ConneR Walker
2021 ELKS ARE BOUGHT IN TO PROGRAM ’ S PROCESS
BY JUWAN LEE
Twenty-twenty was filled with unknowns for the Elkhart Elks and Conner Walker .
Will they have a season ? Who is our new coach ? How will I fit into this new system ? Those were a few of the questions that Walker is grateful he didn ’ t have to answer heading into his senior year .
“ It was hard adjusting to someone you don ’ t know ,” Walker said about first meeting head coach Luke Goode . “ We didn ’ t have a chance to really meet him before the summer . So making that switch to a new coach was difficult .”
Between consistent moving pieces , missing two weeks of the season and implementing a new system the Elks battled their fair share of adversity in 2020 . For Walker , watching those who fought through their tumultuous season there came a bond and excitement about the potential Elkhart has this year .
“ Everyone who is here wants to be here ,” Walker said . “ We didn ’ t have the best season last year but as leader I strive to keep a positive attitude .”
The responsibility of stepping into a leadership role last year is just one of the few things that kept Walker motivated . Football has been his love and his favorite sport since a young child .
He drew inspiration from his dad – Dewayne Walker – who played running back for Westwood High School before getting a chance to play for Harding University in Arkansas .
“ He ’ s always been there for me ,” Walker said . “ I can truly say he ’ s supported me in whatever decision I ’ ve made . He ’ s an inspiration .”
Walker is savoring everything his senior year brings , including the annual cross town rivalry game between them and Westwood . And with a household that includes both a Westwood graduate in his dad and a mom who graduated from Elkhart it ’ s always an exciting time of year .
Right now , he doesn ’ t foresee any plans of playing on the collegiate level , so having this final year on the football field is everything for him .
That is even more true after experiencing a sports season taken away from the class of 2020 and then having the uncertainty of last year ’ s season .
“ It ’ s tough thinking about my last year here ,” Walker said . “ I ’ m giving it all I have this year . I ’ m telling these younger guys what type of attitude they should have this year . Until you ’ re a senior you feel like there ’ s always another year to get better , until that final year comes . Take advantage of the time you have .”
When Walker isn ’ t engaged in football he spends his time enjoying the country life . He enjoys the active nature of hunting and the calming serenity of fishing .
“ I ’ m excited for the chance to step on the football field again ,” Walker said . “ We ’ ve worked hard this summer and I ’ m ready to see what our growth looks like this season .”
“ I ’ M EXCITED FOR THE CHANCE TO STEP ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD AGAIN , WE ’ VE WORKED HARD THIS SUMMER AND I ’ M READY TO SEE WHAT OUR GROWTH LOOKS LIKE THIS SEASON .”