BROOKSVILLE – On Tuesday, Hernando High hosted a signing ceremony for senior volleyball player Brooke Hart. At 11:15 that morning, family, friends, and coaches met in the Leopard room to witness Hart sign with Chowan University.
The college-bound athlete is set to play volleyball for the Hawks and will study criminology during her time at the university. Despite several colleges (including Lynchburg University, North Carolina Wesleyan, Salem, and Ferrum College) vying for her signature, it was ultimately the personalized feel of Chowan that won her over.
“When I went for a visit, it was a lot more different than the other colleges I visited,” said Hart. “It was more personal. Instead of admissions giving a tour, it was the head coach giving me a tour. He drove me around, and I actually got to hang out with the girls. I got to hang in the dorm […] I think what made me choose it was just more of a personal visit, and I really loved the campus.”
During her visit, Brooke even had the opportunity to meet with the university’s criminology professor. Eastside Principal and Chowan University alumnus Dr. Mike Lastra was at Tuesday’s signing ceremony and he echoed similar sentiments about the smaller college feel.
Dr. Lastra “cherished” that aspect of his time there. The local educator feels that Brooke will enjoy the fact that her new home for the next four years will be in a small town like Brooksville.
Dr. Lastra’s wife and fellow Chowan alumna, Beth, added that it will allow Brooke to become familiar with everyone on the school’s campus and get involved in the college’s myriad of programs. “It means a lot to me,” said Hart. “I mean, this is what I have been working for the past seven years of playing volleyball. So, it means a lot because I have always wanted to play volleyball in college.”
The matriculating volleyballer added that she has put “a lot” of preparation in throughout her career to get to this moment. In addition to playing at Hernando, she has done “a ton of training” and plays club volleyball as well.
That is to say nothing of the recruiting process. Between “the videos, knowing what type of college I want to go to, who to reach out to, [and] the constant emailing,” Hart has been extremely busy.
Brooke was thankful to her parents, coaches, and friends for helping her get to this moment. Her proud father, BJ, recognized that it can be difficult for the modern student athlete to remain focused with social media and other distractions, and he urged all athletes to stay the course and remain focused.
“We are so very proud of [Brooke],” Hernando Athletic Director Jeff Laing said. “She has been a great contributor to our Hernando athletic program. We look forward to following her and all her success she is going to have.”
More on Chowan:
Chowan University is a North Carolina-based academic institution that offers a “faith-centered education, the school’s website stated. The Hawks operate a Division II sports program that competes in the Conference Carolinas with 14 other colleges. With a 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio, the institution prides itself on its “personable” atmosphere. The school also has a 92 percent passing rate and offers over 60 different majors to its students.
