By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
SUAMICO — Bay Port senior Ava Murphy said she has track and field in her blood.
“My two older brothers and dad all did track and field in high school,” said Ava, the daughter of Victor and Lynn Murphy. “My brothers and dad also played football. My mom was into softball and volleyball.”
Murphy is currently a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) at Bellin Hospital and will attend the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire this fall to study nursing and participate in track and field.
“I’m excited about the opportunity,” she said. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”
Murphy, who also did cross country all four years, competes in the long jump and the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dash.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic last year, most area high schools, including Bay Port moved their fall sports in 2020 to this spring.
“It was tough doing cross country in the spring and going right into track,” Murphy said. “I was a little beaten up, but I was in good shape. We got a little time off to recover, so that helped.”
Murphy, the ultimate team player, said her most memorable moment came during her freshman year.
“At the (Fox River Classic Conference) relays, we won the meet during the track season,” she said. “That was a memorable moment because it was a team celebration.”
Her most embarrassing moment also came during her freshman year.
“My friend and I were competing in the 4×100 relay, and we messed up the handoff,” Murphy said, whose least-favorite household chore is vacuuming. “We weren’t disqualified because it was a small meet, but we probably should have been. We haven’t done a handoff together since.”
Murphy said she’d describe herself as caring, hard-working and athletic.
“Being a CNA shows my caring nature because I like helping people,” she said.
Murphy said she wants to be remembered as a good person.
“If you asked people about how they’ll remember me at Bay Port, hopefully, they’d say I led by example, made a positive impact on my teammates and coaches and was nice.”
In 20 years, she said she sees herself living in the area.
“Twenty years from now is a long time,” Murphy laughed. “I hope to have a family and end up living back here. Hopefully, I’ll have a good nursing job or maybe be a nurse practitioner.”
Murphy likes chicken alfredo, the phone app TikTok, the color blue, the month of September and the restaurant Rustique in Suamico.
“I love their pizza and their pesto fries,” she said.
Editor’s notes: If you have a suggestion for a senior spotlight candidate, message Rich at [email protected].
To read last week’s Nicolet National Bank Senior Spotlight on Georgia Gregoire, CLICK HERE.