Palisade Sophomore, Isabella Fenske, is the Female Athlete of the Week brought to you by Palisade Dino Mart. Fenske is a two sport athlete in volleyball during the Fall and track and field during the Spring. Although this is her first season doing track and field and on the varsity team, Fenske has quickly made her mark, demonstrating impressive growth and strong performances in the 100m dash, 4x1m relay, and long jump. These are Fenske’s main events, but will compete in whatever her coach asks of her.
Volleyball has been a staple in Fenske’s athletic career for quite a long time now, providing her with athletic skills and talent throughout. Fenske felt the desire to try out track and field to help further grow those skills and learn more.
“What inspired me to do track and field is that it can impact your mental toughness. It is not a team sport so it can really impact the way you perform and how you can be better as an all around athlete. Track makes you good at other sports, so that also motivated me to do track. I also started doing track because of how friendly the people are and how something new can help you come out of your comfort zone.”
The head coach for the Palisade Track and Field team, Jill Reetz, is astonished by Fenske’s first year performance. The dedication and commitment that Fenske has shown in such a short time has already made a noticeable impact on the team’s success and her personal growth.
“In her first year competing in track and field, Isabella has quickly established herself as a standout athlete. She is the fastest girl on the team and a key competitor in long jump, where she is currently ranked with an impressive mark of 16 ‘7″. Isabella plays a vital role in all of our sprint relays as we strive to qualify for the State meet. With her talent, determination, and continued growth in the sport, there’s no doubt she will keep improving and making a significant impact on our team.”
With the grit and determination to better her athleticism, Fenske has already achieved high standards. Fenske is currently placed 7th in the State for 4A long jump and has set a personal record in the 100m every time. All with the help of her teammates and community, Fenske has more so been able to be a well rounded athlete. Fenske states, “My biggest inspiration is Braeleigh MacAskill because of her athleticism and the way that she holds herself as a leader, as well as how friendly she is as a person.” From one person to another, the team is always guiding each other with support and encouragement. Fenske expounds her heartfelt gratitude for her team stating, “My favorite thing about track and field is the community and how friendly everyone is, as well as the variation of how different people compete in different ways.”
Fenske’s dedication and growth in both volleyball and track and field make her a standout athlete. Despite being new to track, her strong performances and positive attitude have already made a significant impact. Congratulations, Isabella Fenske, for receiving Athlete of the Week!
