Your future, our focus
Barstow - Katie Beardshear-Gregg said she thought she knew it all.
By Matthew Peters
Desert Dispatch Staff Writer
www.desertdispatch.com
She thought she knew volleyball. Thought she knew what it was like to live in a small town and be a big star.
It took a long journey from Barstow to Powell, Wyo., for Beardshear-Gregg to realize that wasn't the case.
The former Barstow High School volleyball standout completed her second and final season at Northwest College in November and is now planning for the next step. With several college visits lined up, Beardshear-Gregg is looking to transfer to a four-year university and continue playing volleyball.
Her two seasons spent in Powell playing for the Trappers have been ones of growth, she said.
"I was known at the high school for having a little attitude," Beardshear-Gregg said.
In the final high school home game, Beardshear-Gregg openly argued with Palmdale players during the wild-card round of the CIF-Southern Section Division III playoffs. It was that attitude that in part also spurred a tremendous effort. She helped the Aztecs to a win in five games with a school record high 28 kills.
Beardshear-Gregg is still a force on the court, but in a different way. Still high on energy but of a new variety.
"I learned you have to play with heart," Beardshear-Gregg said.
Beardshear-Gregg overcame early struggles in Wyoming. She butted heads with coach Flavia Siqueira early on, learned to live in a smaller and more isolated town than Barstow and grew to appreciate the mental side of volleyball.
Tammy Rhodes had coached her daughter Katie in volleyball since the fourth grade. Beardshear-Gregg learned quickly her mom wasn't the coach anymore.
"My coach was a humongous change," Beardshear-Gregg said. "I definitely paid for having an attitude (early on). She's tough and she doesn't take crap from anyone."
Beardshear-Gregg said her cocky attitude lasted about a week, but she still had to adjust to a new lifestyle.
The Northwest College is located in rural Wyoming. The Trappers field a rodeo team and the closest Wal-Mart is still 30 minutes away. There were tears shed and phone calls to mom. Beardshear-Gregg said her play throughout her freshman season wasn't up to her expectations, but she learned to embrace her new teammates and the town. By the time the Trappers finished the season at the 2009 NJCAA national tournament in a large arena, she felt like she'd found her place.
"Last year when I arrived, I hated it," Beardshear-Gregg said. "It was a total culture shock. It's actually a lot of fun."
The Trappers finished the season with a 27-10 record in the second round of the NJCAA Division I Volleyball National Championship after winning the District I Region IX North Tournament. Beardshear-Gregg played a large role in the Trappers' success and was named to the all-conference and the all-regional tournament teams.
Rhodes, the former Barstow volleyball coach, could see Beardshear-Gregg's transformation both on and off the court, she said. Gone was the high school standout with an attitude and left is a focused, maturing college athlete. Her grades got better. She added muscle to her 6-foot frame.
"She's been doing really well," Rhodes said. "She's so buff and big and muscular. She's like an amazon."
Referees and recruiters praised Beardshear-Gregg's performance when Rhodes visited during the Trappers' postseason run. After years of fighting with referees as a coach, Rhodes was a bit hesitant when the referees approached. However, this turned out to be a pleasant conversation. The refs raved about Beardshear-Gregg's playing style and told Rhodes, "Your daughter's an amazing, well-trained player."
Now Beardshear-Gregg is ready for bigger things now like a bigger town and a bigger school, she said. She'd like to sign with a NCAA Division I or II school and just might get that chance. She has visits to West Alabama (Div. II) and Texas A&M lined up in the near future.