by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
Katelyn Wilber, 18, is an enrolled member of the Menominee Nation of Wisconsin. She is a part of the Turtle clan from her father and Bear clan from her mother. Her parent’s are Nicole Shelton and Wayne Wilber and stepmother is Colette White. She lives in Bonduel, Wisconsin.
“I have been playing volleyball for more than seven years,” said Katelyn. “I am currently a senior at Shawano Community High School where I have played on varsity for two years. My junior year I was awarded Second Team All-Conference and the Heart of the Hawk Award. My senior year I received First Team All-Conference, Team MVP, Team Captain, and Shawano P.R.I.D.E Award.”
“My skill development came from playing club volleyball almost all year-round for several years. The clubs I played for had high levels of competition and allowed me to travel to new places and meet new people. Over the years I have played for Shawano Storm, Green Bay Power, Wisconsin Volleyball Academy, One Wisconsin, and Impact Volleyball Club. Each of these clubs taught me what I need to know to become a successful player and teammate,” added Katelyn.
“Since the majority of my years in volleyball were off the reservation, it was rare to see other Native Americans playing as well,” said Katelyn. “Due to this, I have a different perspective on what tribal values define me as a player. I see my coach’s as elders, those who are there to teach and guide me to be better. My teammates are part of my family, where everyone looks out for one another and grows from this bond. I would love to say I have a deep connection to my tribal identity, but with my education and volleyball programs being held of reservation, tribal values are one of many aspects not integrated into my student-athlete life.”
“If given the opportunity I would gladly join, coach, or ref an Indigenous volleyball program,” said Katelyn. “Sadly this option was not available or I never heard of such an opportunity. Native Americans often struggle with identity issues, seeing as why so few are seen at the professional level. I strive to play my best every time I am out on the court to become a positive indigenous role model for younger student-athletes. To show them that even though they might suffer from identity loss or missing tribal values, that does not mean they can’t be proud to represent their people.”
“My two cousins, JayCee and Breanna Jones, were the first to influence my volleyball career,” said Katelyn. “Watching them play at a high-level motivated me to strive to play at that level too. My family and I would travel to Chicago, IL and Louisville, KY to watch their tournaments. I was in awe as I watched them win and even when they lost. They always played hard and fought for every point. It was my dream to play at the places they did. To this day, I still admire them and all their hard work and dedication they put towards volleyball and their education.”
“Katelyn is my younger cousin who is an amazing volleyball player and leader,” said Breanna Jones. “She leads by example and that’s very special to see because that makes her a special player on any team. Katelyn has made a very big impact on my life because she’s someone who I inspired through volleyball and that’s all I could wish for as a player.”
“I decided at a young age I wanted to dedicate my time to the sport and wanted to become the best athlete I could be,” added Katelyn.
“My dad and stepmom contributed to my motivation and determination as an athlete,” said Katelyn. “From the start, they always believed in me and not once showed any doubt in my abilities. There would be times when I would start to lose sight of my goals, but my dad and stepmom would step in to remind me why I chose this path. I struggled mentally and would find it hard to see my worth on and off the court, but they have always been my rock whenever I needed them.”
“On the court if I struggled with a certain movement they were there to point out what I was doing wrong and how I could fix it. Any critique given I took as something to grow from, not dwell on or see as negative. They gave me every possible opportunity to get better. They sent me to camps and that played a huge part in my skill development,” added Katelyn.
“My uncle, Warren Wilber Sr., has always been there to support me too,” said Katelyn. “His constant support has given me strength to overcome almost any obstacle. There were times when I considered quitting but would see him at my games or I would talk to him and he would remind me how hard I worked and that volleyball is something I could never give up on. Whether we won or lost, he was always there to support me, and seeing his smile whenever I walked off the court would reassure that I chose the right path.”
“I look up to Katelyn as being a role model for others her age that are involved in sports,” said uncle Warren Wilber, Sr. “She a lovely young lady that shows great sportsmanship on and off the court, a great team player, a young lady that has developed leadership skills and sharing those skills with her teammates. Katelyn has goals she set for herself, focusing on her goals and a positive attitude has made her a better athlete. Parent and family who attends their games I believe makes a big impact on how the athletes perform on the court, encouraging words to help her build her confidence and excel in the sport she loves.”
Photo Credit: Bobbi Flynn
