Wasilla graduate, Air Force Academy cadet doesn’t shy away from a challenge

WASILLA — Rachel Kennedy views life as a series of challenges. Kennedy admits she’s a bit of a perfectionist, but she’s forever intent on not just completing tasks, but doing so to the best of her ability.

That drive led the 2010 Wasilla graduate to immense academic and athletic success during her time in high school, and landed her a place at the United States Air Force Academy. Based on her efforts and success, Kennedy has been named a 2010 Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman Student-Athlete of the Year.

Kennedy, who graduated with a 4.16 grade point average, was the valedictorian of her high school class. She was a three-year team captain in girls’ soccer; a three-time region champion in diving and the state runner-up as a senior; and a varsity athlete in cross country running and track and field.

Kennedy was also active in the National Honor Society and Academic World Quest at WHS, and a regular member of the Valley Performing Arts cast.

It’s safe to say Kennedy stayed pretty busy during her four years as a high school student.

“The overall experience, I probably would not have changed anything I did,” said Kennedy, who returned to the Valley to spend the holiday with family. “The sports I participated in, the classes I took.”

Kennedy said she simply was motivated and has stayed motivated.

“Getting the most out of things, doing the best I can in different aspects of my life,” Kennedy said.

To do that, Kennedy said, she constantly issued herself with a challenge.

“I aim for that 100 percent. That’s somewhat who I am. Straight As came along with that,” Kennedy said. “I like that challenge. Let’s see if I can get straight As. I push myself that way. I definitely had to work for it.”

Kennedy said the support of her friends and family was key, as was learning the fine art of time management.

“My parents provided a really good foundation for me,” Kennedy said. “I took off from there.”

Kennedy’s ability to challenge herself helped her succeed in both academics and athletics. Her drive also helped Kennedy power through an injury during her senior year that could have prevented her from achieving many of her athletic goals.

Early in her senior year, during the fall cross country running season, Kennedy suffered a hip injury. The injury not only sidelined her in cross country for a good portion of the season, but threatened her senior year of diving — a season she would enter as the two-time defending Region III champion.

“I probably hadn’t faced that much adversity all through high school,” Kennedy said. “I remember sitting up in my room, thinking what am I going to do?

“I had sports to think about. I wanted to compete in some sport in college. I was afraid I’d messed up my future.”

Although Kennedy wanted to run back out onto the cross country trail and dive right into the pool, she let herself heal.

“Once I felt better, I went for it,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy managed to return in time for the region cross country championships and had a chance to run with the Wasilla junior varsity squad. She also was ready for the latter part of the high school diving season.

The diver also gave swimming a shot during her recovery.

“I hadn’t done that,” Kennedy said. “That was a lot of fun.”

Kennedy capped her prep diving career by winning her third straight Region III crown and finishing as one of top two divers in the state.

Kennedy spent the final months of her senior year as a two-sport athlete in the spring. She returned as the captain of the Warriors soccer team, helping Wasilla earn a trip to the state tournament. She also competed on the varsity track and field squad.

“That was a lot of fun actually,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy’s drive to succeed certainly didn’t stall when she left Wasilla High in her rear view. Kennedy continues to challenge herself at the Air Force Academy where she’s pursing new goals.

Kennedy is a diver on the Falcons’ Division I squad. She’s studying biology and pre-medicine with hopes of one day becoming a pediatrician. She recently received the first B of her life, in English 111, but still ranks high in the Academy’s class of 2014. She’s also ranked No. 1 athletically.

Earlier this year, Kennedy participated in the Academy’s physical fitness test. Each cadet tested is required to do eight pull-ups, a 7-foot-2 broad jump, 95 sit ups, 48 push-ups and run 600 yards in 1 minute and 53 seconds. Each exercise needed to be finished in less than two minutes with only a minute rest between each set of exercises.

Kennedy not only finished the test, but earned the maximum possible score of 500 points. According to a letter sent to the Kennedy family by Air Force athletics, less than 5 percent of each graduating class score a 500 during their entire four years at the Academy.

Kennedy accomplished that as a freshman and her name has been mounted on permanent display in the cadet gymnasium.

“I set it up as a challenge, set it up as a game, see if I can do it, push myself,” Kennedy said. “The same thing I’ve done with academics and whatnot.”

Through much of her stay at Wasilla High, Kennedy didn’t expect she’d one day attend a service academy. But after watching her older brother David, work his way to the U.S. Navel Academy, she became attracted to life in a military academy.

“Most of the credit goes to my brother. I didn’t even consider a service academy,” Kennedy said.

But just like her time in high school, Kennedy said she has no regrets about the extra work.

“A year ago I would have never imagined where I’d be, a cadet at the Air Force Academy,” Kennedy said.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.