SuburbanOneSports.com recognizes a male and female featured athlete each week. The awards, sponsored by Univest, are given to seniors of good character who are students in good standing that have made significant contributions to their teams. Selections are based on nominations received from coaches, athletic directors and administrators.
Univest’s SuburbanOneSports.com Featured Female Athlete (Week of Oct. 29, 2014)
When Michael Falter was looking for someone to get his team fired up before its opening round district match against Central Bucks West, he didn’t have to look far. The Pennsbury volleyball coach called on Lauren Bransfield. “I basically told them – not to play for me but imagine my position and get that heart and realize you never know when you won’t be able to step back on the court,” Bransfield said. The Falcons rolled to a sweep of the Bucks, inspired, no doubt, by the senior captain’s speech. Bransfield – typically at the middle of the net – gave that pre-game speech from a wheelchair. Bransfield’s life changed forever on Sept. 26 when she was involved in a serious automobile accident while visiting her boyfriend in Maryland. “We were just t-boned right where I was sitting,” Bransfield said. “To be honest, I don’t remember the accident or even getting in the car that day. I just remember waking up in the hospital. I had stomach surgery, I had a concussion, I had a broken pelvis in three spots, I had a broken collarbone in two spots and a fractured wrist that needed screws and rods to be put into place. It was a near-death experience.”
Not exactly the kind of interruption Bransfield could have anticipated when she began her final high school season. The senior middle hitter was the undisputed leader of a Falcon squad that had not lost in league play, and suddenly, volleyball was out of the picture, trumped by the goal of simply walking again on Nov. 11 when she begins physical therapy. After six days in the hospital, Bransfield returned home. By the following Tuesday, she was back at school in a wheel chair. “It was definitely a shock, and it’s very, very hard to deal with even now,” she said. “But I’ve gotten tremendous amounts of support from basically everybody I know. Once I’ll be able to walk again – which is in two weeks, I’m sure it will be a lot easier. I missed out on the second half of my senior season, and it’s just terrible, but at the same time, you’ve got to get through it.”
Bransfield attended her volleyball team’s games through the district playoffs and offered leadership from the sidelines. “She’s the kind of player who would get in your face in a good way and try and pump you up,” Falter said. “She would lead by example – always positive. She also has that desire to win and tries to instill that in others. We didn’t really realize how much of an influence she had on the team until it was gone. We felt a huge void – not just with her abilities. When she came back, even though she wasn’t on the court, I think it was very relaxing because we played more consistently than we had, and I think a lot of it had to do – there was just that calming presence that Lauren being there gave them.”
Bransfield lists James Madison as her top college, and she plans to major in pediatric nursing. Injuries will keep Bransfield off the court for quite some time, but she hopes club volleyball will be in her future. “My orthopedic doctor said because I’m so young, there’s a good chance I’ll be able to get my full range of motion back,” she said. “I have a good feeling it won’t be a problem. We’ll see what happens. I’ll take it one day at a time, but I’m sure one day I’ll be able to get back on the court.”
To read Bransfield’s complete profile, please click on the following link: http://www.suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/female/lauren-bransfield-0048360
Univest’s SuburbanOneSports.com Featured Male Athlete (Week of Oct. 29, 2014)
He runs fast and thinks even faster. Fast enough to know that you don’t miss a step when chasing down your dream. Meet Christopher Welde. Citing football as his “passion,” the Council Rock North senior gave up a spot on the varsity baseball team to run track – winter and spring as a sprinter who runs in several relays - to concentrate on gaining more of an edge with his speed. With speed to burn, Welde (4.43 in the 40) is a perfect fit for the Council Rock North offense that spreads the field and works at a frenetic pace. It is not for everyone but ideal for a smallish (5-7, 165 pounds) athlete with a big enough mind to wrap himself around the whole playbook in a system built around heavily recruited quarterback Brandon McIlwain. “I just try to be a supportive player and help out my team,” he said. “I feel like I can help my team in many ways. Whether it’s running back or wide receiver, I know the routes.”
The three-year letterman not only lines up at tailback and slot receiver on offense and various spots in the secondary on defense but is an added threat on special teams as a kick returner. “Chris is the unsung hero of the team this year,” coach Adam Collachi said. “He has scored in each game this season, and in the Truman game, he scored three different ways – receiving, rushing and a kickoff return.” Welde rarely comes off the field, which is fine by him. “I just want to help the team get the win and move on to the next win,” he said. “We are well-conditioned, which we have to be, playing a no-huddle offense. Other teams talk about preparing to play all four quarters. We believe in the fifth quarter.”
Welde’s versatility, as well as his leadership skills as a role model, have made him a favorite of Collachi and his staff. “Ever since Chris was a freshman, we knew we had a special player,” the Indians’ head coach said. “He is such a coachable kid who just wants what is best for the team. His growth as a player parallels to the growth and success of the CR North program over the past four seasons.”
The son of a collegiate football player, Joel Welde, who played for Dayton, Welde is the quintessential student-athlete. He scored 800 on the math portion of the SAT. Outside of football and track, Welde is involved in as many school activities as time allows. The list includes the National Honor Society, the Science Honor Society and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He boasts a GPA just below 4.2. An aspiring engineer, Welde mentioned Lehigh, along with Yale and Johns Hopkins, but is keeping his options open.
To view Welde’s complete profile, please click on the following link: http://www.suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/male/chris-welde-0048368
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