Nataly Walters doesn’t have a hard time staying busy.

Walters is as active in her school and community as she is invested in her athletics during the year.

It’s a level of dedication that has helped her achieve excellence - both athletically and academically.

And that doesn’t stop in the summer.

“It’s been pretty crazy so far,” said Walters. “It started off right after school, we went to South Carolina to celebrate my grandmother’s birthday. And then while I was there, I looked at two schools: I looked at Duke University and then UNC, which both were really cool and it was really neat just to experience touring and see what my future could possibly be. I really like Duke, but it’s going to be a tough one to get into.

“And then we drove straight from South Carolina to Philly, and then I had New Balance Nationals.”

It’s been a whirlwind for Walters, who spent the spring smashing league, district and school records as a sophomore at Palmerton.

Showcasing her skills at Franklin Field in Philadelphia recently put Walters among some of the elite in her events.

“I think it went pretty well,” said Walters. “I didn’t PR or anything, however I was in the Championship bracket. In New Balance, that’s the best bracket, the most competitive that you can be in. So needless to say, I was one of the youngest, and I didn’t do my best jumps but I didn’t finish that low in the pack. I was right in the middle, I think, in both jumps.

“Long jump I think I had 18-1, and then triple jump I had 37-9 ... They’re not the greatest marks, but for driving from South Carolina up to Philly and then jumping the next day, I think I did pretty good.”

Pretty good would be an understatement to describe her season.

Walters won both the Class 2A long jump and triple jump at the PIAA Track and Field Championships, capping a season of unprecedented - and unequaled - success for the Times News/Lehigh Valley Health Network Female Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

“Despite competing admirably in four events at Shippensburg as a freshman and earning a seventh-place medal in the long jump, she wasn’t satisfied,” said Blue Bombers’ head coach Mike Gombert. “Nataly spent countless hours working out during the offseason and it certainly paid off. She broke four school records, as well as league and district records. She had a phenomenal season, and the two gold medals at states made it truly historic.”

Walters also established all-time area bests in both the long and triple jumps this season. The all-time area best established by Walters in the long jump is now 19-1 1/2 and 39-8 in the triple jump.

“When you have the combination of natural skills, and natural ability like she has - and heredity has a lot to do with it - her parents (Alan Walters at Pleasant Valley, and Kristyn Walters at Palmerton) were very accomplished track athletes as well,” said Palmerton jumping coach Jim Hay.” But when you have that combination of natural gifts, and then the work ethic that she has, and the number of hours that she puts in, it really didn’t surprise me, to the point and to the level that she reached this year as a sophomore.”

While Walters spent her spring jumping to new heights, her season almost never got off the ground after pulling her quad and then tearing her hamstring at the end of soccer in the fall.

Initially given a 12-week recovery timeline, Walters was able to work through the recovery to be at her best when it mattered most.

“I think I was at week three and I started jogging again. I was definitely in a little bit of discomfort,” said Walters, who is interested in becoming a physician’s assistant. “But then by week six, I was box jumping, not going for crazy PRs, like sprinting outside or box jumping to crazy heights, I was just taking it nice and easy. I wasn’t squatting or deadlifting. But I was glute bridging, taking easier exercises, kind of immobilizing the hamstring just to work out other muscles.

“And then after that injury, I started training ... six hours a night for at least four days a week. So that’s over 20 hours per week, and my hamstring ... I didn’t have my full flexibility back until eight weeks after I tore it. So I was honestly really nervous for track season because I thought, ‘What if I really injure myself?’ But I think I bounced back. Now I know going into next year I need to find that balance again so I think that will also help.”

Outside of athletics, Walters is involved in numerous clubs. She was the vice president of Art Club and communications coordinator of Buddies Club this past year, and will be co-president of Buddies Club next year.

She is also the Vice President for the Class of 2025.

Not only does Walters accept and welcome her responsibilities and roles as a student athlete.

She thrives in them in ways few others do.