Area Athletes Share College Experiences During Summit
Four Fort Peck Reservation natives who are earning athletic success at the collegiate level inspired students during the third annual Fort Peck Tribes Youth Summit in Poplar on Thursday, June 13.
The student athletes included Wolf Point’s Jewel Olson, who is a track standout at Dickinson State University, Poplar’s Jazmin Gorder, who competes in wrestling and cross country at Minot State University, Wolf Point’s Ethan Blount, who participates in cross country and track at Rocky Mountain College, and Poplar’s Jazmyn Carrywater, who competes in cross country and track at Dickinson State.
The group’s biggest achievements include Olson breaking Dickinson State’s school record in the 400-meter dash during her sophomore year. “I didn’t believe I could do it at that time.” Gorder qualified for the national wrestling meet by placing fourth at a regional meet.
Carrywater said she feels her biggest accomplishment came when Dickinson won the conference championship. Blount remembers having a time of 10:12 in the 3200-meter run during a high school meet in Glendive.
When asked what their biggest challenges were as indigenous athletes, Blount mentioned time management. Carrywater said that being away from home was hard for her early on.
Gorder, a high school girls’ wrestling state champion, said that she was feeling inferior and lacking confidence when she started college. “But I focused on my training.” Olson added it was difficult to not be around people with the same culture and she tried making people aware of her culture.
To deal with time management issues, Blount says he prioritizes the student part of being a student athlete. “We have to have good grades,” the junior said. Carrywater says she has a set schedule that includes a couple of hours of studying after supper. Gorder explains that she tries to keep athletics and academics separate. Olson, a two-time high school state champion, said she believes in trying to have a plan.
All four student athletes believe their heritage is important and they hope that the summit participants remember that as well.
“I want to inspire you guys that you can get out of the reservation,” Blount said.
Olson added, “It’s very important to be a role model in the community.”
When asked what impacts they hope to make as successful student athletes, Gorder replied, “You can do anything if you put the energy and time into it.”
Olson stressed that there are so many opportunities out there for everybody.
When asked what advice they would like to share, Carrywater and Blount said it’s important to put the work in and nobody is going to give you anything.
Gorder said that young students should remember that being in collegiate athletics takes a lot of time and dedication.
Olson urged students to believe in themselves and send their athletic videos out to colleges. “Don’t ever sell yourself short.”
All four have goals of being professionals and said they would like to bring their services back to the area.
