Salem Community High School’s first female four-sport athlete used her running skills to take her to the collegiate level. Amber (Wimberly) Young, a 1990 SCHS graduate, reached that status when she doubled up in the fall with cross country and volleyball. She added to that participation list with basketball in the winter and track in the spring.

Young did more than just participate. She also excelled. Young was an All-South selection and state meet participant in cross country, earned All-North Egypt Conference honors in volleyball and won her team’s Rebound and Defense Awards in basketball.

Young probably enjoyed her biggest success in track as a senior where she set a North Egypt Conference and school record in the 800 meter with a time of2:25. Young later lowered that school record to 2:23 when she took first place at the sectional meet.

Young was also part of two other school records. She, along with Carrie Bierman, Jennifer Bethard, and Jennifer Morton teamed up in the 1600 meter relay with a time of 4:14.2 in 1989. In 1990, she teamed up with Amy Iman, Erin Jones, and Monika Schuette for a school record in the 800 meter medley relay with a time of 1:54.7.

While it was not officially recognized as a school record, Young posted the best time at that point in history by a Salem girl in cross country in 1989 when she ran the two-mile course at the sectional meet in 12:29.

Young continued her athletic career in track and cross country at the United States Air Force Academy. Young broke the school freshmen record in the 800 meter and ranks in the school’s top ten all-time in that event. She was named the Air Force Academy Top Track Competitor for the 1992 season. Young also served as team captain.

Young, who has also attended Wichita State University, was a member of the Air Force Academy cross country team that finished second in the NCAA Division II Meet in 1990 and the 1991 team that was 15th. In addition to her athletic participation at the Air Force Academy, Young served on the school’s student government as athletic officer. She also initiated and organized the Air Force Running Club at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado.

Since graduation from college, Young has taught and coached at Amistad Christian Academy in Del Rio, Texas and Calvary Christian School in Wichita, Kansas where she organized and directed the One-Mile Fun Run Fundraiser. At the time of her induction, Young was coaching youth athletics in Knoxville, Tennessee.