When volleyball practice begins this August in rural Donley County, Texas, Coach Melvin Balogh will not only bring the bump-set-spike noise back inside Bulldog Gymnasium, he'll bring in the 'Funk.'
As in Katy Funkhouser.
Early Wednesday morning in the BHS Cafetorium, the soon-graduating Bayfield senior was recognized for her decision to become a volleyball walk-on this fall for Clarendon College.
"It's everything I've wanted in a two-year college," she said, noting the Panhandle town's small-scale similarity to Bayfield, which closely rivals-if not surpasses-it in population. "It just luckily worked out-everything in one little place!"
She also became the third of Tod and Madonna's three children-following brothers Logan (baseball; 2009-Dixie State College, 2012-Scottsdale Community College) and Hunter (baseball; 2013-Marian University) to play college sports.
"In my family, athletics has always been a big thing.chasing our dreams," said the Second Team All-Intermountain League pick. "And to be the third one.to carry that on, it means a lot!"
"There's a lot of different types of athletes out there," Lady Wolverine head coach Terene Foutz said, "and Katy is one of those athletes who will grit it out. She builds the arsenal. And I know she's going to give everything she's got for her next coach!"
Balogh watched Funkhouser play in the Four Corners Volleyball Club at the mammoth Colorado Crossroads cavalcade in Denver. He then re-scouted her work at last month's Mizuno Lone Star Classic in Dallas. She and the FCVBC 18-Ron team placed 41st in the 18-USA Division. It's a virtual given he'll be expecting much.
Funkhouser's already on board with that.
"It was always on a roller-coaster-am I going to get my dream, or am I not going to get my dream?" she said of her high school and club play. "You've just got to work for it and you'll get it."
Foutz noted her player's progression from the 2013 season's start until its end (at 21-6 overall) in the Denver Coliseum against eventual 3A State Champions Eaton. "Truly the hard work forged her path.created the opportunity."
