I know it's uncommon to play two sports in college, but in all honesty, it was a non-negotiable for me.
Growing up, sports was everything.
It was part of me — it was 'family', you know?
Back then, I played every sport imaginable — volleyball, basketball, softball, track; you name it.
Whenever I competed, my family was there and supported me.
And I returned the favor when my siblings played.
It was our thing.
It created a passion for sports, strengthened my family bond, and gave me a competitive fire that has never flamed out.
So, when I started to look more into college, I didn't want to give something up, you know?
I wanted to play both volleyball and basketball, and as you can imagine, that made the search quite the challenge.
On top of that, I obviously needed to like the school and wanted to have that sense of family and community as well.
A place I could consider a home away from home where I could be with my people and grow into the athlete and student I want to be over the next four years
Some schools weren't interested in having me as a dual athlete.
Some were, but I didn't get the community vibe.
When I looked at my options, one stood out quite easily — the Huskers had everything I was looking for in education, athletics, and community.
It was hard to find the right fit, but once everything was on the table, the decision was easy.
More sports, more programs
People always ask me, "How do you manage to play two sports?"
The short answer is, "I don't; I just do it."
It's almost impossible to train for both, do school work, manage a personal life, spend time with my family, and feel like everything is under control.
I just keep going like a stone rolling down the hill, and as I maintain the momentum, I learn to control the frantic pace.
Being able to play both sports and doing so at this high of a level is a challenge, no beating around the bush.
It means back-to-back practices after school, coming home late, and still having the energy and focus to finish one's school work.
It's a life I love living, don't get me wrong, but it's not for the weak, that's for sure!
Over time, I've gotten better at handling the organized confusion that is being a dual-sport athlete, but it's never been easy.
I am confident that in this next chapter here at Nebraska, I'll have new challenges and solutions.