City High's Gatens considered for state honor

By Jon Klinkowltz
The Press-Citizen
City High senior Nicole Gatens is not only a standout basketball, track and soccer athlete, she makes the grade as well. She was honored by the Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union as a finalist for
the E. Wayne Cooley Scholarship Award -the first time a City athlete has earned the distinction.

Though she didn't win the $10,000 scholarship, Gatens was happy to be one of the eight finalists.
"I'm not disappointed," she said. "I'm the first person from City High to make the finals, and just being nominated is a great thing. I'm sure it was a hard choice."

In addition to winning three state track titles, helping City's soccer team to an undefeated season in 1998 and a pair of conference titles, and serving on City's successful basketball team, Gatens has posted a 3.981 grade point average and ranks in the top 5 percent of her class.

Schools around the state each nominate a female athlete for the award. As City's nominee, Gatens had to get letters of recommendation from four prominent citizens and complete a detailed application.
City girls track coach Terence Coleman, City assistant principal Jack Kennedy, City counselor and assistant basketball coach Eric Peterson and businessman and former Iowa City mayor John Balmer wrote in support of Gatens.

"I had some really good letters written for me," she said. "I think that's what got me noticed."
As a finalist, Gatens traveled to Des Moines for an interview Feb. 10. "It was a good experience," Gatens said. "It was only 20 minutes. They asked what describes me as a leader, questions about sports, how I can change my school to make it better. That sort of thing." Andrea Meyer of Perry won the scholarship. But Gatens wasn't left empty handed. She recently accepted an athletic scholarship to play soccer at Iowa.