FEATURED SENIOR ATHLETE: Abigail Nees, Cloverdale

Abigail is a senior at Cloverdale and participates in three sports, cross country, cheerleading and track and field.

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Banner Graphic: How important are sports to you, and what have you learned from them?

Abigail Nees: “Sports aren’t my No. 1 priority, like school, but it’s fun to come out and run. It clears my head of all the stress.”

BG: Talk about each of your sports.

AN: “I’ve been running since fifth grade and I love it. We’ve won county all four years and even in middle school, I won as a team twice and individually twice. Cheerleading is something that’s fun that I like to do and I am a leader of the team this season.”

BG: What’s the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you in sports?

AN: “I’ve fallen because my shoe was untied in the middle of a race.”

BG: What does your game day routine look like?

AN: “For Saturday meets, I wake up about 20 minutes before I need to leave, eat an apple and drink some water. I’ll sleep on the bus. When we get to our race, I’ll put my shoes on, make sure everyone knows that we’re warming up exactly 30 minutes before the race, do the warm-up, put my spikes on, do lines and say a quick prayer that I don’t die before the gun goes off.”

BG: You’ve been a four-time county champion alongside Ella Szczerbik and Daphanie Geiger despite having several coaching changes over the past four years. How notable is it to be part of a group that accomplished such a feat?

AN: “It’s been really cool. Despite having different coaches, we’ve worked really hard. Ella and I have been running together since fifth grade and through the different coaches, we’ve always pushed each other.”

BG: Do you have any favorite college/pro sports teams or athletes you follow?

AN: “I don’t really pay attention too much to outside sports.”

BG: What else do you do at school besides things involving sports?

AN: “I’m senior class president, participate in FFA, speech and debate, am a member of NHS, am second in my class and help with the Service Learning Project.”

BG: What do you like to do outside of school and sports?

AN: “I like when I have absolutely nothing to do; I can sit on my bed and read a book with romance being my favorite. I also work at the Mill Pond Health Campus and Cuddles Kennels. I also like to be involved in my church.”

BG: What are your favorites in movies, TV and music?

AN: “I love to watch any TV show with ‘Gilmore Girls’ being my favorite, then ‘One Tree Hill.’ Any rom-com movie is my favorite. Country music is my favorite, guys like Morgan Wallen and Thomas Rhett.”

BG: Are you a person that wants to watch TV shows and movies or stream something from YouTube, Twitch, TikTok etc.?

AN: “I’d probably start out with a TV show, get bored and go to TikTok.”

BG: What is something you have never done before that you would like to do someday?

AN: “Skydiving. That’d be fun.”

BG: What is your biggest fear?

AN: “I hate snakes. They scare the crap out of me.”

BG: You’ve been placed in charge of making dinner. What’s on the menu?

AN: “Pasta. Maybe tortellini with alfredo sauce. Easiest thing to make.”

BG: Do you have any pets?

AN: “I have a dog, Casey, and four fish. I haven’t gotten around to naming them.”

BG: If your house were on fire, all living things were already out and you have your keys, cell phone, wallet/purse etc., what is one thing you would go back and get?

AN: “I’d probably get the two stuffed animals that I’ve had since I was a baby.”

BG: If you were to describe your personality in one word, what would that word be and why?

AN: “Competitive. I always want to beat everybody.”

BG: What has been your favorite place to visit?

AN: “Panama City Beach, Fla. It’s my favorite place to vacation on.”

BG: What was your favorite school field trip?

AN: “Probably the one (Tuesday) when we went to the Indianapolis Repertory Theater where we watched ‘Sense and Sensibility.’

BG: How important is support from your family and classmates to your success?

AN: “I don’t really need support from my classmates but from my family, it’s very important.”

BG: Describe your overall school experience both academically and athletically.

AN: “It’s been a good experience. I’ve been good at both.”

BG: If your school was to offer a class it currently doesn’t, what would you want to see taught?

AN: “A life skills class. Learning things like changing a tire and other useful things.”

BG: What are your plans for after high school, and what career are you headed toward?

AN: “I’m planning on being a (Physician’s Assistant). As of right now, I plan on going to Grace College, majoring in health science, minoring in chemistry, then going off to a PA program.”

BG: Is it difficult to keep up with your school work being an athlete?

AN: “Sometimes, especially having to cheer and do cross country at the same time.”

BG: Which particular classes and teachers have helped you the most in high school?

AN: “Mrs. Meluch has helped teach all-around things, even though she is just a biology and anatomy teacher.”

BG: In the future, once you’ve established yourself, if you had your choice, would you want to live in the mountains, on the beach or in the neighborhood?

AN: “I’d really want to live on the beach but I want to live wherever my family is. My dad’s whole side of the family lives here and it’s been great growing up with my cousins. I want my kids to be able to do that with their cousins.”

BG: Do you think high school has gone fast, and are you going to miss it?

AN: “It has gone fast but I can’t wait to leave.”