Star-Journbal Editor
Hillsboro High School volleyball players JuliAnne Chisholm and Tina Frick were front page sports news this past Wednesday in the state's biggest daily newspaper.
The story "Hillsboro volleyball stars eye next level," along with a color photo of the duo, covered nearly half of the front sports page in the Wichita Eagle.
Their story ran on the first day that high school seniors could sign volleyball letters of intent to commit to NCAA Division I teams.
Chisholm, the daughter of Kem and Autumn Chisholm, signed with Kansas State, and Frick, daughter of Curtis and Clara Frick, signed with Wichita State.
The fact that two "farm girls from tiny Durham" had become "two of the best" volleyball players in Kansas was really big news to the city sports writer, who also observed correctly that "not every volleyball player grows up outside of a town of less than 120 people, a town that is no more than grain silos and a railroad crossing on K-15 to most people."
The article details the bond of friendship between Chisholm and Frick, who've been best friends and farm neighbors since third grade; and the many hours of hard work they've put in to get to the highest level of collegiate sports.
And that's certainly true.
But what the glowing article fails to mention is that signing college sports scholarships isn't the least bit strange or unusual for the Chisholms or the Fricks. In fact, so many of their immediate family members now have signed letters of intent that a total of nine (nine!) scholarships could paper their farmhouses' walls.
JuliAnne's father, Kem, signed to play football and basketball at Friends University; her sister, Keli, signed for volleyball and basketball at Tabor and then transferred to play basketball at Friends; her other sister, Kara, signed to play softball at Tabor; and her brother, Steven, signed to play baseball and basketball at Tabor.
Tina's father, Curtis, signed to play basketball at Dodge City Community College, and then signed with Tabor College; her brother, Vance, played basketball at Tabor; and her other brother, Lane, played football there.
So, you see, it's not so unusual that a Chisholm or a Frick would be signing another college scholarship; what makes it special is that they'll become the first major college athletes in their families.
According to their parents, both girls have been blessed with that extra something that makes good athletes great.
Kem Chisholm said, "Our other children all have their different strengths and so forth, but JuliAnne has the ability to really focus on what she's after, and I've noticed that in her more than the others. Not that the others don't, but she really does. She's a meld of all of their best attributes put together."
According to Clara Frick, her brothers showed Tina that college sports could be in her future; but Tina's work ethic made it certain that sports would be in her future.
"She was weight lifting from the time she was in the eighth grade, and she played club volleyball on top of basketball," her mother said. "Other kids may not want to work that hard to do what it takes to get there; sports are a lot different than they were when we were in high school."
Coach Sandy Arnold said Chisholm and Frick had made the most of their high school volleyball careers; leading their team to a 35-3 record and a third place finish in the Class 3A state tournament.
"I'm glad that they get a chance to play at another level. They definitely deserve that opportunity," Arnold said. "I've had a girl go to Emporia State, but that was as high as I have sent them until now.
"I wish I could keep them, but there's nothing I can do but wish them the best of luck," she added. "I'm sure they'll be successful; that's the kind of kids they are."
For Chisholm it wasn't easy to pick which sport she would participate in at the college level. Her first love is basketball, her best sport is high jumping, but her lifetime favorite school wanted her for volleyball or track, but not both.
"One of the things that is really hard for her to work through is the idea that K-State only wanted her for one sport or the other," Kem said. "They didn't want to share and it's hard for them to share. Some of the other schools were willing to do that; at least they said they were, but it would have been hard. This is coming closer to reality."
The reality is that Chisholm is such a good high jumper that her personal best of five-feet, nine-inches would have put her on the winner's podium at the Big 12 outdoor track and field championships last year.
College track coaches all over the country wept when she decided not to pursue high jumping. Chisholm is too team-oriented to spend so many hours in a lonely struggle against gravity and a cross bar. An athlete must have a passion for their specific major college sport, Chisholm explained, because you'll practice just about every day, nearly year-round.
Once a powerhouse program, the Kansas State volleyball team has been decimated by injuries to key players this season and is struggling in the rugged Big 12 Conference.
But Wildcat coach Suzi Fritz has became the third coach in Wildcat history and second in the modern era to surpass the 100-win mark. She was the fastest in school history to 100 wins. Purple volleyball is still popular. In the first 12 home matches this season, K-State ranked 40th in Division I attendance figures.
"My oldest brother, Chris, went to K-State and we've always been purple," Chisholm said. "I love Suzi, and she's basically the reason I'm going there."
For Frick, there was never any doubt about her college sport or where she would play. She was discovered by Wichita State University volleyball coach Chris Lamb while attending a Shocker high school volleyball camp during the summer between her sophomore and junior year.
"I looked at other places, but once I went to camp there, I pretty much knew," said Frick, who verbally committed to WSU after basketball season in her junior year.
With no football program, volleyball is the big fall sport at WSU. Thousands flock to the games, which are broadcast live on the radio just like basketball games. Last year, the Shockers had a 28-3 overall match record, including 18 consecutive victories to clinch the Missouri Valley Conference title.
The Shockers are ripping up the Missouri Valley Conference again this season with a team that has no seniors and only two juniors on the roster. Frick will join a team loaded with experience next fall, but she is willing to work hard, and, perhaps, wait her turn, for a chance to play.
Chisholm and Frick are both serious students. Frick plans to major in biology with an eye toward medical school; Chisholm, who plans to be a physical therapist, will major in kinesiology. Both plan to utilize the athlete support programs at their respective schools.
"We'll have team tutors and we can get whatever tutor we need in any classes," said Chisholm, who with her 4.0 grade-point average in high school, could be a future NCAA Academic All-American.
In addition to these perks, Frick and Chisholm both are looking forward to taking a special trip with their teams next year to a place neither farm kid has ever been.
"Our teams are both going to be going to Hawaii to play in a tournament during the same weekend next fall," said Chisholm, who added that she'd never seen the Pacific Ocean before.
Frick said, "I've never seen any ocean before."
And, in the spring of 2008, Chisholm will travel even further away from the farm, as K-State's volleyball team travels to China.
