North Cedar’s Darby Hawtrey balances athletics, academics

CLARENCE - Balance.

The goal of educators and parents is to have a student equally balanced in character, ability and drive.

It's the 21st century and students have more than enough opportunities to fill their plates. Just how much can they handle though? Here at North Cedar there are multiple great students who are highly involved in sporting and other extracurricular activities while managing to be a great asset to the classroom.

Junior Darby Hawtrey is a perfect example of this well-rounded student. Hawtrey is the daughter of Sharren Loomis of Lowden and Steve Hawtrey of Mount Vernon. She is the middle child of five other siblings. Hawtrey moved into the North Cedar district before her freshman year started.

She has been involved in volleyball, basketball and track. Not only has she been involved, but she has set high standards.

Hawtrey received all-River Valley Conference North division honors as a freshman and was all-academic, as well. She made the River Valley Elite Team as a sophomore, Junior River Valley Elite Team, River Valley academic award, and honorable mention all-state.

In basketball, she has received RVC honorable mention and academic all-conference honors.

She also has been a success in track and field, pulling double duties as a high jumper and a sprinter. She qualified for state her freshman and sophomore years. She has run shuttle hurdle, distance medley and sprint medley relays. She also placed in the sprint and distance medley and came home with two state track medals.

She will be inducted into the Ashley Himes Hall of Fame next month.

On top of all of this, Hawtrey also has a job during the summer, lifts all summer and also does winning edge during the school year. She also is on the Iowa Rockets club volleyball team, which runs from December to June.

Hawtrey dominates in all these activities, but she also is doing great in all her academics. She has been on Honor Roll for all three years.

'My favorite class is drawing because it's what I'm most interested in,” Hawtrey said. 'I think I would like a career in art education someday.”

Hawtrey definitely has a full plate, but it doesn't stop her from keeping an awesome work ethic.

'Everything about Darby makes me proud,” said Sharren Loomis, Hawtrey's mom. 'From her athletic accomplishments to her academic prowess, she continues to amaze me.

'But I think what really stands out is her huge heart. Her compassion and genuine caring for people is second to none. She sincerely cares about the welfare of people and would bend over backward to help anyone.”

Hawtrey's teachers also had great, positive things to say about the junior standout.

'She is a great student,” said math teacher Scott Kasik. 'She works hard, she doesn't give up and she always wants to excel to be her best.”

Students do amazing things these days. Balancing between their character, ability and drive is never easy. However, North Cedar is home to many of these ambitious students and athletes, one of which is Darby Hawtrey.