Tessie Tracy has learned the value of time management.

As a active member of two varsity fall sports teams, the Glenwood Springs High School junior maximizes every second of time she can grab.

After a full day of classes, the Glenwood Springs High School junior spends most of her time running between the large gym, where the school’s volleyball team practices to the multi-purpose room where the cheerleading squad conducts its workouts.

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“It does get a little scary,” said Tracy of the hectic schedule she puts in. “Sometimes it’s hard to start your homework at 8:30 at night, but school comes first.”

That dedication to academics along with her athletic skills earned Tracy the vote from the school’s staff and coaches as this week’s GSHS student-athlete spotlight.

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As a cheerleader, Tracy’s current squad participated in the 5th annual Elitch Gardens Spiritfest in Denver and won fourth place, competing against a field of consisting of mostly Class 5A schools.

This summer the Demon cheerleaders were voted team champions at a Universal Cheerleaders Association camp at Regis University.

Individually, Tracy, along with squadmates Courtney McCallum, Ali Tonozzi and Michelle Whitten, received Universal Cheerleaders’ Association All-Star selections. The award allows them to participate in a UCA-sponsored event in Europe over the Christmas holidays.

On the volleyball court, Tracy is a defensive specialist for the Demons.

Of the three sports Tracy is currently involved in at GSHS (she’s also a member of the school’s varsity tennis team), Tracy has been involved in volleyball the longest.

She started playing the sport in 8th grade, and after two years in the program at the lower levels, joined the Demon varsity full-time this season.

“The best thing about this year is the way the team came together,” Tracy said of the volleyball team. “We had a reputation to keep up from last year (where Glenwood advanced to the state tournament), and we all worked very hard.”

That work has produced a winning record, and a No. 7 ranking in the state Class 4A polls leading into this week’s regular-season concluding matches against Palisade and Steamboat Springs.

In tennis, Tracy had enough skills to take over the No. 1 singles role when the team’s original No. 1 player quit midway through the season.

When it comes to deciding which sport she likes the best, Tracy said she enjoys all three.

“I love volleyball, but cheerleading and tennis are great too.”