by By Dan Ninham, contributing writer
Dierra TakesEnemy is an enrolled member of the Crow Tribe. She is a senior at Hardin High School in Montana. She is a varsity athlete in cross country and basketball.
TakesEnemy is continuing to gain academic and athletic accomplishments. She was all state in cross country as a freshman and the team placed third in the state. During her junior year the team were cross country state champions and she earned Academic All State. Also during junior year the Hardin HS Bulldogs were runner up in the state basketball tournament.
“I earned the Heart of the Team honor at our awards banquet and received Academic All State for the basketball season as well,” TakesEnemy said. “During the spring of my junior year I got invited to play in the Montana Treasure State Games and was selected to the All Tournament Team.”
The Hardin HS Bulldogs cross country team recently won the state championship making it back-to-back with all five scorers earning All State honors; all seven team members placed in the top 20 of the race.
“I earned my second All State placing 12th at the State Class A meet in Kalispell,” said TakesEnemy. “I also got to do this with my little sister who earned her first All State coming in 15th at the state meet.”
“Basketball is here and I plan on coming back stronger and better to win a State Title for basketball as well,” added TakesEnemy.
“In the Crow culture we have always been resilient and very firm on believing that God shows the way,” said TakesEnemy. “In all my activities I always give it to God. I run for the lord knowing he has blessed me abundantly with this talent and always staying strong knowing I can finish what I set out to do.”
“Basketball is the same, I play for my love of the game and for the Glory of God. I always give it my best whether I’m out running or out playing ball, Injuries have been hard all throughout high school but staying strong and resilient is what helped me get back out there to perform to my full potential,” added TakesEnemy.
Cindy Farmer is the Hardin HS head cross country coach and she coached Dierra for the past four years in cross country and basketball.
“Dierra is a strong, passionate leader,” said Coach Cindy Farmer. “When she speaks everyone listens but she also leads by example, no one outworks her. She consistently ran with heart and determination despite any setback that was in her way. She is driven to succeed and her leadership was a valuable asset to the young runners and lays the foundation on which we continue to build on our legacy of being a dominant program with character.”
“Dierra’s courage and mental toughness was on display this entire season, bound and determined to win back-to-back championships and being an All-State runner,” added Coach Farmer.
Photo: Casey Kills Pretty Enemy
