Geibel Catholic Student/Athlete scholarship recipient
Chelsey Kreinbrook has become a quiet leader Chelsey Kreinbrook still professes to be shy.
But over the past four years, Kreinbrook has grown into a quiet leader.
As a setter, she has helped Geibel Catholic’s girls volleyball squad rise to the pinnacle of the WPIAL. The two-time defending Class A WPIAL champion Lady Gators consistently field one of the state’s most talented teams, and have reaped much success over the past decade.
In the process, Kreinbrook found her voice.
“I was always more laid back than most kids and quiet,” Kreinbrook said. “That was one of my biggest problems when I started playing. A lot of people say being a setter is a lot like being the quarterback because you control the offense.
“Because I started my sophomore year, I became move vocal. I’m still shy overall, but I think being a setter helped me to become a pretty good leader.”
A leader on the volleyball court and in the classroom, Kreinbrook’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed.
Kreinbrook, the daughter of Douglas and Kathy Kreinbrook, of Dawson, was selected as the top female student/athlete at Geibel Catholic High School and will receive a $500 scholarship through the Fayette County Student/Athlete Scholarship Program.
The program, sponsored by Davis and Davis Attorneys at Law in conjunction with the Herald-Standard, will provide $7,000 in scholarship money to 14 of Fayette County’s best and brightest student/athletes.
A banquet will culminate the program Sunday, June 3 at the Historic Summit Inn. At that time, each of the 14 honorees will receive $500 toward a college education. HSTV will videotape the event.
After finishing her high school career with a 3.898 grade point average and ranking No. 9 in a class of 66, Kreinbrook will continue her academic and athletic careers at Indiana University of Pennsylvania on a volleyball scholarship.
“I received the offer late last year,” Kreinbrook said. “I knew a lot of coaches were looking at me, but I really wasn’t getting any offers. A lot of the coaches were from Division III schools, and they don’t offer scholarships.
“But then I received an offer from Indiana, and I was really excited. I have met the coach, Zach Shaver, and he’s a really nice guy. I really like the volleyball program there and I really like the campus.”
Kreinbrook, the granddaughter of Betty Kreinbrook, of Connellsville, has an older sister, Ashley, 21. Ashley was also a member of the Lady Gators’ volleyball team and currently attends Waynesburg College, where she just made the transition to defensive specialist for the Yellow Jackets.
The two share a close relationship.
“She has taught me so much about everything,” Chelsey Kreinbrook said. “I’ve always had good coaches, but she has probably been my biggest coach. And biggest fan.”
Along with her academic and athletic achievements, Kreinbrook was a member of the National Honor Society, the Spanish National Honor Society and GAP (Geibel Aerospace Program).
Kreinbrook just recently decided to major in finance.
“I’ve always been good with numbers and at first I thought I wanted to major in math, but I really didn’t know where I would go with that,” Kreinbrook said. “I figured you could have a lot of different careers with finance. People don’t want to manage their own money anymore.”
Excelling in both academics and athletics didn’t come without a price.
Kreinbrook said she learned early on what it would take to do well at both.
“It always took a lot of hard work,” Kreinbrook said. “I only played one sport and it was hard enough to balance my schoolwork and sports. The main thing was being able to get everything done. I had to make time for my schoolwork. Whether it was before or after a practice, or after a match.”
Kreinbrook has grown into a leader, both on and off the court, over the past four years.
Now, with college on the horizon, she expects more changes.
“I’m pretty independent,” Kreinbrook said. “But I think going to college will be a big change. IUP really isn’t in a big city, but I live on a farm in the country so it will be a lot different for me.”