Walker picked as Express female athlete of the year
Red Oak athlete Kate Walker had a busy 2014-15 season, going to state in five different sports.
Walker went to state in cross-country, volleyball, basketball, track and tennis.
Walker is the female recipient for the Red Oak Express Athlete of the Year for the 2014-15 school year.
Fall
The fall sports season was a busy one for Walker. In addition to leading the volleyball team captain, Walker added a new sport to her accolades: cross-country.
“[My friend and teammate] Nikki [Graber] did it,” Walker said about running cross-country. “I ran on my own a lot and I was thinking why not?”
Walker parlayed her junior track season success into competing in cross-country last September.
“They didn’t have enough girls for a team, either, so I thought I could help them out there,” Walker said.
The spark came immediately to Walker and the cross-country team with a highlight win last September at the Southwest Valley meet in Corning. Walker had a runner-up finish (18:31) as Red Oak finished first with a score of 90 points.
Walker continued to put together strong finishes at other area meets.
At the Hawkeye 10 meet last October, Walker took eighth as Red Oak finished third.
The highlight to the cross-country season came at a muddy Panora golf course last October.
Walker was one of three Red Oak runners to place in the top 10 as the team finished second on their way to their first state meet appearance since 1983.
Walker overcame an early slip and fall in the race to finish third, joining teammates Graber (10th) and Paige Shirley (eighth) in the top 10.
“Paige [Shirley] came on strong the last few meets,” Walker said. “She really stepped up her running, and Nikki was consistent throughout the whole year, so we always knew she’d be there.”
At the time, Walker said the Hawkeye 10 meet was the turning point.
“Before Hawkeye 10, none of us expected to even have a chance,” Walker said last October.
It was a rough go for the team in their first appearance at state in more than 30 years.
Walker was the top runner at the state meet for the Tigers when she finished 31st with a time of 16:24. The girls team finished 15th at the state meet in Fort Dodge last November.
Walker was happy to be part of the cross-country team and take part in the fun.
“It was such a fun environment to be around. It was definitely like one big family,” Walker said. “The moms always had food for us and we just kind of goofed off a lot. It was a fun experience.”
While Walker was busy running on golf courses, she also dominated volleyball.
The 2014 volleyball season might go down as one of the best in Red Oak history.
“This season was definitely something to be proud of for all of us. There was some pressure coming on just making it to state last year,” Walker said. “Everyone knew we were going to be pretty good, but they didn’t know if we’d meet their expectations.”
With Walker and fellow senior Grace Blomstedt leading the way, the Tigers went 34-8 for the season, finishing second in the Hawkeye 10 conference and made their first state semifinal appearance in a decade.
“I think we met our own expectations because we made it back to state and won a round,” Walker said.
Red Oak reached the state tournament for a third consecutive season when they defeated the Shenandoah Fillies 3-2 in the regional final Nov. 4, 2014, in Clarinda.
Walker had 19 kills and 13 digs in the regional final to help the Tigers clinch the state berth.
In the state tournament, Red Oak took care of Sioux Center by winning 3-0. It was the first state tournament quarterfinal win for the Tigers since 2005. Walker had 15 kills in the win.
The run for Walker and Red Oak ended in the semifinals when they lost 3-1 to the eventual state champions Mount Vernon. Walker had a season-high 21 kills in the loss.
The 2014 volleyball season was a career-defining year for Walker, who finished with a career-high 408 kills, which placed her second in the Hawkeye 10 behind Harlan’s Jess Schaben.
Walker also had 41 service aces and 279 digs for the Tigers in 2014.
Late in the season, Walker secured her 1,000th career kill in the season finale win against Creston.
Walker finishes her volleyball career with 1,087 kills, 114 service aces and 902 digs in 332 sets.
“We had a lot of fun cheering. Celebrations are my absolute favorite,” Walker said. “I don’t think we enjoyed getting the kills so much as celebrating them.”
Walker is grateful for her volleyball coaches, Angela Montgomery (head coach) and assistants Deb Drey and Sharon Allison for helping her get out of her shell and get better.
“They definitely saw potential in me, worked hard with me and believed in me,” Walker said. “You can’t say enough about them. They really show so much dedication to the volleyball program.”
Walker is optimistic about the volleyball team’s future, adding that she thinks they’ll be good this season.
“They’re going to surprise a lot of people,” she said. “I think they’re going to be just fine, especially with the coaches they have and the hard work they put in.”
Winter
Perhaps no sport has defined Walker more than basketball.
With Walker leading the attack, Red Oak put together one of its best seasons in school history, on the way to a second state tournament appearance in three seasons. The Tigers finished the 2014-15 basketball season with a 20-5 record.
Red Oak started the season hot, winning 11 of their first 12 games.
The team encountered a stumbling block that began with a heartbreaking buzzer beater. Red Oak lost 50-49 on a last-second shot by Kuemper Catholic as it snapped a 10-game winning streak.
The Tigers went on to lose consecutive road games to Glenwood and Harlan, before getting back on track against Southwest Valley Jan. 26. Red Oak wouldn’t lose a game for the rest of the regular season.
One of the more memorable highlights for Walker came in the second Shenandoah game Feb. 2 when she scored 24 points and was 10-for-11 at the free throw line to help the Tigers win 60-59.
The rivalry with Shenandoah has no doubt been a big one, especially in basketball.
“There’s definitely a lot of pressure that builds up,” Walker said. “Those were definitely games where we had to keep our composure.”
Red Oak won all three games (including regionals) this season against Shenandoah.
In the regional semifinal Feb. 18, Walker scored 31 points as the Tigers fought back from a seven-point halftime deficit to win 58-53 and make a third straight regional final appearance.
The only game bigger than the third semifinal against Shenandoah was the regional final Feb. 21 versus Kuemper Catholic.
Avenging the loss at home was on the Tigers mind, but so was a second state tournament berth in three seasons.
Walker scored 22 points in that Kuemper Catholic game. The game went back-and-forth with Walker, Blomstedt and Micayla Taylor, who scored 18, all on three-pointers, picking up the scoring effort.
The biggest play for Walker wasn’t a basket she sank. Rather, it was a pass she made. In the final seconds, with Kuemper Catholic players approaching to double team, Walker passed the ball to a wide-open Sierra Athen, who sank the tying lay-up.
“I get chills just standing here when you say that. It was definitely huge,” Walker said. “That’s pretty much defined our whole season, how we trusted each other.”
Walker and Blomstedt both stepped up in overtime as the Tigers went on to win 72-69.
The stay for Red Oak at state was short as they would lose to the eventual champions, Nevada, 54-38 in the quarterfinals March 3.
Walker finished her senior season averaging 19.8 points per game, as well as 7.2 assists per game and 8.7 rebounds per game. In 95 career games for Red Oak, Walker scored 1,422 points, grabbed 608 rebounds, had 455 assists and got 158 steals.
Walker has had no shortage of influences in her basketball career, both in teammates, coaches and family.
Two teammates who have been helpful to Walker have been Blomstedt and Blake Bergren.
Blomstedt is someone who has felt the same pressure as Walker and has handled it well.
“A lot of people don’t realize, she can be serious. She comes off just like always happy and excited,” Walker said about Blomstedt. “We’ve become really good friends just being able to trust each other and being in the same position for several years.”
Bergren meanwhile was helpful to Walker during her sophomore season in 2012-13 when Red Oak made its first state tournament appearance in 90 years.
Bergren went down with an ACL injury her senior season, leaving the junior Walker to pick up the slack on offense.
“I had to take on more of an offensive role,” Walker said. “Before that, the team shared the offensive points.”
Walker stepped up after the Bergren injury in 2014 when she averaged 20.1 points in the second half of the regular season. While Bergren was saddled on the sideline, she was one of Walker’s biggest supporters.
“She was always there on the bench, ready to tell me ‘you’re fine, Kate,’” Walker said. “It built up my confidence.”
The coaching staff of the girls basketball team has also influenced Walker. Dan Martinez, the Red Oak girls basketball coach, as well as the assistants Chris Gilbert and Patty Henke were helpful to Walker.
Family has also been big for Walker. Her father, Red Oak assistant basketball coach Johnny Walker, helped with her game and taking her to tournaments.
Also a big influence is former Red Oak High School athlete Todd Reisinger, Walker’s uncle.
“He’s like my personal [psychologist]. I’d talk to him if I was nervous,” Walker said about Reisinger. “A lot of people didn’t realize that I would get nervous and would feel that pressure, but definitely talking to Todd helped.”
The basketball has paid off for Walker as she’ll be getting ready to play Div. I hoops at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania later this year. She said she’ll be going into her freshman season with an open mind.
“Everyone probably thinks I’m some Iowa girl there, so I’m excited to surprise people there, like I did in Red Oak, or like my teams or Grace and I have,” Walker said.
Spring
It could be argued that Walker had her greatest success in spring sports, particularly tennis.
For the second straight season, Walker finished runner-up at the state tournament.
“I’m really glad I did it my senior year and did it all four years,” Walker said.
In the tournament, Walker battled her way through to the finals, before losing to Denison-Schleswig’s Mara Pirscoveanu 6-3 and 6-1.
Walker has two state runner-up finishes in singles, as well as two straight runner-ups in state team tennis on her record. Walker also has a coed state title with her older brother and former Red Oak Express Athlete of the Year Pete Walker.
“Pete has just been the person that keeps me grounded,” Walker said.
Walker doesn’t think tennis gets enough credit for how tough it can be.
“Our athletes played tennis and we have great athletes that have played tennis in the past,” Walker said. “Tennis deserves a lot more respect than it gets.”
While she took care of business on the tennis court, Walker also dominated the track scene.
Walker won the 800-meter race at the Hawkeye 10 meet early in May. In addition, Walker qualified for state in three events (the 800, 1,500 and the distance medley).
“The high point was probably the district meet,” Walker said. “Getting the record in the 800, (2:21.40) I didn’t think I’d be able to run it again.”
At state, Walker only placed in the 800, when she re-set the new school record to 2:19.39 to finish fifth in the 2A event. In the 1,500, Walker took 12th. Meanwhile, the distance medley team which also featured Graber, Juhi Boeye and Hannah Vial took ninth.
It was the second season of high school track for Walker. However, she said she doesn’t regret not going out for track sooner.
“I feel like if I would have done track and tennis my freshman and sophomore year, I might not have enjoyed tennis as much or I might have been burned out by my senior year,” Walker said.
The good news for Walker is, she can focus on one sport in college. And while she will be traveling to a different part of the country, there will be some things about Red Oak she’ll miss.
“Everyone is so friendly,” Walker said. “They’re interested in what I have to say, which is something a lot of people can’t say.”