Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Jennifer WalterHow this exceptional athlete from a small Midwestern town became
an exceptional role model
BFS Female High SchoolAthlete of the Year
here’s a checklist for determin-ing which athletes are mostdeserving of the BFS Female
High School Athlete of the Year. We’relooking for an exceptional multi-sportathlete, a great student and a person ofexceptional character. Many times, ourcandidates have traits that are extraexceptional: 2004 winner Sarah Cardinalcould clean and jerk 220 pounds, and2005 winner Valerie Davis had a fullplate of charitable activities. What setsour 2006 winner, Jennifer Walter, apartis the wide spectrum of her achieve-ments.
Jennifer is an exceptional athletewho last year was selected all state intrack and volleyball, and all conference inbasketball, where she was chosen teamcaptain. She’s strong and fast, with a145-pound power clean at 126 poundsbodyweight, and a 4.9 forty. She’s smart,with a 3.97 GPA; and she’s active inschool functions, including duties astreasurer for her student council. To topthings off, Jennifer donates her spare
time in working with children at herchurch. All these things put togethermake her a role model for all student-athletes and the young woman that BFSjudged worthy of BFS’s highest praise.
Jennifer is a student at HuntleyProject High School, a school inWorden, Montana, that serves 278 stu-dents in grades 9-12. Many of theHuntley Project teachers have been withthe school for a long time, and theirschool has close ties to nearby lower-levelschools that feed the high school.Overall, there’s a sense of family thatmakes Huntley Project special. Oneteacher who exemplifies this idea is IonaStookey, the women’s volleyball coach for17 years and the assistant women’s bas-ketball coach for 11 years. CoachStookey has been working with Jennifercontinually since the fifth grade.
“I would say that in all my yearshere, Jennifer Walter is the best athletethat has come through this school, handsdown,” says Stookey. “Even as a fifthgrader, 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 theywon state, going 36-0; the next year theywon state again with a 35-0 record. Theirwinning streak lasted 99 games, andCoach Stookey says that Jennifer playeda significant part in all the matches up tothat point. “I use Jennifer as a setter, andshe is so quick to the ball and such asmart player that she makes the othergirls look good too.” Stookey says that inaddition to Jennifer’s physical skills, she“plays to win and brings fire and leader-ship to the team. We had a situationwhen we were down 20-11 and Jen took
BFS SUCCESS STORY
12 | BIGGER FASTER STRONGER NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006
BY KIM GOSS
T
control and helped us win 25-22.”“We have had the BFS program at
our school for about 10 years, although itwas never full-fledged in our weight-room,” says Mark Wandle, a historyteacher who runs the weight trainingprogram and also coaches wrestling,track and football. “I came here sevenyears ago, and we had a group of youngmen and several young women who haveutilized the weight program and BFSstandards to accomplish great things.”
Says Jennifer, “In my sophomoreyear in track season I knew I needed
to get stronger, so I started takingthe weight training program moreseriously. Not only did I getstronger – I could definitely tell a
difference this year in the statetrack meet – but I also found the work-outs made me much quicker for myother sports as well.” Wandle, who regu-larly tests all his athletes against BFS
standards, says that Jennifer’s best resultsinclude the following: power clean, 145;squat, 225; bench, 130; Dot Drill, 52.1;forty, 4.9; twenty, 2.71; and verticaljump, 24 inches.
“The advice Iwould give otherparents is to makesure you knowyour kids. Talk tothem, and getinvolved in whatthey are doing –go watch!”
—ELIZABETH WALTER
www.bigger fasterstronger.com 1-800-628-9737 | 13
dean
hen
dric
kson
BFS SUCCESS STORY
14 | BIGGER FASTER STRONGER NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006
Jennifer and her team-mates BryanWaldhauser (left), JaredJackson and TiffanyMoullet show off theirmedals from theBusiness Professionalsof America competitionin Florida.
(Above and Right) Jennifer has always been involved in sports, and is taking itto the next level with the BFS program.
Jennifer Walter
Although Jennifer is now a firmbeliever in weight training, she admitsthat when she started she worried she wasgoing to get bulky. Not any longer. “Inow know that this type of weight train-ing program won’t make me huge,” saysJennifer. “I’m stronger and toned, but Idon’t think my appearance has changedmuch.” She also says other girls have got-ten bitten by the weightlifting bug. “In
my freshman year I’d see maybe two orthree girls in the weightroom, but nowthere can be as many as 20 at a time!”
Wandle has known Jennifer sincejunior high school, where he started herwith light weights to perfect her liftingtechnique, not worrying about how much
weight was on the bar. WithJennifer’s 10 individual statetitles in running events, Wandlebelieves that track would be thebest sport for her to focus on in col-lege. Jennifer’s best times include the fol-lowing: 100-meter dash, 12.27;200-meter dash, 25.5; 300-meter hurdles,
44.44; 400-meter dash, 58.02; 100 hur-dles, 15.1. She says her best event is the300-meter hurdles. As for her leastfavorite, she says without hesitation, “Ihate the 400!”
Jennifer’s mother, Elizabeth, saysthat she and her husband, Paul, alwaysencouraged their children to do their bestand to work hard. “The advice I wouldgive other parents is to make sure you
know your kids. Talkto them, and getinvolved in what theyare doing – gowatch!” Jenniferagrees and says thisattitude applies notjust to sports, but alsocarries over to school-work. “My parentspushed me to do mybest, and to me, noth-ing less than straight
A’s are good enough for them. I want myparents to be proud of me.”
After high school, Jennifer plans togo to college and major in business orsome aspect of the medical field, perhapsnursing. One of her academic highlights isthis year going to Florida to compete in a
national event spon-sored by the BusinessProfessionals ofAmerica. Her teamplaced fifth in thefinancial analysis
competition.Jennifer’s
spare time isspent with herfamily, volun-
teering at the ZoeBible Church,
where she works withpreschool children – and
just like most teens, some serious shop-ping. Most of the books she reads andmusic she listens to have a Christian
focus – and she doesn’t know a singlesong of the Pussycat Dolls. Jennifer andher family say they occasionally watchtelevision together as a family; but whenpressed, neither Jennifer nor her mothercan remember the last time they watchedTV or what show they saw.
Although many young people idol-ize people in the entertainment industry,Jennifer says her role models have alwaysbeen her brother and her sisters. “Ialways wanted to be just like them.” Andnow, as a role model herself, she offersthis advice to young girls: “Follow yourdreams and work hard at whatever youwant to do – never stop working hard!”
Jennifer could afford to be cockyabout her accomplishments, but CoachStookey says that’s just not what she isabout. “Jennifer isn’t arrogant about allher success – she walks around with asmile on her face and will bend overbackwards for anyone.” With that type ofendorsement, Jennifer Walter has earnedour congratulations as 2006 BFS FemaleHigh School Athlete of the Year.
JenniferWalter’s Family
Support Group (left toright): Sister Kristin,
parents Elizabeth and Paul,Jennifer with neice Jade,
sister Bethany, niece Jaylyn,sister-in-law Marlo, brother
Randy, and brother-in-law Chris (not
pictured).
“Follow your dreamsand work hard atwhatever you wantto do – never stopworking hard!”
—JENNIFER WALTER
www.bigger fasterstronger.com 1-800-628-9737 | 15
Jennifer works with children at a local church
Jennifer with sister Bethany
~Kyle Meyers, Rutherford B. Hayes High, OH
“The most inspiring night of my life!”
“Reaffi rmed the reason I entered coaching
25 years ago.”- Coach Al McFarland
“Every school in the nation should schedule a Be An 11 Seminar today! It is without a doubt the best thing that has happened to our school.” - Coach T. Cox
“Be An 11 has changed my life! I WILL BE AN 11!”
- Katie Heinlen
“This is exactly what our school and community needed.”
- Coach Fox
A BFS Presenter will come to your school and will spend up to three hours inspiring, motivating and educating your athletes how to become true elevens!
Here’s How it WorksThe cost is only $1,400 up to 50 athletes. Add’l athletes only $15 each. Includes the Be an 11 Guidebook!*Christian B11 is also avaliable
(Interested schools can request free Be An 11 Book &
Seminar literature)
Other Clinic Options: 2 Day & Be an 11 Seminar / 2 Day Clinic / 1 Day & Be an 11 Seminar / 1 Day Clinic / Certifi cation Clinic
If a B11 Clinic is combined with a 1 or 2-day BFS Clinic,the cost is only $15 per athlete, no minimum.
Bigger Faster Stronger · 843 West 2400 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84119 1-800-628-9737 · Fax (801) 975-1159 · www.biggerfasterstronger.com · [email protected]
1-800-628-9737Fax (801) 975-1159
www.biggerfasterstronger.com843 West 2400 South
Salt Lake City, UT [email protected]
Our most popular Total Program Unit!
Elite Half-Rack with Platform
Built to last: Massive 7-gauge steel tubing
From$1999Stock (Black Paint/Gray Upholstery) #320462Call for custom pricing
Perform all core lifts in one station.
BIGGER FASTER STRONGER
Dedicated To HelpingAthletes Succeed Since 1976
Power Clean Hex Bar Deadlift
Squat and Box Squat Bench Press
NewProducts
$189 $199/pr.
Technique Attachments#400019
Dip Attachment#400018
