Wake Forest volleyball’s Campbell reflects on college transition, Native American Heritage Month

(This story first revealed on godeacs.com)

There’s nothing fairly like that first 12 months of faculty.

Arriving with packed luggage and excited faces, it is pretty widespread to see first-year college students step onto campus with a robust sense of ambition. After all, who may blame them? Freshman 12 months opens like the primary chapter of a guide with a heavy desk of contents – new surroundings, developed friendships, freedom with accountability, you identify it. It is a fast-paced journey into younger maturity.

Wake Forest volleyball first-year Cy Rae Campbell can relate, as the center hitter is at the moment navigating her means by such experiences inside Winston-Salem for the 2024-25 faculty 12 months. As she reaches the midpoint of her first season, Cy has taken in loads already, each on and off the hardwood. Prepping for exams and the ultimate month of regular-season play is at the moment in her sights, and November, as Nationwide Native American Heritage Month, can be a time of celebration for her.

“This month means lots to me,” Cy famous. “It is about celebrating our previous, current and future. It simply highlights, as a neighborhood, what we will stand for and issues that perhaps we wish to advocate for.”

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A local of Olathe, Kansas, Cy grew up in The Sunflower State as an lively teenager – taking part in a number of sports activities as a member of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska neighborhood.

“Native Individuals have at all times been concerned in American tradition. You possibly can take a look at the Code Talkers motion pictures and different examples. It is undoubtedly essential to provide again and stand proud.

“We actually cherish one another and are family-oriented. It means lots to have a neighborhood that understands what is essential to us.”

Rising up in a close-knit neighborhood was key to Cy’s upbringing, as Olathe supplied a very good mixture of locality and a stability of ‘not a lot nor too little.’ Discovering methods to remain occupied was the principle spotlight of her days.

“I simply preferred how all the things was round in Olathe – I did not must drive far to seek out issues to do. I might say although that there weren’t many after-school actions to do except you participated in golf equipment. So, I primarily frolicked taking part in volleyball or basketball or no matter I may discover. Hanging out with pals at parks at evening was at all times enjoyable too.”

Quickly placing a stronger focus into volleyball, Cy blossomed into one of many nation’s finest prospects at Heritage Christian Academy – rating as excessive as No. 28 nationally and incomes props as the highest participant at her place within the state of Kansas. The bouncy center went on to gather a state championship in every of her 4 years as a varsity letter winner. Moreover, one can check out her embellished resume to see a plethora of accolades – together with all-state, all-conference and all-star alternatives. Even with the success, Cy cites her workforce camaraderie as the largest standout recollection.

“Probably the most enjoyable half about that have was doing it with my pals. We received 4 years straight, which is a large accomplishment, and could not have carried out it with out one another. The chances had been undoubtedly stacked towards us typically.

“I truly attended (Heritage Christian) since I used to be in second grade, and most of my teammates began after they had been in kindergarten. We have simply been taking part in volleyball ever since. It was form of like a neighborhood factor – since your pals performed volleyball, it made you wish to play. All of it simply fell in line.”

When it got here time to decide, Cy was bought on Wake Forest early into her recruiting course of, committing in July 2022 earlier than the beginning of her junior 12 months. Making a transfer of almost 1,000 miles away from her hometown, she, extra actually talking, felt the distinction between the Midwest and East Coast upon setting foot into DEACTOWN.

“It is undoubtedly hotter right here! In Kansas, you get the entire seasons fairly effectively. I would say it will be fairly colder over there presently of 12 months proper now, in comparison with right here. Nonetheless must layer up although due to that wind.

“The campus is fairly laid again – that is a very good factor. I actually like how Wake Forest has issues which are very inclusive, particularly their Professional Humanitate motto and spirit. It is an expertise that I really feel is essential for everybody to tackle.”

On the volleyball aspect, Cy entered this faculty 12 months as a part of a freshmen trio and certainly one of seven total newcomers. Wake Forest enters the second half of its ACC slate this weekend, seeking to end its common season on a robust word by 10 remaining matches. The fast-paced fall has opened her eyes to the extent of collegiate play in a recreation that continues to compete because the fastest-growing sport in america.

“To me, proper now, there is a distinction in how, once you’re taking part in towards older gamers, you may need carried out the identical factor in highschool, however now they’re absolutely developed and much more bodily. It is undoubtedly a special velocity of the sport. I at all times felt that I used to be a fairly quick center, however that is simply one other stage.

“One other factor that is totally different is the way you analyze the sport now greater than you do in highschool. It was extra so that you simply belief your coaching and see what the end result is in highschool. In faculty, you research gamers for hours – looking for their weaknesses and see if you may make a lineup towards them to attempt to win.”

Steadily adapting and steadily rising. The longer term holds many potentialities for the younger freshman as she patiently soaks in all that faculty has to supply. Nonetheless, there’s a number of private targets left on her record earlier than she finishes chapter certainly one of her collegiate journey.

“I wish to keep on high of my faculty work – that’s at all times the principle purpose. In season, generally it may be fairly laborious to make new pals with different classmates and college students because you’re so busy. That is one thing I am hoping to do, perhaps within the spring. Within the offseason, I wish to actually work on my coaching as a result of that is once you turn out to be sooner and stronger. The sport actually improves within the weight room, and all of it begins once more within the spring.”