By Chris Faulkner
Kenna Furnald of Danville had made up her mind that she had ended her volleyball career and would focus on education at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids.
But Southeastern Community College volleyball coach Michelle Glass was persistent.
“The SCC coach was really after me, and it’s a sport I love, so I decided to continue with it and see where it takes me,” Furnald said after a recent basketball game at West Burlington.
Furnald is planning on a career in nursing, “and I heard how hard it is. I really wanted to focus on that, but I also didn’t want to miss the opportunity to play the sport I love at a higher level.”
Furnald’s mother went through the nursing program at SCC, so the Danville senior is aware that she’s still in a good place.
“I plan to use that to my advantage,” Furnald said. “If I like it there, I’m going to stay and continue my career there.”
Furnald played in all 28 matches for the Bears this past season and led the team with 201 kills.
She made 278 digs, second-best on the team. She served 87 percent, with 26 aces.
Furnald earned all-district honors for Class 1A Southeast.
BHS Athletes
Burlington’s Lauren Briggs will play golf for Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, Mo.
As a junior for the Grayhounds, Briggs tied for ninth in Class 4A for the lowest nine-hole score at 36.
Her nine-hole average was 38.63.
Her low score for 18 holes was 71, good for 10th best in Class 4A. Briggs’ average for 18 holes was 76.83.
The Bearcats’ eight-player roster for this season includes three seniors.
Saydee Plummer will play for the Iowa Western Reivers softball team. This past summer, Plummer went 12-5 as a pitcher and was No. 11 in the state in Class 4A in strikeouts with 173.
Josephine Blazic will play soccer for Lawrence Technology University. She scored 13 goals and had six assists for Burlington.
Thomas Fell will play golf for Southeastern Community College.
He was the No. 2 golfer for the Grayhounds and averaged 39 strokes for nine holes.
Myah Rehman will play soccer for the SCC women’s team.
Madison Taeger has signed with the University of Dubuque softball program.
Emily Mosley will play tennis for Central College’s women’s team in Pella.
Notre Dame Athletes
Dylan Kipp of Notre Dame verbally committed to play football for Central College in Pella.
“I really like the school academically,” Kipp said, “and then had some good conversations with the coaches. I just thought it was the right place for me.”
Kipp caught 14 passes for a team-high 298 yards this past season for the West Burlington-Notre Dame Falcons. He had one TD catch for 71 yards. He also made 16 solo tackles and 16 assists.
Anna Engberg will play softball for St. Ambrose University next fall. Engberg, a senior at Notre Dame, has one more season left for the West Burlington-Notre Dame Falcons.
As a junior, Engberg hit. 439, second best on the team behind graduated senior Lauren Summers.
Engberg stole 19 bases, third best in the South Division.
She hit nine doubles, and three triples and drove in 17 runs.
Yazmin Sorensen of Notre Dame signed to play soccer for Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa.