Where Are They Now -- Amanda Probst

Amanda Probst

"Athletics taught me about teamwork and how to work with and respond to different types of people. It taught me how to deal with failure and how to be a thankful winner. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and tested my limits. I wouldn't be the person I am today without athletics."

That quote is from Amanda Probst, an outstanding volleyball player who competed for Newton High School and graduated in 2003. She now teaches first grade in Brownsburg, Indiana and lives in Carmel.

"Growing up I did gymnastics and softball and was around sports with my family, but then was introduced to volleyball in middle school," said Probst. "I was introduced to club volleyball by my older cousins who were playing at the time and I fell in love with the sport. I focused on volleyball at the high school level and also played club volleyball."

Probst lettered all four years in high school and the list of awards is long. Her freshman year she was named to the Edwards County All-Tournament Team. Her sophomore year she was All-Apollo Conference and Effingham Daily News All-Area Volleyball Honorable Mention. During her junior year she was named to the Charleston Invitational All-Tournament Team, All-Apollo Conference First Team, Decatur Herald All-Area Volleyball Third Team, EDN All-Area Volleyball First Team and team Most Valuable Player. Her senior year she was named to the Kansas Volleyball All-Tourament Team, Edwards County All-Tournament Team, All-Apollo Conference First Team, Apollo Conference Academic Team, EDN All-Area First Team, Decatur Herald All-Area Team, Champaign News-Gazette All-State Team Special Mention, team Most Valuable Player and to the Newton High School Hall of Fame.

Probst talked about memorable moments in her high school career.

"One of my most memorable moments was playing in the championship game of the Edwards County Tournament. We were playing Mount Carmel and both teams were tired because it was our fifth match of the day. This was still the time of what I call old school scoring where you had to both serve the ball and win the volley in order to get a point (no rally scoring). Both teams kept siding out and no one could score any points.

"It was close throughout all three games, but we ended up winning the match. That match also helped us get into the IHSA record books for some stats. I looked up to see if any of the records were still there and I found Newton is fourth for most kills in a match for a team with 68 against Mount Carmel, most kills in a match for an individual and I'm seventh with 33 vs. Mount Carmel and Becca Hartrich is still first for most assists in a match for an individual with 60 vs. Mount Carmel. That match lasted around 2 1/2 hours."

From high school, Probst attended the University of Southern Indiana on a volleyball and an academic scholarship and majored in Elementary Education. The accolades kept coming as she was Academic All-GLVC all four years and made the Deans List every semester during her career. Her sophomore year, she made the All-GLVC second team. She set two records for most digs in a match with 32 and most digs in a season with 475. Her junior year she broke her own record for most digs in a match with 33 and her senior year she broke the record of most digs in a career with 1,490 and was second in most aces in a career with 179.

"My most memorable college match was during my sophomore year. That year my team had won our conference tournament so we made it to the regional round of competition. We were the seventh seed playing the second seed Ferris State and no one thought we would win. It was only the second time our school had made it to regionals. I rememberthe fans being unusually obnoxious that match and also have heightened adrenaline the whole time. It was back and forth each set and we ended up winning in five sets. We did end up losing the next match but to this day, that has been the farthest any USI team has ever gone."

As a teacher of first graders, Probst talked about her career choice.

"I have always loved children and wanted to help them learn and grow," said Probst. "I love teaching first grade because children make huge growth. They make huge growth because they are being introduced to so many new concepts. I love to watch them grow in their reading abilities and just their own confidence in themselves."

Probst has remained close to the sport she loves.

"I have stayed involved in volleyball since finishing college. I coached at Teutopolis Junior High and Senior High schools from 2008-2012 along with coaching in club volleyball. I movedt o Carmel, Indiana in 2013 and have coached in both junior high and high school settings, along with club volleyball for Circle City Volleyball Club. This year wast he first year I did not coach because I focused on school/teaching, but plan on getting back into coaching soon.

"I am still a volleyball girl at heart and love to watch college and professional volleyball. I love the Big 10 volleyball teams and also Stanford. Other than volleyball, I don't really follow any other sports. I do like to support our local Indianapolis teams, the Colts, Pacers, Fever, Indians, Indy Eleven and Indy Fuel."

What advice would she give athletes to compete at the high school and college levels?

"Put in the work and effort towards your goals. Do the best you can with the role you're given. If you don't like that role, work hard to change it, don't make excuses. Learn how to time manage. And, enjoy every moment because it will be gone too quickly."

Probst during her college career.