PORT ANGELES — Aside from an understandable “mopey” period at its outset, Kennedy Bruch has kept to a strict schedule of workouts and training during the pandemic, even traveling to Florida to represent the Pacific Northwest at a national tournament, while continuing to split firewood — her way of contributing to her volleyball expenses — and keeping up her top-notch academic success (3.97 GPA) through online learning.
When schools were closed and sports ceased during track and field practice in March, Bruch said her spirits sank.
“I was really bummed out;, I was thinking about what is the point of having to go workout if I’m not going to get to play,” Bruch said. “And I was worried that I was going to fall behind in finding a college program.
“I gave myself a week of just doing school — a break — then I got a different perspective on it from some volleyball and track teammates. They were telling me to keep my head up, that everybody feels this way and it didn’t make me a bad teammate.”
She soon started early morning workouts, rising at 6:30 a.m. to follow routines from a German fitness Instagram page and going on 3- or 4-mile runs to keep up on cardio.
“When gyms opened up, I started personal training at Fitness West with Troy Mann, and things got pretty busy. I started working more, cutting and selling firewood.”
Bruch is expected to cover a good portion of her sports expenses, which can be daunting. Prior to the pandemic, she was traveling three times a week to Port Orchard for club volleyball practice, working on homework while her parents split the driving duties.
“That’s why I started doing firewood. I pay for half of it usually, and my parents [Alissa Bruch and Jesse Bruch] cover the other half,” Bruch said.
“I owe a lot of success to my parents because they have supported me so much.”
Port Angeles’ Kennedy Bruch sets the volleyball while playing for the NW 16 team at the AAU Junior Nationals in Orlando, Fla., last summer. (Photo courtesy of National Scouting Report)
Orlando trip
The trip to Orlando, Fla., was organized by her NW Power club coach Jackie Arnold, who brought together girls from six states, including Montana, Oregon and Washington to compete at the AAU Junior Nationals.
“Kennedy led the team and did an amazing job,” Arnold said. “Kennedy is going to make a program strong and will be the hardest working player on the court and in the classroom.”
“The girls from Washington and Oregon practiced together once before we arrived,” Bruch said. “It was cool to play girls my own age at that talent level.”
Bruch, who started on the Port Angeles varsity as a freshman, also has been playing against older players on the club circuit for many seasons.
Roughriders coach Jennifer Reynolds said Bruch was a nearly unanimous team captain as a sophomore in 2019 and proved to be a leader by example.
“She shows up early to setup the equipment; she works hard the entire time; and she’s in for the growth and development of her teammates,” Reynolds said. “It’s a tremendous gift as a coach to have an athlete that is so dedicated to the sport and her teammate.”
Reynolds said Bruch is able to play multiple positions on the court but has a favorite.
“She loves libero or defensive specialist,” she said. “That’s her passion position, but that’s one of the great parts about having an athlete like Kennedy; she can step in and succeed. She has great hands, she has court awareness that allows her to recognize and respond to the attack of the other team. And she’s so fast and hungry for the ball, she could cover the whole back row on the court, but she’s great at communicating with those around her. And if a mistake is made, she is encouraging and has a growth mindset. Any time the ball drops it’s, ‘fix it for next time.’”
Online learning was an adjustment, but Bruch said it hasn’t been impossible for her.
“You need to be really disciplined about turning in your work,” she said. “Taking a math class [a University of Washington pre-calculus class], that was definitely the hardest not having a teacher there to look over your shoulder, but our teacher Mr. [John] Henry was good about providing extra tutoring.”
College search
Her college search is becoming clearer as well.
“It’s been really successful,” Bruch said. “I’ve gotten multiple offers from smaller schools. I’m constantly emailing other colleges and talking back and forth and deciding which one is going to fit me the best. I want to go into business and do marketing or something like that.”
And she has some new family members that she’s bonded with.
“I actually made a lot of new friends in quarantine. My grandfather got married, and my stepgrandma has grandkids who are my age and go to the same school, so I have new stepcousins that check up on me. That’s been nice to have.”
COVID-19 era snapshot
Some COVID-19 time-capsule questions and answers from Port Angeles junior Kennedy Bruch:
My favorite TV show to stream during quarantine was: “’Greys Anatomy.’ I wish it was something a little more educational and athletic. I watch other sports to inspire me to keep being motivated in my sport. I watch a lot of gymnastics and a lot of diving, which I’ve never done.”
Is there a viral video or a YouTuber that you keep coming back to?: “I like watching Jeffrey Star, the makeup artist. I’m not too big into any social media platform.”
Did you learn any new skills or sharpen any old ones?: “I got into journaling and writing down things that I am thankful for and things that I have to do during the day. I got a planner at the beginning of the year, first for workouts to track lifts, and I still do it for workouts. But it got into more of my mental health, goals I have for the future and that type of thing.”
• What are some things you have done to help feel connected with others?: “I’m pretty good about reaching out to my friends to make sure they are doing OK because everybody has had a different time handling things. Making time to talk to them, getting coffee.”
• Biggest lesson learned during the pandemic: “I think with my schedule last year that you can get through hard things. That you don’t know how much you are able to accomplish until you try.”
• What changes have you seen in your community because of this?: “I’ve seen it at Safeway. A lot of people are giving back. This year is the most that we have ever given as a community. I think people are realizing how hard this time is mentally, physically and economically.”
• When this is over, or at least properly contained, what activity are you most looking forward to doing?: “I miss the freedom of being able to go and do the things you want without the worry of getting sick or getting somebody else sick. I really want to go to a concert. [Watershed, a country music festival at the Gorge Ampitheatre]. That’s exactly where I want to go.”
• What’s your biggest goals for life going forward?: “Just to not so be so hard on myself and to keep improving little by little. Sometimes I think I have to accomplish the world in a week, and that’s not possible. Improving in small pieces.”
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-406-0674 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
