Jun, 29, 2008
ALL-WHATCOM COUNTY TEAM
ALL-WHATCOM COUNTY GIRLS' ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: VanBrocklin was electrifying
Mount Baker standout athlete was an MVP in two sports
THE BELLINGHAM HERALD PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY DANNY GAWLOWSKI
Multiple images were combined for this illustration to make this portrait of Mount Baker’s Courtney VanBrocklin, the All-Whatcom County Girls’ Athlete of the Year.
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JOE SUNNEN
THE BELLINGHAM HERALD
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It’s hard to imagine Mount Baker senior Courtney VanBrocklin feeling anything less than confident about her athletic ability.
As a standout setter for the Mountaineers’ volleyball team this season, she was named the most valuable player in the Northwest Conference. During basketball season, she paced the league in scoring and once again was named the NWC’s most valuable player.
But when VanBrocklin turned out for the Mount Baker track team this season for the first time in her high school career she didn’t really know what to expect. What she found out is that running track is a lot of fun. And though her aptitude for sprinting isn’t quite on par with her volleyball and basketball skills, she was glad she did it.
“The coaches have always been telling me I should try it and I finally decided to do it,” VanBrocklin said. “I really just wanted to stay in shape for basketball, but it ended up being a lot of fun. I wish I had done it my other three years here.”
Now VanBrocklin can add another honor to her armful of MVP awards, she has been named The Bellingham Herald’s All-Whatcom County Girls’ Athlete of the Year.
In a field loaded with exceptionally talented athletes this season, VanBrocklin stood out for her excellence in multiple sports.
She helped the Mountaineers to the state tournament in volleyball and nearly did the same in basketball. On any given night during the basketball season she was usually the most electrifying player on the court, scoring 30 or more points five times while averaging more than 23 points a game.
In track, she helped her relay teams to a pair of regular season top 20 times in the state in the 4x200 and the 4x400.
“Running the 400 is really such a mental game,” VanBrocklin said. “It’s just running around the track. It’s hard. I would always tell myself before the race, ‘It’s just one minute of my life I have to get through.’”
The next step for VanBrocklin will be playing basketball at Boise State University next season. She’s already started working on her conditioning and shooting touch in anticipation.
“I’m excited for it,” VanBrocklin said. “As it’s getting closer I’m getting more nervous, well, more anxious really. But I think I’m ready for something different.”
No doubt she’ll hit the ground running.
