Having accepted a scholarship offer from Oakland University to play volleyball, Parkin should have a little more time on her hands next year than what she is used to the past four at Clarkston High School. She has excelled in three sports: volleyball, basketball and track on a varsity level in each of her four years at CHS.
‘I put a lot of work in and I deserve my scholarship,? said Parkin. ‘Volleyball has always been my favorite sport.?
At the end of the 2005 track season, Parkin will become the first Clarkston female athlete to earn 12 varsity letters, garnered over four years of spirited competition in basketball, volleyball and track.
‘In today’s world (Parkin’s athletic career) is pretty remarkable,? said Clarkston Athletic Director Dan Fife. ‘She wasn’t a bench warmer. She was (on varsity) because she could play.?
Many coaches both in college and on the high school level feel that for an athlete seeking a scholarship in a specific sport, year round dedication is required. Parkin knew she was possibly handicapping herself, but has no regrets looking back on her career.
‘I thought about not running track this year to concentrate on volleyball, but I knew I’d regret not getting the 12th letter,? said Parkin. ‘I think if I (hadn’t) played the other sports, I wouldn’t be as good in all the sports. I think they compliment each other.?
While she was looking at several schools, Oakland University won Parkin once she met the coaching staff and some of her soon-to-be teammates during a visit to the campus. Many members of next year’s Golden Grizzly volleyball team will also be freshman, which helped put Stephanie at ease about the transition to college athletics.
‘We always emphasized that she did not have to play sports for a scholarship and I think she is a better athlete because of it,? said Tim Parkin, Stephanie’s father.
Another transition Parkin will have to make at Oakland will be on the court, as she will move to outside hitter from the middle hitter spot she played at CHS.
In terms of her high school career, Parkin holds CHS records for most kills, most digs and best dig percentage; she has been the regional champion in the 100 meter and hurdles the past two years and was the basketball team’s leading scorer this past year.
‘She’s quiet off the court ? she’s so competitive on the court though. All she is thinking about is winning,? said Kelly Avenall, who coached Parkin in volleyball the past two years and in eighth grade.
In terms of going from one sport to another, Parkin admitted the first few weeks of a new sport are tough on her body as muscles not used in one sport are points of emphasis in another. Also, the relationships built in one season are not as easy to maintain as Parkin changes sports while her teammates do not.
Even with the demands placed on her three sports, Parkin culled a 3.53 GPA throughout her high school career. At Oakland, Parkin is interested in studying physical therapy.