Pampa Harvester Athletes of the Week (August 31 - September 6)

Photos courtesy of Cartershots and M2.Phrames

Elli Peet is No. 13 and a senior on the Lady Harvester Volleyball team. She is also a member of the cheerleading team. One thing people may not know about Peet is that she is also a member of the choir and will be performing in this year’s musical.

“I am also a member of the choir, and I will be playing Mrs. Banks in the upcoming production of Mary Poppins in November,” Peet said.

For Peet, being named Athlete of the Week is about more than individual recognition.

“It means being a good teammate and giving your all, no matter where you end up on the court,” Peet said.

As the season continues, Peet is focused on improving while continuing to support her teammates.

“I am going to focus on improving myself and my skills while continuing to be a good teammate,” Peet said.

She plans to go to college for education after high school.

“I plan to pursue a degree in education, specifically in early childhood education through sixth grade,” Peet said.

Away from competition, Peet is already gaining experience in the career field she hopes to pursue.

“My favorite subject is my education practicum class because, for two class periods, I get to help in a second-grade classroom and learn how to be a teacher,” Peet said.

Lady Harvester Head Volleyball Coach Kaylee Samulowitz praised Peet’s maturity, energy and readiness to contribute whenever the team needs her.

“Elli is such a huge part of our team," Samulowitz said. “She keeps the energy alive on the sidelines, but I'm also confident in her ability to play when we need her. She brings such a mature presence to our team and fills a big role for us. Elli is involved in so many things here and is such a great example of a PHS student-athlete.”

Jesus Montano is a junior runner for the Harvester Cross Country team. He also plays soccer for the Harvesters and will compete in track.

Away from athletics, Montano shared something about his family that many people may not know.

“Something most people probably do not know is that I have a younger sister and an older sister, so I am the middle child,” Montano said.

For Montano, being named Athlete of the Week is a reflection of the work he has put in.

“Being named Athlete of the Week means the hard work I have put in is being seen and recognized,” Montano said. “It shows that what I am doing represents what it means to be a Harvester athlete.”

Montano’s biggest goal is to continue improving his time and help the Harvesters advance as far as possible.

“My goal for the rest of the season is to continue cutting down my time so our team has the best possible chance of making it to state,” Montano said.

Cross country is not the only sport Montano has been involved in during his time at Pampa High School.

“I also play soccer, and I am possibly going to compete in track in the 800-meter run,” Montano said. “I also played basketball during my freshman year, which is where I learned a lot about discipline from Coach Farmer. I would like to thank him for that because those lessons have helped me in soccer and cross country throughout my high school years.”

While Montano remains focused on improving as a runner, he is also beginning to consider his future after graduation.

“As of right now, I am still thinking about my plans after high school,” Montano said. “One career I am considering is becoming an optometrist.”

In the classroom, Montano’s favorite subject is math.

“My favorite subject is math,” Montano said. “It seems easier and more enjoyable to me because I like working through problems and figuring out how to solve them on my own.”

Head Cross Country Coach Otis Chunn has seen Montano make significant strides throughout the season and believes his work ethic has made an impact on the entire team.

“Jesus Montano has shown tremendous progress in his performance this year. He has medaled in two of three races and has been a top 20 or higher performer in every race. Jesus started the year in the No. 3 position, but he has catapulted into the definite No. 2 runner on the team. He is starting to challenge for the No. 1 spot. This is great as his teammates see the work he is putting in, and they strive to emulate it. This makes us all stronger. Jesus is soft-spoken, but once the starter gun goes off he is all business. He could be headed to regionals if he keeps improving. He is a model student on campus, and he is all about the Harvesters. He is most deserving of Athlete of the Week. He represents the Green and Gold with Pride, Integrity, and Leadership,” Chunn said.

Congratulations to Elli Peet and Jesus Montano for representing the Harvesters with pride, dedication and leadership.