It is very rare for anyone to letter three times in one year, even more so for a freshman girl. Brooke Corley, a sophomore, has the opportunity to get 12 varsity letters in her high school career. The three varsity sports she participates in are volleyball, basketball, and track, and she works hard every day to push herself to get better.
Brooke was ecstatic to earn her first varsity letter in volleyball her freshman year. When she was handed the letter and certificate she said she had “a rush of excitement wash over (her).” Even though she had already gotten one letter by her basketball and track career, she said she still felt the same excitement.
“To get three varsity letters my freshman year was the best feeling,” Corley said. “To think that I could earn 12 in my high school career makes me even more anxious for the times to come.”
Corley is 15 years old, lives in Scottdale and is involved in volleyball in the fall, basketball in the winter, and track in the spring. She has been playing volleyball since 7th grade and basketball and track since 8th grade. Her favorite of the three is volleyball; she says that “it is such an intense and upbeat sport.”
In volleyball, Corley can play every position from the front row to the back row. Her freshman year was life changing when it came to volleyball, where she played almost every varsity game and sometimes was even on the starting lineup. Being a freshman and new to the team she said, “It was super nerve racking but super enjoyable. I feel like I had to step it up every time I played on the court.”
Corley said that she was honored to play varsity with juniors and seniors but added: “At times I felt comfortable because of the support of my teammates.”
Carissa Cyphert is Corley’s close friend and teammate, having played volleyball with her for four years. Cyphert recounts her freshman year  and said her first thoughts of Corley on the court with the varsity were, “She is going to be a big help to the team, and playing at the higher level will prepare her for the years to come.”
Cyphert saw a lot of potential in Corley last year saying. “She played at the level of the seniors and competed just as hard, even though she was only a freshman.”
Corley has not only played varsity her freshman year, but now as a sophomore, she starts nearly every game.
“I feel like it’s a huge accomplishment, and that even though I am young in age, I can still play with upperclassmen like they are no different.” Corley said.
Cyphert said that from Corley’s freshman year to this year she has improved tremendously, especially her hitting. Corley appreciates seniors Briana Bunner and Sara Tomasello, along with her fellow teammates, for making her feel so comfortable. “I absolutely love playing with them.”
Briana Bunner said she respects Brooke “as a person, teammate, and friend.” She said she  knows what Corley is going through because Bunner was in her shoes as a freshman and a sophomore having to bond with the upperclassmen.
“Brooke deserves to be on the court as much as the upperclassmen because she is dedicated to improving and working hard every practice,” Bunner said. “I have seen Brooke transform from her freshman year to this year both physically and mentally.”
Briana thinks that Brooke being able to get the opportunity to play with varsity her freshman year has helped her understand the game more because she got the experience.
“I am going to miss playing with Bri and Sara when they graduate.” Corley said.
Corley also thanks one more person who impacted her as a player: her coach, Kristy Bunner. Coach Bunner has been coaching Corley for the past three years, helping her since she was playing in eighth grade. Corley says that she has helped her to become a better player and teammate. This year Corley earned her nickname “Brick” because, as her coach says, “She is a defensive brick wall.”
“Brooke earned a position on varsity as a freshman middle hitter that in itself is a huge accomplishment,” said Coach Bunner. “Her ability to block big hitters this year is where she has improved the most.”
While partaking in the sports she’s involved in throughout the school year, Corley still manages to keep her grades up in school. Corley anxiously anticipates the day when she will become an all-section volleyball player and one day get a scholarship for college.
“Volleyball to me is a vacation away from all of the stress and negativity in my life,” she said. “It also takes me to another place.”