Wildcats Profile — Defensive specialist Breanne Minor always brings A-game to court
By Bruce Fuhr
The Mount Sentinel Wildcats host the B.C. High School A Girl’s Volleyball Championships November 28-December 1 at the Selkirk College and L.V. Rogers gymnasiums.
The school has been the feature site of the provincial tournament eight times since 1991 and has won four titles since 1997, the last coming in 2007.
Mount Sentinel is currently ranked third in the province at the Single-A Girl’s Division.
However, the players are hopeful home court advantage will power the squad to the top of the heap when the prestigious Blue Banner is awarded to the winning team on the evening of December 1.
The Cats play host to the Kootenay Zone Finals Friday and Saturday at Selkirk College Gymnasium.
Before the first serve is taken, The Nelson Daily Sports Editor Bruce Fuhr is getting readers into the provincial spirit with a series of profiles on the 2012 Mount Sentinel Wildcats.
Today we feature Grade 12 Breanne Minor.
Mount Sentinel Wildcats back row player Breanne Minor bumped her first ball during elementary school gym class and fell in love with the game.
“It’s exhilarating, challenging and fun,” the 16-year-old Minor said about the sport.
Minor will get all that and more when the Wildcats play host to the province at the High School A Girl’s Volleyball Championships later this month at Selkirk College in Castlegar.
“It’s exciting, but also a lot of hard work,” Minor said about the upcoming provincial tournament.
“And it’ll al pay off (in the end).”
The provincials will culminate what has been an impressive volleyball career for the Grade 12 Minor.
Relied upon for her serving and defence, head coach Joe Moreira know what he gets when substituting the 5-foot back row player onto the court.
“It’s been fun playing good teams that make our team play up to our ability,” Minor explained.
Like many of her teammates, Minor is a lover of the game. When the high school season ends, it’s time for club ball.
When club ball ends, it’s time to hit the sand for some beach volleyball.
“The pressure is definitely on us playing at home,” Minor said about the upcoming provincials.
“I 100 percent feel it knowing our school has won so many championships and everyone at the school wants another banner,” she said.
Before the provincial tournament captures center stage there’s a little unfinished business of the Kootenay Finals to deal with starting Friday at Selkirk.
Despite gaining an automatic bye into the provincials, the Wildcats want to go in with momentum and nothing helps build Big Mo than winning the zone title.
Then the Cats can focus on the bigger task.
“I’ve been thinking about provincials since provincials 2011,” Minor confessed.
And what about 2012 Breanne?
“No. 1, to win the provincials, and No. 2, not to let the pressure get the best of me.”
