by By Dan Ninham
Brenneih Nelson, 18, graduated last spring of 2021 from To’hajiilee High School in New Mexico. She will be a freshman at The University of New Mexico this fall.
“I am a full blooded Navajo,” said Brenneih. “My clans are Kinyáá’ááni nishli, Tsah’yiskidnii bashishchiin, Tó’baazhniaazhi da shicheii, and Tó’dichiinii da shinali.”
Brenneih, a First Team All-Metro selection, was highly recruited and received softball offers from NCAA D3 schools to NAIA schools.
She played basketball, volleyball and softball throughout her high school career and finished with being named my school’s “Student Athlete of the Year”.
“My tribal core values allow me to be a leader as an athlete,” said Brenneih. “Whether it’s representing myself in a good way when we’re in front of people or whether it’s being a student in the classroom.”
“When playing, I remember that I am strong and resilient. Most of all to walk in beauty. Who I am while playing, is who I am as a Diné woman. I remember who I am and who I am representing,” added Brenneih.
As an athlete Brenneih hopes to continue playing the sports she loves whether it’s just for fun or competitively. “Right now, as much as I wanted to sign with a school, I decided to focus on my education first. As I enter into a new and more academically challenging atmosphere, I’d like to make sure my education is my top priority. Maybe next year I will sign but for now I will continue working on myself as an athlete and continue playing softball and volleyball for fun.”
“My main mentor would definitely be my mom,” said Brenneih. “She reminds me of the little things when I play whether it’s form or just keeping my head in the game.”
“The coaches who challenged me were Alex Varga, Sunni Costello and Labrina Willis in volleyball; Visaria Apachito, Alex Apachito in basketball and lastly Wilson Platero in softball,” said Brenneih.
“My volleyball coaches were able to bring that leadership out of me when they made me libero and co-captain of the varsity team as a freshman. My basketball coaches taught me determination and consistency. I had to fight to play and I got to play with people who wanted to win. They led us to be District champs and we even went on to the second round of state, which our school has never done. Lastly was my softball coach. I was able to step up and be a pitcher since my freshman year. My coach always had fun with us making us laugh and teaching us how to incorporate our traditions into the game we played. He taught me to smile when I play, love the game and play hard at the same time,” added Brenneih.
Everyone has a story. Brenneih shared her story: “I had to persevere a lot to get to where I was. My freshman year I went into hard depression, felt suicidal and just overcame it when I won Miss To’Hajiilee Community School 2017-2018. I had forgotten who I was and luckily some people were able to help me. Since then I’ve done nothing but live life to the fullest. I was able to hold a school title, win multiple student athlete awards, all district awards and even become the Valedictorian of my class.”
“Nothing is impossible if you have the right support and if you remember who you are and why you do the things you do,” said Brenneih.
Photo Credit: Brenda Wilson
You will do great things in life. Just remember to live, laugh and love. Everything will follow shi Yaazhi
I’m very proud of Ms. Nelson. I enjoy reading articles about the accomplishments of students from To haj. I was a teacher at the community school from 1990-1995. It’s great to see my friend Elaine’s little girl, Sunni Costello, is a coach there. I remember when Sunni was born.