Melanie Preiner

By Jake Grovum
UWRF Sports Information

There is more than meets the eye that makes up who Melanie Preiner. On the court she is a vital part of a Falcon team that has high hopes for the upcoming season. Off the court she is a person who uses her past experiences and support of her family to excel in everything she does.
           
Last year alone Preiner registered 73 steals and 55 three-pointers for the Falcons and earned All-WIAC honorable mention. Preiner excels in the classroom as well as she on the Dean’s List.
           
Falcon Head Coach Cindy Hovet’s description of Preiner matches the success she has had. “She is a player everyone should want on their team, she is really a genuine, personable, tough kid, and someone everybody should get to know,” Hovet said.  While Preiner is best known for her work on the court her life off the court consists of the same kind of excellence.
           
Hailing from Stillwater, Minn., Preiner has always had athletic influences around her. She recalled her childhood as one filled with sports and competition. “We would play every sport that existed; baseball, basketball, football, street hockey and kickball,” Preiner said. Going along with her childhood Preiner also relied on her siblings to help shape her into the person she has become today. “I couldn’t have asked for a better childhood! I had an older sister, Jess, and a younger brother, Jake, who I hung out with a lot growing up,” Preiner said of her childhood.
           
While everyone has influences that help shape who they are Preiner first pointed out her sister as her idol. “My idol is my older sister, Jess. She is an amazing athlete; she played at St. Cloud State on the softball team. And she’s just an all around great person,” Preiner said of her older sibling. Aside from her sister Preiner pointed out her closest relatives as her inspiration. “My inspiration is my family, especially my parents, Tom and Julie. They have always been there for me and are very encouraging in everything that I choose to do,” Preiner said.
           
Preiner eventually cut down on the number of sports she played and focused on softball and basketball while attending Stillwater High School. While she ended up playing basketball in college Preiner recalled her best athletic memory from her days on the softball field. “We beat the No. 1  ranked team in the state two times in a row to go to state. The last game went 17 innings and we won on a close call at home,” Preiner said as she recalled the epic affair.
           
Since she first step foot on campus basketball has been a top priority for Preiner. “The main thing that brought me to River Falls initially was basketball,” Preiner said. Hovet is definitely happy that Preiner decided to attend UWRF and be a part of the team. “We have good team chemistry; Preiner is an honest, straight up and good person,” Hovet said. The compliments didn’t stop there as Hovet continued praising her senior standout. “Preiner is a great and steady player, she makes both our offense and defense go,” Hovet said. 
           
Besides playing basketball Preiner is majoring in marketing communications and hopes to work in the television or advertising industry someday. Apart from academics Preiner couldn’t say enough about the memories and friends she will remember most after she leaves UWRF. “Playing on a team and the people I have met will definitely stay with me forever. I have met some of my best friends here and they are the ones I will remember the most,” Preiner said. “Oh yeah, and of course the education,” she added. 
           
Apart from the athletics and academics Preiner still manages to maintain a zest for life that is seldom seen. Preiner pointed to a rather motivational quote as her favorite. “Losers reflect on what could have been, while winners prepare for what can be,” she said.
While she is a fierce competitor on the court Preiner also chose “carefree” as the word that would best describe her personality. “I enjoy listening to music and hanging out with my friends. I also really love to dance and sing,” Preiner added. 
           
Preiner brings both her athletic ability and personality to the Falcons women’s basketball team as well as the UWRF campus and both are better off because of it.