CHURUBUSCO, Ind. – Alexis Bankson was selected to the ICGSA Indiana Volleyball 1A/2A North All-Star team and will represent Churubusco at the North-South volleyball match Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009 at Perry Meridian High School.
Bankson and teammate Danielle Hartmann, were also named to the IHSAA All-Conference team.
A third Busco volleyball player, Hannah Dodson, received Volleyball Academic All-State honorable mention.
Alexis Bankson
Bankson, a senior at Churubusco High School, tried out for the First All-Area All-Star team on Nov. 15, and was selected shortly thereafter. In addition to being on the Churubusco High School volleyball team for the past four years - serving as team captain for three of those years – she has played club volleyball for the past five years with Fort Wayne Volleyball Club.
Bankson has also played varsity softball for four years and is a member of the CHS National Honor Society and CHS Student Council. She has received the Lady Eagle award every year during her high school career. Over the past four years she has accumulated five different school records, which she managed to reset every following year.
“Counting the each record and times I have reset them, I have twelve school records altogether,” Bankson said.
Bankson was a part of the 2006 softball team that broke the school record for most wins in a season. She received All Conference Honorable Mention her freshman year, and All Conference her sophomore, junior, and senior years. Two years ago she was N.E. Indiana All Area Honorable Mention. Last year she was selected for the second team of the All-Conference Area volleyball team, and this year she was selected for the first team. In addition she was selected to play for the North team for the North-South All Star games Sunday, Nov. 22.
Twice Bankson has received the Setter award at the IPFW volleyball camp and, at a Purdue volleyball camp, received the mental attitude award. While playing with her club teams, she helped win multiple tournaments, including the nationally recognized Northern Lights Tournament.
Bankson said she enjoys school and sports. “I really have enjoyed not only having Ms. Brown as a teacher, but also as a coach. I think this is an interesting dynamic. My favorite class to date though is Mrs. Chamber’s (English),” Bankson said. “The environment she creates for us is filled with compassion and strength which I’ve never experienced before from a teacher. She truly cares about her students and not only makes us better students, but also young adults.”
Bankson is the daughter of Mark and Julie Bankson and has two older sisters, Patrice, 22, and Kurstyn, 21.
After graduating from high school Bankson said she plans to attend a four-year institution where she will be playing volleyball, and most likely majoring in the sports field area.
In what little spare time she has, Bankson likes to relax with family and friends. “I also like to attend hockey games and cheer on my fellow classmates at their athletic events,” she said. “I am use to always having something to do and keeping busy, so staying home does not happen often.
“I would just like to say that I feel blessed to have gotten to play a game I truly love and enjoy – for the past four years – with some of my best friends. I wish everyone could say the same,” Bankson said. “I think my athletics have helped shape me into the person I am today and will become. There are so many things I have learned and overcome the past four years which have made me not only a better athlete, but also a better person. I am lucky to have the strong family support system that I have and I am very thankful to them.”
Danielle Hartmann
Another senior and CHS volleyball player, Danielle Hartmann, has recently been named to the IHSAA All-Conference team.
Hartmann has played volleyball for four years, is a member of Art Club, Youth Group and SVA (School of Visual Arts). She also is president of Future Nurses of America club, STUCO president of CHS Student Council, secretary/treasurer of the National Honor Society and a captain for varsity volleyball.
In addition to her recent volleyball award, Hartmann also received the Top Defense award and was named IHSAA All-Conference in 2006, 2007 and 2008; selected to the 2006 Elmhurst Invitational All-Tournament Team; holds three school records, and is a recipient of the Eagle Scholar Award.
She won the “Best in Air” art award, and tied for first place last year in an area art show.
Hartmann is the daughter of Shawn and Michael Hartmann of Churubusco, and has one sister, Samantha, 20.
Her favorite classes are AP English and art because she gets to spend time with her favorite teachers, Hartmann said. “Ms. Chambers has been so inspiring and motivating – I now love AP English class,” Hartmann said. “She really listens to her students and looks at them as true individuals. She has made my senior year amazing so far, and I’m so thankful to have her as a teacher!”
“I’ve been with Mrs. Fleetwood (art teacher) for four years,” Hartmann said. “She’s inspired me with my art. I get to show my personality in my artwork, which is so fascinating. She gives me the freedom to explore the art world and find what truly inspires me. She has an amazing personality and has been a great mentor.”
Another favorite teacher is Mr. Folland, Hartmann said. “Though I don’t have him as a teacher anymore, he has helped me mature in so many ways. Last year I took AP chemistry, and it was the most agonizing class I’ve ever taken. I would honestly be at the school at 7 a.m. and not leave till 4:30 p.m. because of his class. Throughout the course, he really pushed me to succeed. He believed in me and helped me fight through rough times. He helped me become a stronger individual and overcome tough obstacles. He is a great teacher and a positive role model.”
After graduating, Hartmann plans to play volleyball for the University of St. Francis, while majoring in graphic design, and minoring in business.
Hartmann works part-time at Abercrombie and Fitch and in her spare time, likes to “hang out with friends, enjoying life, watching movies and listening to music.”
Hartmann said she is proud to be a CHS student.
“A lot of students view Churubusco negatively, or disregard the care and love people bring to the city,” Hartmann said. “I am very proud to be a student at Churubusco High School. With the help of Ms. Chambers and SVA, we want to unite our school and community together to become a city of unity. We are going to be part of the ‘change.’ ”
Coach reflects on loss of two key players
With the approaching graduation of Bankson and Hartmann, CHS volleyball coach (and Alexis’ dad) Mark Bankson had this to say about next season’s loss of these two key players, “It will very hard to replace two players of their talent and leadership.
“They have been two key components on the team for four years,” Bankson went on to say. “Next year will depend on the development of some young players between now and the start of next season. There certainly is some potential and what should be some solid freshmen next year.”
Bankson said his status as a coach next season is uncertain at this point.
“A lot will depend on where Alexis ends up playing next year,” he said.
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