C.C. Thomas
Sports Scene
Courtney Reinhold admits that she would like to get more sleep.
But the schedule with which the Swan Valley sophomore deals on a weekly basis means that sleep sometimes gets pushed to the back burner.
Reinhold is a sophomore three-sport athlete who carries a 4.0 GPA.
Right now she is in the middle of helping the Vikings volleyball team, as well as playing travel softball. In the winter, volleyball changes to basketball, followed by a spring and summer full of softball.
“Sometime I get five hours a sleep a night,” Reinhold said. “People sometimes tell me I’m crazy, but if I wasn’t doing all this, I would be bored. Sometimes I would like a break, but even when I have days off and don’t do anything, I get bored.”
The amazing part is that she thrives at all she does.
Aside from earning straights As, she has been a key part of the volleyball team as a middle hitter. She plays the post for the basketball team, and as a freshman pitcher for Swan Valley last season, she posted a 19-0 record and helped the Vikings advance to the semifinals in the state tournament.
Also, playing travel softball for Compuware has her scheduled for as many as 175 softball games a year, another testament to her work ethic.
“I have my lazy days, but I am energized when it comes to playing sports,” Reinhold said. “As for grades, I study when I have time. Grades are really important to me. I cannot get anything less than an A, but that’s my personality, I’m a Type-A personality. So I study a lot in cars and on buses.”
Swan Valley volleyball coach Sarah Ball says Reinhold has found the time to improve in the sport she coaches.
Reinhold played on the varsity team as a freshman last year, but has played much better this season.
“She has come a long way,” Ball said. “I brought her up as a freshman because we saw her talent. But when you go from 8th grade volleyball to varsity volleyball, it is totally different game. In 8th grade you are getting used to the whole game. Then go to varsity volleyball and it’s a fast-paced game, and it’s an adjustment for everyone. It’s and adjustment from JV to varsity, so to go from eight grade to varsity in any sport its a major transition.
“Now she understands the game more,” Ball added. “She is playing all the way around, so she is doing passing, which she didn’t do much of last year. She is helping as a server, too. But she is a sophomore, still, and I can’t wait to see her as a senior.”
At time of print, the Swan Valley volleyball team was 9-12-4.
In just another busy weekend for Reinhold on October 22 and 23, she played a full day of volleyball at the St. Louis Invitational on Saturday, and then was in Novi on Sunday for travel softball.
“It sometimes gets overwhelming for me, but now I’m into a routing,” Reinhold siad. “I love playing sports and the competitiveness. I love always having something to do and look forward to every game I play.”
This busy schedule might continue into college for the 5-foot-11 Reinhold.
Right now, schools like Miami of Ohio and Tennessee Tech are looking at her for softball. On December 20 and 21, she will head to Las Vegas for a showcase softball camp where over 25 Division I coaches will be in attendance.