Zellers’ perseverance inspires Lady Eagles

Cory Hogue, Special for the Wichita Falls Times Record News Published 8:23 a.m. CT Oct. 24, 2020

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Colossians 3:23 reads, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”

The Holliday volleyball team has used that Bible verse as inspiration throughout the 2020 season.

Senior Bree Zellers exemplifies that verse. 

Zellers is a multi-sport athlete with great potential in volleyball, basketball, softball and track. However, injuries have kept her from competing in most of those sports over the last two years.

An ACL injury suffered during basketball season forced Zellers to miss the remainder of her sophomore season. She returned to the basketball court during her junior season before an MCL injury derailed her once again.

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Holliday’s Bree Zellers gets ready to serve against Burkburnett Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Holliday.

 (Photo: Lauren Roberts/Times Record News)

Recovering from multiple injuries has given Zellers an incredible perspective rarely seen from a high school senior.

“It’s been really hard, but I’ve learned to deal with the adversity and push myself further than I thought was possible,” Zellers said. “I’ve learned to not take any game for granted because any time I step on the court could be my last time to play with my teammates.”

Zellers has returned with a vengeance during her senior year and has been an integral part of the Lady Eagles clinching the District 7-3A title last Tuesday. 

The Lady Eagles are 18-4 overall on the season and 11-1 in district play, and Holliday head coach Wendy Parker is thrilled to have her senior leader back on the floor.

“Every game could be our last due to either injury or the coronavirus, and she makes sure we are playing and practicing at a high level,” Parker said. “She’s very structured, vocal and supportive, and she brings it to the court as well. She is a tremendous asset for a coach.”

While the Lady Eagles look to Zellers to lead them this season, she is quick to credit her family, teammates and coaches for helping her through the tough times she faced during rehab.

“Every day my family was there telling me to keep my head up and helping me do anything I could to get healthy and return to the court,” Zellers said. “My teammates and my coaches were always there for me and helped me through all the tough times. 

“I had great therapists at OSTC who kept pushing me and helped me through the tough therapy sessions.”

Parker witnessed firsthand how tough it was for Zellers to watch her teammates compete from the sideline.

“She’s so competitive that it was hard to sit and watch, but she kept bringing whatever she could offer to the team whether she was able to play or not,” Parker said. “I know she kept thinking about doing whatever she could to get back on the court. 

“Since she’s returned to the court, she’s given everything she has to the team and has made our team better.”

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Holliday’s Bree Zellers spikes the ball against Bowie Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Holliday.

 (Photo: Lauren Roberts/Times Record News)

Zellers is a natural leader for the Lady Eagles, but Parker has seen her leadership grow following the injuries.

“She’s a terrific leader on and off the court,” Parker said. “Going through the injuries has helped her become more of a vocal and positive leader.

“She doesn’t allow any of us to take anything for granted which has helped us remain focused when we’ve won and when we’ve lost this season. She has an incredible work ethic, and I think a lot of that comes from the rehab.”

The Lady Eagles have high hopes for the 2020 season and winning the district title was only the beginning.

“Our goal is to win every game, but we’d love to make it to regionals this year,” Parker said. “We know how hard it is to make it to the regional tournament and if we make it there then the state tournament becomes a possibility.”

“It would mean everything to me to make it to the regional tournament this year,” Zellers said. “I want to go out with a bang.”

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