Rachel Sanchez Feature

THE SENIOR SPOTLIGHTS CONTINUE. TODAY, A LOOK AT CODY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT-ATHLETE RACHEL SANCHEZ. RACHEL WAS A MULTI-SPORT ATHLETE IN HIGH SCHOOL RUNNING BOTH INDOOR AND OUTDOOR TRACK, PARTICIPATED IN CROSS COUNTRY AND WAS A MANAGER FOR THE WRESTLING TEAM. RACHEL WHO WAS SET TO COMPETE IN TRACK THIS SPRING SPEAKS TO THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF IT BEING CANCELED.

“WE ONLY HAD A FEW SENIORS ON OUR TRACK TEAM BUT I KNOW WE WERE ALL WORKING REALLY, REALLY HARD. ESPECIALLY BEING 4A WE WERE TRYING TO BEAT LAST YEAR, SINCE IT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT OFF OF THAT TRANSITION FROM 3A. IT WAS KIND OF HARD BECAUSE WE REALLY WANTED IT THIS YEAR, PROBABLY MORE THAN ANY OTHER YEAR WE’VE EVER RAN, BUT I KNOW MOST OF US ARE RUNNING IN COLLEGE. SO IT WORKS OUT.”

ALL IS NOT LOST FOR THE SENIOR AS SHE IS ONE OF THOSE SENIORS THAT PLANS TO COMPETE IN COLLEGE.

“I’M GOING TO CHADRON IN THE FALL AND THEIR CROSS COUNTRY COACH HAS MESSAGED ME ABOUT IT. SO I’M THINKING ABOUT RUNNING FOR THEM. I JUST WANT TO SEE HOW IT IS FRESHMAN YEAR RUNNING FOR A COLLEGE.”

THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF THE TRACK TEAM IS ALSO ON THE TABLE FOR RACHEL WHO PLANS ON BECOMING A TEACHER AND TALKS ABOUT THAT AND WHAT ATTRACTS HER TO THE SCHOOL.

“WELL CHADRON IS LIKE A TEACHING SCHOOL AND I’M MAJORING IN HISTORY 7-12 AND MY DEGREE WILL BE BACHELOR OF THE SCIENCES AND EDUCATION BECAUSE I’M GOING TO BE A HISTORY TEACHER. THAT’S PRETTY MUCH MY PLAN, IS TO JUST TAKE THE COURSES I NEED TO GET TO THAT POINT. I’VE WANTED TO GO TO CHADRON FOR A WHILE NOW BECAUSE I’VE HAD SOME REALLY GOOD TEACHERS FROM THERE. AND THEN I’VE ALWAYS BEEN INTO HISTORY SO IT’S JUST PERFECT.”

RACHEL GOES ON TO REFLECT ON HER TIME AT CODY HIGH SCHOOL.

“MEETING NEW PEOPLE AND THAT WAS REALLY FUN. ESPECIALLY ESPECIALLY DOING ALL THE SPORTS I GOT TO MEET A TON OF PEOPLE FROM OTHER SCHOOLS. AND THEN IN INDOOR TRACK WE WENT TO IDAHO SO I GOT TO MEET A TON OF NEW PEOPLE FROM OTHER STATES AND THAT WAS SO COOL. I THINK THAT WE JUST HAVE AMAZING ATHLETES AT OUR SCHOOL THAT ARE JUST SO AWESOME. THE TEAMWORK BETWEEN EVERY SINGLE TEAM, EVEN THE ONE’S THAT I HAVEN’T BEEN ON. LIKE THE SOCCER TEAM, I CAN SEE THEY JUST WORK TOGETHER. IT’S LIKE THAT FOR EVERY SINGLE TEAM AND I JUST THINK THAT’S REALLY COOL.”

ACCORDING TO RACHEL ONE THING THIS PANDEMIC HAS DONE IS BROUGHT EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY THE SENIOR CLASS, AT CODY HIGH SCHOOL CLOSER.

“WE ALL GREW UP TOGETHER AND IT’S A SMALL TOWN. THEIR’S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE GONE THROUGH TOGETHER, ESPECIALLY THIS PANDEMIC, AND WE’RE ALL GOING THROUGH THIS TOGETHER SO WE HAVE TO STICK TOGETHER THROUGH IT. I JUST THINK, WE DON’T HAVE A LOT OF CLIQUES OR GROUPS. WE’RE ALL JUST ONE AND WE ALL JUST GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER AND THAT’S SUPER COOL BECAUSE A LOT OF CLASSES ARE JUST DIVIDED.”

AND ONE OF HER FAVORITE MEMORIES OF BEING A FILLY INCLUDES WINNING THE CROSS COUNTRY STATE CHAMPIONSHIP THIS YEAR.

“IT WAS REALLY NICE BECAUSE FRESHMAN, SOPHOMORE AND JUNIOR YEAR WE WERE JUST SO CLOSE TO GETTING FIRST. ESPECIALLY MY SOPHOMORE YEAR WHEN WE LOST BY ONE POINT, THAT WAS JUST CRAZY. TO FINALLY GET IT AS SENIORS WAS AWESOME.”

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