Faces
19
“She never ceases to amaze me with her talent and her leadership skills.” -Nadine Johnson on Sabrina Kester.
Nate Feiertag
Senior Nate Feiertag has established himself as a leader on the Emmaus basketball team and has accomplished a lot in his four years at Emmaus High School. Feiertag has been playing varsity for the Hornets for four years now. Leading the Hornets to a 16-7 overall record, 9-5 in the Lehigh Valley Conference, Feiertag has had a successful last season. He is averaging 17.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. It’s taken a lot of hard work and dedication to get where Feiertag is now. “I have always loved basketball as a sport. I have played since I was really young and haven’t stopped since,” said Feiertag. “There is nothing I’d rather do than play basketball.” Feiertag says that he isn’t the only star on the team, and his teammates help in any way they can. “This year I believe my team is
playing great. As a team, we have good chemistry and I couldn’t ask for anything more in a team,” said Feiertag. Feiertag has numerous memories, but one of them stands out. “My favorite memory from this year is winning the Constitution Tournament down in Philly,” said Feiertag. Coach Steve Yoder said that he has seen major improvement in Feiertag’s skills. “Nate has improved in many areas,” said Yoder. “Most notably, Nate is a much better defender. I also see a tremendous improvement in his shot selection. Nate is scoring more proficiently than last year, and has improved his shooting percentage as well. That progression will translate very well to the next level.” Feiertag has shared some of the heavy lifting with senior teammate Joey Nicolini. “Nate, along with Nicolini, are leaned on heavily for all the attributes good seniors provide, said Yoder. “Leadership, and understanding of what we are trying to do on the floor are at the top of that list. I always say that you go as far as your seniors take you, and these seniors have shown they are among the best in the area.” Feiertag’s skills are among the best on the team. “Nate’s physical tools are undeniable,” said Yoder. “He is big, strong, and physically gifted. Nate
has come a long way in recognizing how special that is when you have a team like that, and the results are evident in his success, and the team’s as well.” Yoder says that Nate is an effective scorer. “Nate has become much more of a team player this year,” said Yoder. “His teammates really benefit from it as a result.” For any sport, it’s always hard when the team’s seniors leave and move on. “It is always sad to lose seniors,” said Yoder. “We view ourselves as much more than a basketball team. We view ourselves as a family, and when they graduate, part of your family is moving on. While I did get to put gold around Nate’s neck as part of an LVC Championship when he was a sophomore, we would love nothing more than to send our seniors out with another championship.” Junior Tyler Prescott says that Feiertag is among the best players on the team. “I would absolutely say he does so much for us,” said Prescott. “If he’s not getting buckets he finds ways to still make an impact either with his ability to get rebounds and play defense.” Prescott, describing Feiertag’s personality, said Nate is an overall good kid. “Yeah, he’s an all-around great guy. He’s got a good personality, good morals and loves to have
fun,” said Prescott. “But he knows when we step on the court, it’s all business. He would do anything for the win, just like anyone else on the team.” Prescott acknowledges Feiertag’s charisma on and off the court. “Off the court, he’s a really nice kid and really smart,” said Prescott. “He is definitely a model student at our school. He is well respected and he is known throughout the valley. On the court, he’s quiet and a little feisty because he’s such a competitor and that’s what I love about him.” Nicolini has known Feiertag since they were very little and knows what kind of leader he is off the court. “He is wise beyond his years and is quite the gentleman that many people respect,” said Nicolini. Nicolini’s basketball experience has been impacted in a good way from being around Feiertag. “His love for me and the game has brightened each and every day we have shared together,” said Nicolini. Nicolini chose to describe Feiertag with simplicity. Nicolini said, “Three words to describe Nate are as follows: wise, omnipresent, and compassionate.”
FAST FACTS Height: 6’3”
Subject: Physics Movie: Blood Diamond Book: Blood Diamond By: Jordan Robertson
Sabrina Kester
Senior Sabrina Kester, co-captain of Emmaus’ squad, has been cheering most of her life. Cheerleading is a year-round sport in which the members support football as well as the home games of the boys’ and girls’ basketball. Kester started cheerleading when she was five years old. She was influenced by her sister who was a cheerleader in high school. “I started in Fleetwood Area School District in their youth program,” said Kester. “I then moved to East Penn School District and cheered at Eyer Middle School and then cheered on varsity all four years of high school.” Watching her sister’s competitions inspired her. “The atmosphere of the competitions [was] enthusiastic, crazy, and exciting,” said Kester. Kester’s favorite part of cheerleading is going to competitions. “My team and I would play music on the bus and get excited
before our competition,” said Kester. “After we perform at the competition, the DJ would play music for us to dance to. Bonding with my teammates is something that I will never forget.” Courtney Hosford, Assistant Varsity Cheerleading Coach, said how Kester exceeds the qualities of a cheer co-captain. “Sabrina encompassed all the qualities necessary for a cocaptain,” said Hosford. “She has strong cheerleading skills in which her teammates look up to her for; she has a natural leadership ability in which she can lead her teammates in a positive manner, and Sabrina is very responsible and punctual.” Senior Mei Wimmer, the team’s other co-captain, has known Kester since 8th grade when they cheered in middle school. “She is persistent in getting her skills done,” Wimmer said. “The attitude that she conveys to our other teammates is that you should want to try as hard as you can.” Nadine Johnson, JV Cheerleading Coach, has no doubt that Kester will accomplish great things in her future. “Sabrina is an exceptional cheerleader and an amazing young woman,” said Johnson. “She never ceases to amaze me with her talent and her leadership skills.” “Communication is important
within the squad,” said Wimmer. “In cheering, you don’t have a personal bubble because you have to be aware of what’s going on all the time; otherwise, you can get hurt.” Kester has a lot of memories throughout her cheering career. Her favorite memory of cheerleading was going to Hershey for states. “We had gotten 5th out of 17 teams of districts and we moved into states,” said Kester. “Once we got to Hershey, we competed and made it straight to finals.” The team competed in finals and got 10th in the state. “Performing in the Giant Center was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I am grateful to be a part of,” said Kester. Wimmer credits Kester with strong jumps and being a good flyer. “Sabrina interacts with all the girls on the team and has a positive relationship with everyone,” said Hosford. “She is always there to congratulate her teammates for their accomplishments, pick them up with they are upset, and motivate them if they become frustrated.” “Her personality and smile are contagious,” said Hosford. “She is an inspiring role model to other girls in our high school and girls in middle school cheerleading programs.” Kester is very grateful that her teammates selected her as co-
captain. “As a co-captain, I am also grateful to be given the opportunity to be a good role model to my teammates,” said Kester. One of Kester’s accomplishment as a cheerleader is making varsity as a freshman. “Once I knew I made it, I pushed myself to become a better cheerleader for the varsity squad,” said Kester. Coach Hosford uses caring, dedicated and reliable as three words to describe Kester. “Sabrina is very dedicated to her family, friends, school work and extracurricular activities,” said Hosford. “She is always giving 110 percent no matter what.” Kester’s strength as a cheerleader is being able to encourage my teammates and push them to do better. “I like to help the other girls in their skills as a cheerleader so I can make sure they do their best,” said Kester. “Not only in cheerleading, but in everything they do.” Kester plans on attending Cedar Crest College for a four year nursing degree. “Cheerleading has been something that I have enjoyed and loved for 14 years,” said Kester. “However, I would like to focus on my studies while in college.”
By: Makenna Shafer
Senior portraits courtesy of R.J. Harwick
FAST FACTS Height: 5’4” Food: Hot Dogs TV Show: Friends Subject: Math