By Tara Sowle
UWRF Sports Information

Falcon team captain Vanessa Zamzow began her volleyball career in 7th grade, but if it were up to her she would never have even thought about joining the team.

She was her junior high school team's running back in football and she loved it.   "I was a total tomboy and I loved to play football, but my Mom made me quit when I got hurt," said Zamzow. She had to decide between playing volleyball or swimming and she chose volleyball even though she had never played the game before in her life.

That decision has made all the difference in her high school career as she developed into a stand out player. She was named team captain and earned all-conference honorable mention in 2001 while playing at Park Center High School. She was also named to the Sun-Post All-Region team. During her high school years, she also competed in track & field and basketball. She earned all-conference honors three times in track & field. She was the captain of the basketball team and was named the team's Outstanding Senior in 2002.

Zamzow's enthusiasm in high school stretched beyond athletics. She was also a member of the National Honor Society and earned a Triple 'A' Award for excellence in arts, athletics and academics. She also earned the Star Community Award.

That ambition has spread into her college years. Besides being a member of Student Athletic Advisory Committee and playing intramural basketball and softball she was named to the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll for the second straight year.

"The many lessons that athletics can teach such as hard work, team cohesion, commitment and working towards a common goal Vanessa lives every day whether it has been on the court, classroom orwith her community service activities," said Falcon Coach Patti Ford.

Zamzow has spent four years with the Falcons. During her freshman year, she red-shirted, giving her junior eligibility this year though she will graduate this spring with a major in elementary education and a minor in math. "I would like to teach middle school math," said Zamzow and Ford thinks she'll be good at it. "She is going to do great things as she enters her professional career as an elementary teacher."

Her busy schedule and commitment to excellence have left little her little free time, but you won't find her complaining. "Meeting people and playing volleyball is great. I just take things on a day to day basis and try and keep my priorities in order."

Zamzow warns that if anyone is looking to take on her type of workload that they better be all in it because "in the end, if you're committed it'll all pay off."