Fallon standout senior Ali Tedford was named one of the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association's Top Ten last week for her success on and off the field.
Better known as Ali, Alexandria Tedford joins another short list of standout Fallon athletes.
Last week, Tedford was selected as one of the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association’s Northern Nevada Top Ten student-athletes.
She, along with nine others, will be honored at 6 p.m. April 29 at the Peppermill Resort and Casino. The award comes with a one-time $500 scholarship, which Tedford will use when she attends the University of Nevada, Reno in the fall.
The award honors student-athletes who display success in sports, academics and community service. Tedford more than fits the bill for all three.
“I was pretty excited,” she said. “It’s a huge honor to be recognized for stuff out of sports, too.”
She has racked up 11 varsity letters, two (and perhaps more) state championships in softball, was selected to the Division I-A’s all-state basketball team last year and also received numerous all-league honors in softball and volleyball.
“Just a smooth operator in terms of her performance,” Fallon softball coach Bill Archer said. “You see the leadership value of her character. When you’re talking about a kid’s character, leadership and taking care of the grades and being the perfect student-athlete, that’s the definition of Ali Tedford.”
Tedford’s academic prowess is also another glowing feature on her high school resume. She is ranked 15th in her class with a 4.64 GPA (weighted) and is currently taking three Advanced Placement (AP) classes — English, Spanish and government — and Honors Organic and Biochemistry.
Her toughest class, however, was last year in AP Chemistry.
“Academically, I’ve always cared about my schoolwork and homework,” Tedford said. “I’m glad that it paid off for me. I love taking hard classes.”
In addition, she is in a number of clubs such as Honor Society, Young Republicans, National Thespian Society and Health Occupation Students of America, and is the president of Block F and on-campus Spanish tutors.
In the community, Tedford has worked with several organizations, although she was quick to point out it her father, Mayor Ken Tedford, was able to point her in the right direction for various projects.
Ali Tedford, though, has participated in City Clean-Up Day, city caroling, tutoring second-grade students and more.
But it is ability to manage time that has allowed Ali Tedford to be successful in so many areas.
In addition to her school, academic and community service priorities, she also has competed in club volleyball, softball and basketball throughout much of her high school career.
Late nights are a tradition for Tedford, who said she doesn’t get to bed between 10:30-11:30 p.m. from studying after practices.
“As soon as I get home I will get something to eat then start my homework,” Tedford said. “It’s a long process as I sometimes zone out. It’s hard when you’re tired. You just got to do it.”
Tedford is the seventh student-athlete from Churchill County High School to be awarded the Top 10, making this the third straight year a Fallon teenager has been recognized. Erik Endacott (2014) and Cady Cordes (2013) were the last two honored.
As far as her future, Tedford said she plans on majoring in chemistry and a possible minor in Spanish. She will also walk on for the Wolf Pack women’s basketball team.
Once she graduates, Tedford plans to attend dental school and pursue a career as an orthodontist.
“A lot of my family has gone to Nevada and I’m excited to go there,” she added.