Oswego East Student Athlete of the Week-Abby Ftacek

When junior Abby Ftacek was in the 1st grade, her teacher shared an observation with Abby's parents that are telling of the person Abby is today. Abby's teacher remarked that Abby was always willing to attempt a new task or lead a group of her peers in a game, and how she hopes she never loses that bravery. If anything, Abby's success as a track student-athlete has only served to strengthen this observation, which is why she is this week's Oswego East student-athlete of the week.

Abby's career as an athlete began on the mat in gymnastics, where she learned, "discipline and the ability to listen to coaches and take criticism." Gymnastics is a particularly grueling physical sport that takes a toll on an athlete's body, which is why Abby chose to step away from the sport after 10 years. Needing to fill the void, she was encouraged by a friend and coach to come out for the track team as a sophomore and immediately hit the ground running.

Despite not beginning the sport until sophomore year, Abby quickly developed a love for the competition and found success in the triple jump. "Once [Abby] began practice she realized this is where she wanted to be and dedicated herself to becoming her best," says Tracy Ftacek, Abby's mother.

What makes Abby so special is a combination of her attitude towards life, her work ethic, and her attention to detail. Head coach Erik Aister says, "Abby's greatest strength is her ability to focus on a daily basis. She displays a consistency in her workouts that is uncommon to find in athletes her age. This had led to steady improvements in her performance for the two years she's been a part of our program."

Abby competes as a sprinter and long jumper, but her best event is the triple jump. This past weekend at the indoor conference meet, Abby set a school and personal record of 37'0.25", an improvement of almost 2" from her prior personal best. This weekend she will have an opportunity to compete at indoor state against the best triple jumpers in the state. "For this weekend, it is a good opportunity to experience a competitive meet and one more chance to PR before we head to the outdoor season," says triple jump coach Steve Ideran. Aister echoes those statements, saying, "The biggest part of this meet is experiencing what a state level type meet feels like and I fully expect her to jump well and be in the mix for a top ten finish."

Not only does Abby have the physical skills and work ethic to succeed, but her happy demeanor also sets her apart as a leader and someone who contributes to building a culture of success. "Abby came into this world full of positivity with a desire to experience everything life has to offer as a person, student, or athlete and does it with determination, enthusiasm, and zeal we, as her parents, have always admired," says Tracy.

One of the goals of the track team is to try and build a deeper level of cohesion, and Ideran believes Abby is a big part of reaching that goal. "The camaraderie and synergy that comes from training with your teammates are hard to duplicate alone," says Ideran. He goes on to add, "We talk about having a shared, collective purpose while training and competing both with and for our teammates. Abby embodies those values."

Abby's enthusiasm and positive energy extend beyond the track and into the classroom. Oswego East provided Abby an opportunity to find an area of study she is passionate about in forensics. Abby has a goal of attending the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, with a focus on forensics, because she is, "very interested in working with DNA tests, trying to find solutions, and working with blood types," says Abby.

Tiffany Scholle, Abby's Forensics teacher, has provided Abby with hands-on learning opportunities to ignite her passion in the field, and says, "Abby's greatest strengths as a student are her attention to detail and collaboration with her peers." She goes on to add, "I think she will be successful in the field of Forensics. This will be due in large part to her work ethic and passion for the field. Abby takes the time to fully investigate anything she is working on and this will be a great benefit to her moving forward."

Tomorrow at indoor state, Abby has an opportunity to prove to herself, her teammates, and the rest of the state that she will be a force to be reckoned with this upcoming outdoor season. The moment never seems too big for Abby, and is self-aware to understand just how quickly these moments will go by, advising future Wolves to, "Enjoy the good moments because they go by so fast." As someone who understands just how far a positive attitude will take you in achieving your goals and finding success, Abby also says, "Be nice to everyone, because making enemies makes life that much more difficult." While Abby will hopefully not make any enemies this weekend at the indoor state meet, she is sure to make some rivals as she continues to climb the ranks as one of the best triple jumpers in the state.