For athletes, the human physique is a machine. And identical to machines, the physique wants gasoline as a way to present excessive efficiency and power. For Tempe native and Corona del Sol alumna Brooke Nuneviller, she prioritized her cooking and diet as a lot as her coaching to assist her excel from highschool to varsity and now on the skilled stage.
Nuneviller performed underneath Aztec volleyball coach Ben Maxfield all 4 years at Corona, profitable the 6A state title in 2016 and ending runner-up in 2017 and 2018. Her stardom took her to Oregon, the place she performed from 2018-2022 and additional established her sport. . Following an expert volleyball profession, she performed for Nilüfer Belediyespor in Turkey earlier than returning to america and becoming a member of the Omaha Supernovas of the Skilled Volleyball Federation. She now has the chance to work in the direction of attaining her life's objective of being a part of the Olympic squad.
In highschool, Brooke was “the very best of the very best,” as Maxfield says. She performed a pivotal function as a libero and outdoors hitter, but it surely wasn't till school that her weight loss plan and manufacturing elevated.
“My junior yr, once I began to actually excel, I actually began to concentrate to what meals affect my physique and the way my weight loss plan impacts my efficiency,” Nuneviller mentioned. “So I needed to make a change. I needed to get more healthy. “I wish to be extra bodily and I feel meals and what you devour actually performs a giant function in that.”
A part of the self-discipline comes from more healthy alternate options to eating places or quick meals, which Brooke mentioned she turned extra open to by experiments within the kitchen. “If I craved one thing I might attempt to make a more healthy model at house. And I feel by these experiments I actually began to benefit from the technique of cooking and the way it's affecting my sport and now my profession.”
Brooke's fridge is stocked with juices, from beets to cherries, inexperienced juices and coconut water, plus protein and loads of fruit and veggies. She additionally loves glowing water and is an avid espresso drinker, with “like 800 espresso creamers.” And whereas her weight loss plan performed a task in her rise to professional standing, Maxfield says it's additionally her “God-given capacity.”
“[It’s that] innate capacity that she has mixed together with her easy need to have a piece ethic that makes her an unbelievable participant,” he mentioned. “After we wanted to kill, we knew we may go to her and she or he is tremendous sensible with all the things. She knew the place to place the ball and it wasn't nearly energy. You recognize, she had that finesse.”
Maxfield mentioned he knew the kind of athlete Brooke was earlier than coming to Corona, having performed years in membership volleyball and for the U.S. junior nationwide crew. However “when she was most likely a sophomore, she most likely knew extra.” than me,” he mentioned, laughing. Though Brooke's mother and father performed volleyball, Beth, who performed and coached for Arkansas State and is presently the Aspire Membership's school recruiting director, has been an enormous affect in Brooke's life. To not point out the same traits Beth handed on, together with her tenacity on the courtroom.
“She's all the time been very vocal and she or he's all the time been very aggressive. And that's only a character trait of hers. I, as a participant, was roughly the identical,” mentioned mom Nuneviller. Brooke has already achieved quite a bit in her younger profession and she or he says she seems like she has nothing left to show. However one factor she has all the time dreamed of is the Olympics, she says. Together with her objective of internet hosting the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, Brooke says it might be a dream come true.
However identical to a dream, the highway to success is rocky. As a 5-foot-11 out of doors undersized or outsized libero, Brooke seems to be in a troublesome spot, however that, she says, gained't deter her.
“I feel if I continued to excel as an outdoor hitter, then possibly my alternatives would develop on that roster. I feel the extra versatile you will be, the higher off you can be.” Brooke, who performed libero and outdoors in highschool, transitioned to full-time outdoors in Eugene, the place he says he prefers.
“You’re concerned in many alternative elements of the sport: as a libero, you cross and defend. As an exterior, you are able to do that; then you too can order, block and serve. I identical to to contribute. “I like having the ability to rating factors and I feel I’ve extra enjoyable, and I get pleasure from the way in which I play outside extra… than I might as a libero.”
Maxfield mentioned he has no doubts about Brooke's capacity to earn a spot on the Olympic roster. Her mom says she is assured too, but it surely relies on how the pre-existing record of veterans develops. “I'm going to attempt to compete on the highest stage doable,” Brooke mentioned. “And I feel the Olympic roster is sort of the tip objective for that. “I feel if you wish to construct a squad like that, you want to put all the things you’ve gotten into it.”
From turning into a state champion and undisputed chief of the Corona ladies' crew, to turning into a star for the Oregon Geese, to taking part in professionally overseas and proving a profession because of her dedication, Brooke Nuneviller appears to already be having a profitable profession due to it .