In a striking display of academic and athletic prowess, CWU’s volleyball team has reason to celebrate. This year, 10 of the team’s student-athletes were named to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) Academic All-Conference team. Sophomore outside hitter, Brooke Garman and senior outside hitter, Kylie Thorne shared their reflections on this prominent achievement.

Brooke Garman

Brooke Garman, a sophomore majoring in sports management, received her first GNAC Academic All-Conference honors this year with a 3.8 GPA. “It felt really good knowing that the hard work being put into school was noticed,” Garman said. “It was a lot of fun seeing a lot of teammates on the list too.”

Garman has embraced the challenge of balancing academics and athletics by setting specific schedules and diligently planning her days. This has helped her maintain a successful regimen.

Garman credited the support of her coaches and professors in this dual success: “I am grateful that my coaches and professors work with each other and help student-athletes accomplish awards like these.”

Garman also attributed her success to the skills and techniques she acquired in her freshman year study hall.

“My experience here at CWU has been great,” Garman said. “[It] has helped me find out what I like within school.” During her time at CWU, Garman was able to unearth her passion for sports management.

As a team, Garman and her fellow Wildcats have pushed toward both their volleyball and academic goals, fostering a sense of unity and ambition.

Garman acknowledged her teammates as role models and guides. Their influence aided her in situations on and off the court. 

“Seeing my teammates still in the library studying and often seeing them tutor others was a great start to college,” Garman said. “Using them as a mentor was easy.”

Looking ahead, Garman explained that she is determined to continue majoring in sports management and aims to secure an internship to aid her future career. On the volleyball front, the team aspires to make it to regionals and maintain the legacy they have built.

Kylie Thorne

Kylie Thorne, a senior majoring in chemistry, is no stranger to academic accolades. Thorne has received GNAC academic honors for the three consecutive years and obtained a 4.0 GPA. Thorne has mastered the art of balancing school and sports through efficient time management and organization, enabling her to maximize productivity.

Thorne acknowledged the essential role played by her coaches and professors in supporting her dual commitments. Her coaches prioritize academics during road trips which allows time for homework and studying and her professors are “very flexible when it comes to our traveling schedule,” Thorne added.

The experience of being a student-athlete at CWU has contributed significantly to Thorne’s personal growth. It has imparted essential life lessons such as responsibility, time management, problem-solving and “most importantly I would say it has taught me [to find] a balance,” Thorne said. 

Thorne recognized the hard work her teammates put in, both on and off the court. She expressed pride in seeing numerous teammates on the academic honors list, attributing their recognition to their dedication.

While Thorne’s time with CWU volleyball is nearing its end, she looks forward to her future as she plans to become a high school chemistry teacher and volleyball coach. As she moves forward, Thorne holds her experiences with the team close to her heart, acknowledging the significance of this period.

“I am really excited … but it will not make me miss this past chapter any less,” Thorne said.

The team’s upcoming event will be an away game. On Saturday, Oct. 4, the Wildcat’s are set to play against the Northwest Nazarene University Nighthawks. The match is set to commence at 12:00 p.m. and will be held at the Johnson Sports Center in Nampa, Idaho.