Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Bree Swanson, Chinook volleyball

As the District 7C Volleyball Tournament rages on in Chinook over the weekend, several teams will battle for the district title. As the host school, Chinook will be looking to win the tournament after finishing second last year. The Sugarbeeters are led by the likes of junior Bree Swanson who believes they have a chance to make a run.

"We worked really hard in practice and I think we just need to keep going on and be strong with that," Swanson said. "We have a good chance at it so we just got to keep working hard and have our heads in the game."

Swanson has not been playing volleyball for long as she started playing in seventh grade. While she was not sure if she would be good enough to get playing time when she started, she quickly took to it and has loved it ever since.

"I just love the team aspect of it. Whenever I'm down, my team can pick me up," Swanson said.

This season, the middle hitter has helped the Sugarbeeters reach success as they finished the regular season with a 12-4 record. Chinook entered the tournament as the No. 3 seed and swept Big Sandy Thursday to open tournament play.

Along with volleyball, Swanson plays basketball for the Sugarbeeters. When she is not on the court, she helps out around the family ranch. One of her biggest passions is photography as she likes to shoot portraits, livestock for her family and whatever she finds on the ranch. She hopes to eventually build a career off of her photography and is looking at getting into graphic design marketing.

Swanson and the Sugarbeeters will continue playing today in the District 7C Volleyball Tournament as they try to win a district title. Before she gets back on the court, the Havre Daily News got the chance to ask Swanson five questions.

HDN: How have you enjoyed this season so far?

Swanson: "We graduated seven seniors last year and I was on varsity as a sophomore. It was hard to see them all leave and coming into this season with a bunch of younger girls. We have a lot of sophomores and juniors and three seniors and we've just worked really hard together and we work good together."

HDN: As a veteran on the team, do you feel like you are a leader?

Swanson: "I think so. I've been on varsity since my freshman year so three years on varsity. I see myself as a leader."

HDN: What is your approach to the game of volleyball?

Swanson: "My approach is to just take it a game at a time and just on to the next play if things don't go your way."

HDN: As a multi-sport athlete, how do you handle that along with being a high school student?

Swanson: "I just show up to school every day and work hard and go to practice with a different mindset every day. No matter how bad or good my day was going and just move on and just keep going."

HDN: What have you learned from the game of volleyball?

Swanson: "I've learned just to work together and never get down on yourself because that'll bring your team down even more. These girls are really awesome, bringing me back up if I'm down and just on to the next play."