Featured athlete: ‘I’m a good leader for the underclassmen’

Senior Andrea Palmer is best known for her stoic nature; despite this, there is a lot hiding behind her tough exterior.

Andrea has graced the Cordell athletics crew with her presence for years now.

In her final year, she has become a key leader for every team she’s on.

Palmer puts her best effort into encouraging her peers, steering her focus from her own stats to the overall success of the team.

“I don’t have a lot of stats. But I have been told by my coaches that I’m a good leader for the underclassmen, and I take pride in knowing if I work hard they have someone good to look up to. I’m not an all star player in anything I do, but I try to make up for it by working hard in practice and trying to make my teammates better by pushing them and giving them encouragement,” Andrea said.

Palmer leads by example, working hard to do what’s best for the team.

Palmer has played basketball since fifth grade, fastpitch softball since seventh grade and summer league fastpitch since age 5. She has played every position over the years, but in high school she was mainly the pitcher, short-stop and catcher. Palmer ran cross country from seventh to sophomore year, and track seventh to senior year. She has also played soccer since her sophomore year.

Palmer’s dedication to sports runs deep; she has used them to escape from stress since she was a child.

“When I think of sports, I think of family. I know that no matter what’s happening in my life my teammates have my back and will pick me up, and I would do the same for them. Sports have been a great stress reliever for me. It’s easy to go into practice and forget about everything that’s bothering me,” Andrea said.

Palmer is estranged from her parents, she said, and instead has a family that extends beyond blood relations.

“My family consists of my teammates, Craig Kliewer and his family, Valerie Farris, the Regiers, and most of my teachers and my coaches. I’ve been “adopted” by a few people and they call me one of their kids. Family has nothing to do with who you’re related to. I like to think it’s who will support you in anything you do and who is willing to drop whatever they’re doing to help you when you’re having a hard time,” Andrea said.

Palmer says the bunch who “adopted” her have raised her into the strong woman she is today.

“Tom and Alisa Boecker, Craig and Julie Kliewer, and April Cochran are basically my parents,” Andrea said.

When she’s not at practice or at a game, Palmer spends her time working, or with friends.

Palmer considers Evan Anderson, Gavin Jasmer, Tristen Reimer, and Piper Gallagher to be her closest friends, and when she isn’t with them, she’s helping Craig Kliewer on the farm.

“We work cattle, build fences, fix things here and there. Seventy percent of the time it’s just us telling each other “you can’t do that” and then trying to prove the other one wrong,” Andrea said.

For Palmer, Kliewer is more of a mentor than a boss.

“Craig is like a father to me. He’s always teaching me things about life and showing me how to fix stuff. I can ask him anything and he’ll explain it to me in depth even if it should’ve been a short answer. When something breaks down he shows me how to fix it so I’ll know how to do it myself. Craig and I are both very competitive and we like to challenge each other to do stupid stuff. I’m surprised one of us hasn’t been to the hospital yet. I’m very lucky I get to work for someone who sees me as family,” Andrea said.

This job is a dream come true for Palmer, who believes that work isn’t so bad when you’re doing something you’re passionate about.

“I love being outside working with cattle and cutting wheat and getting the fields ready for next year’s harvest. This job has been a great learning experience for me and I wouldn’t change it for the world,” Andrea said.

Kliewer thinks having Palmer around is a blessing.

“I consider her my daughter and my friend. I love having her help me on the farm. She works hard and does things the right way, not just for the money but because she takes pride in what she does and holds herself accountable,” Kliewer said.

Because Palmer is completely independent, she works two jobs to keep the bills paid and the fridge full.

For her second job, Palmer cleans the TAG office and bakery on the weekends for Fariss and helps cater events when Fariss and Brooke Dodd need an extra set of hands.

Even though juggling two jobs, athletics, academics and her social life can be difficult at times, Palmer is happy to be where she is.

“I’ve always been independent, even when I was little. I had to grow up at a young age and act like an adult, which has helped me set my own path in life. Being on my own and taking things into my own hands has helped strengthen my mentality. I like building the life I want and being in control of how successful my future will be,” Andrea said.

THE PALMER FILE

YEAR: Senior

SPORTS: Basketball, fastpitch softball, cross country, track, soccer

FAMILY: Craig and Julie Kliewer, Valerie Fariss