126 pounds bodyweight, and a 4.9 forty. She’s smart, with a 3.97 GPA; and she’s active in school functions, including duties as treasurer for her student council. To top things off, Jennifer donates her spare time in working with children at her church. All these things put together make her a role model for all studentathletes and the young woman that BFS judged worthy of BFS’s highest praise.
Jennifer is a student at Huntley Project High School, a school in Worden, Montana, that serves 278 students in grades 9-12. Many of the Huntley Project teachers have been with the school for a long time, and their school has close ties to nearby lower-level schools that feed the high school. Overall, there’s a sense of family that makes Huntley Project special. One teacher who exemplifies this idea is Iona Stookey, the women’s volleyball coach for 17 years and the assistant women’s basketball coach for 11 years. Coach Stookey has been working with Jennifer continually since the fifth grade.
“I would say that in all my years here, Jennifer Walter is the best athlete that has come through this school, hands down,” says Stookey. “Even as a fifth grader, Jennifer was already very athletic and a great leader among her peers.” Jennifer was on the varsity volleyball team as a freshman, and that year they won state, going 36-0; the next year they won state again with a 35-0 record. Their winning streak lasted 99 games, and Coach Stookey says that Jennifer played a significant part in all the matches up to that point. “I use Jennifer as a setter, and she is so quick to the ball and such a smart player that she makes the other girls look good too.”
Stookey says that in addition to Jennifer’s physical skills, she “plays to win and brings fire and leadership to the team. We had a situation when we were down 20-11 and Jen took NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006 control and helped us win 25-22.” “We have had the BFS program at our school for about 10 years, although it was never full-fledged in our weightroom,” says Mark Wandle, a history teacher who runs the weight training program and also coaches wrestling, track and football. “I came here seven years ago, and we had a group of young men and several young women who have utilized the weight program and BFS standards to accomplish great things.”
Says Jennifer, “In my sophomore year in track season I knew I needed to get stronger, so I started taking the weight training program more seriously. Not only did I get stronger – I could definitely tell a difference this year in the state track meet – but I also found the workouts made me much quicker for my other sports as well.” Wandle, who regularly tests all his athletes against BFS “The advice I would give other parents is to make sure you know your kids. Talk to them, and get involved in what they are doing – go watch!”
standards, says that Jennifer’s best results include the following: power clean, 145; squat, 225; bench, 130; Dot Drill, 52.1; forty, 4.9; twenty, 2.71; and vertical jump, 24 inches.
Jennifer and her teammates Bryan Waldhauser (left), Jared Jackson and Tiffany Moullet show off their medals from the Business Professionals of America competition in Florida.
(Above and Right) Jennifer has always been involved in sports, and is taking it to the next level with the BFS program.
44.44; 400-meter dash, 58.02; 100 hurdles, 15.1. She says her best event is the 300-meter hurdles. As for her least favorite, she says without hesitation, “I hate the 400!” Jennifer’s mother, Elizabeth, says that she and her husband, Paul, always encouraged their children to do their best and to work hard. “The advice I would Jennifer with sister Bethany give other parents is to make sure you know your kids. Talk to them, and get involved in what they are doing – go watch!” Jennifer agrees and says this attitude applies not just to sports, but also carries over to schoolwork.
“My parents —JENNIFER WALTER pushed me to do my best, and to me, nothJennifer works with children at a local church focus – and she doesn’t know a single ing less than straight A’s are good enough for them. I want my song of the Pussycat Dolls. Jennifer and my freshman year I’d see maybe two or her family say they occasionally watch parents to be proud of me.” three girls in the weightroom, but now television together as a family; but when After high school, Jennifer plans to there can be as many as 20 at a time!”
pressed, neither Jennifer nor her mother go to college and major in business or Wandle has known Jennifer since can remember the last time they watched some aspect of the medical field, perhaps junior high school, where he started her nursing. One of her academic highlights is TV or what show they saw. with light weights to perfect her lifting Although many young people idoltechnique, not worrying about how much this year going to Florida to compete in a ize people in the entertainment industry, national event sponJennifer says her role models have always sored by the Business been her brother and her sisters. “I Professionals of always wanted to be just like them.” And America.
Her team now, as a role model herself, she offers placed fifth in the Jennifer this advice to young girls: “Follow your financial analysis Walter’s Family dreams and work hard at whatever you competition. Support Group (left to want to do – never stop working hard!” Jennifer’s right): Sister Kristin, parents Elizabeth and Paul, Jennifer could afford to be cocky spare time is Jennifer with neice Jade, about her accomplishments, but Coach spent with her sister Bethany, niece Jaylyn, Stookey says that’s just not what she is family, volunweight was on the bar. With sister-in-law Marlo, brother teering at the Zoe about.
“Jennifer isn’t arrogant about all Jennifer’s 10 individual state Randy, and brother-inlaw Chris (not her success – she walks around with a Bible Church, titles in running events, Wandle pictured). where she works with smile on her face and will bend over believes that track would be the backwards for anyone.” With that type of preschool children – and best sport for her to focus on in colendorsement, Jennifer Walter has earned just like most teens, some serious shoplege. Jennifer’s best times include the folour congratulations as 2006 BFS Female ping. Most of the books she reads and lowing: 100-meter dash, 12.27; High School Athlete of the Year.
200-meter dash, 25.5; 300-meter hurdles, music she listens to have a Christian Although Jennifer is now a firm believer in weight training, she admits that when she started she worried she was going to get bulky. Not any longer. “I now know that this type of weight training program won’t make me huge,” says Jennifer. “I’m stronger and toned, but I don’t think my appearance has changed much.” She also says other girls have gotten bitten by the weightlifting bug. “In and work hard at whatever you want to do – never stop working hard!”
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From BFS Magazine — November/December 2006. Part of the BFS Magazine Archive (1980–2014).
