Star Student Athlete: Helen 'Brings Sense Of Joy' To Game In Holmdel

HOLMDEL-HAZLET, NJ — We all know student athletes who also bring their A-game to other parts of their lives.

Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize these heroes making a difference in their communities. We’re working to let all your neighbors know the individual stories behind the leaderboard.

This submission comes from Maura, who nominated her daughter Helen.

"Watching her play, she clearly is having fun and brings a sense of joy to her teammates," says Maura.

Star student athlete’s name

Helen

Star student athlete’s home state

New Jersey

Star student athlete’s Patch town

Holmdel-Hazlet

How do you know the star student athlete?

My daughter

What sport does the star student athlete play?

Volleyball

Why do you believe the star student athlete should be recognized?

Helen is a bright young volleyball player, A+ student and eldest of four kids.

She just started playing this year with Coach Holsey on her freshman girls volleyball team. Playing mid block, she’s generally the starting the first set. This year, when first being introduced to the sport in her eighth-grade gym class with Mrs. Sollecito, she fractured her finger, taking her out of spring track.

This season, as a Lancer, she made an athletic defensive play to keep the ball in play. She saved her team from loosing a point, yet injured her wrist. With fear of a potential break, she went to an orthopedist who confirmed it was just a bad sprain and in a week she was back in action.

Watching her play, she clearly is having fun and brings a sense of joy to her teammates. The team currently is 6-4 and full of amazing athletes. It truly is a joy to watch them play on and off the court.

Helen’s most admirable quality however is watching her be the captain of team Our Kids. She truly has a heart for her youngest brother, Michael, a pre-k 4 student. When trying out for the team in August, Michael helped her out by returning serves to her in the back yard. If he ever has a bad day at school, Helen is the only one who can bring a smile back to his face with her slapstick comedy. She truly lives to see him smile.

When asked about what she wants to study when she grows up, like most freshman, it changes weekly. This week it’s civil law, to fight injustice. Next week, graphic design.

After listening to her valedictorian address to her eighth-grade Class of 2022, it’s clear, no matter what she puts her mind to, she will bring the same joy and determination she has to her studies, her teammates and her family.

What's one thing you want everyone to know about the star student athlete?

It’s simply a joy to watch her play and grow into the young lady she is becoming.

Keep up the great work, Helen!

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Know an outstanding student athlete? Nominate them as a Patch Star Student Athlete.