Young leadership: Kelsey Mast brings a tenacious attitude to Lady Hawks
By Dave Mast
August 24, 2012
563
Every once in a while a talent steps up at a very young age and helps generate a new attitude for their team.
Hilands Kelsey Mast was one such talent last year. As a freshman, Mast was voted by her teammates as captain of a team coming off two straight winless seasons.
While the talent around her was growing and getting better, Mast brought to the team a kind of mental toughness that was missing before, and her drive and disdain for losing helped Hilands volleyball program take a step in the right direction, the team winning six games, including a very cherished tournament victory.
More importantly, the team continued its rise to being much more competitive in every game.
It wasnt easy stepping in as a freshman captain, but the upperclassmen made it so much easier because they really accepted me, said Mast. I felt that they were very accepting, and that helped me a lot.
Mast has played a long time, and said that part of the reason she is viewed as a leader on the court is simply because she is very vocal. She said that she also tries to be very encouraging to everyone, but the drive to win is perhaps her biggest asset.
I dont like to lose, said Mast. I am a very competitive person, and anyone who knows me would totally agree with that. When I dont win, I get upset, and I know that you have to let that go once the game is over. But you have to have that drive to win. You want your team to impress people and you want to feel good about how you are performing.
Masts intensity brought some attitude to the Lady Hawks, and while six games isnt a lot of wins, it was eons better than what they had experienced the past two years.
We had to pretty much learn how to win, said Mast. I was a captain, but it was the work of all of us that made that possible. We matured as a team, and now, we didnt lose anyone from last years team, so we have some pretty high expectations.
She also said that the team has developed a lot more leaders, and now they look to each other to inspire and challenge one another to get better.
Youve got to be intense in this sport if you want to be successful, said Mast. Whether I am on the court or on the bench, I want to bring that to each game we play. But in the end, its all about us winning together as a team.
Hiland coach Becky Williams saw how a fiery competitor can make a difference on a team, and noted that Mast brought some grit to an improving group.
Kelsey is one of those kids that, even in conditioning, she is pushing everyone, said Williams. She is always doing her best, and never quits. I think that pushed the other girls. She is a natural born leader who seems to be able to make people around her work harder and get better.
