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Brookfield Central Athletes Sign College Contracts

Seniors Ann Liewan, Britney Held, and Mike Treis plan to continue playing sports at the collegiate level.

Three Brookfield Central seniors plan to continue their athletic careers in college, signing their intent to play basketball, volleyball and tennis at universities in Michigan and North Carolina.

Ann Liewan

Ann Liewan began playing basketball in the fifth grade and got the chance to be coached by her father, Tim Liewan, when she was in sixth and seventh grade. Ann will be attending Northern Michigan University for basketball in the fall.

“I remember going on camping trips when I was little with other families who played and there were a lot of tournaments, too,” says Ann, who was spotted by Northern Michigan during a game. 

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At a signing ceremony this week, her parents Diane and Tim Liewan said they were excited and proud of Ann, adding she “has worked very hard for this.”

Ann’s major is undecided at Northern Michigan, but she says she likes math and science. The team starts conditioning a week before school starts in September. 

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“Overall I am excited, but I am going to miss my friends and family the most,” Ann said.

Britney Held

Britney Held loved the fast pace of volleyball ever since she began playing in the seventh grade. The 2011 Lancer team captain is attending the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. She intends to major in either chemistry or physics, and might use that degree to teach. 

“I am nervous, but this is another step in my life that I am excited to take,” says Britney. She was spotted after nationals by Charlotte, after she made the switch from outside hitter to setter for her team. 

“The campus felt like home. I knew it right away,” she said.

Britney was selected as 2011 1st team All Greater Metro Conference and 2011 Greater Metro Conference scholar athlete. She is excited about her sport becoming more serious and competitive at the collegiate level. She will be a setter at UNC.

“I am going to miss the team the most,” she says. “We made it a family over the past few years.”

Mike Treis

Mike Treis will continue his tennis career at Western Michigan University. “I started playing when I was seven, and I fell in love right away,” he says.

The 2011 MVP talked with a great passion for the sport. He was attracted to Western Michigan by its great coaching staff and constant team chemistry. Mike will major in business marketing, just like his father.

“I want to enter a field like my dad, and follow in his footsteps,” says Mike. He adds he is ready for the new challenges college will offer. 

The 2009-11 state qualifier’s greatest accomplishment was that in Coach Dave Steinbach’s 30 years at Brookfield Central, Mike was the first freshman to ever become a starter. 

“My goal for my last season as a Lancer is to make it to the third day at the State Championship, and place,” says Mike. “I have choked in the past and I am going to do it this year.”

Mike says he will miss the Brookfield area the most when he leaves for Western Michigan. “I have lived here since I was six and I really like it, but the suburb my school is in also felt like home,” he says.

At a signing ceremony Nov. 9 at the school, Joy Taylor, assistant administrator to the Athletic Director, credited the athletes' success to the strong support system with parents and siblings.

“Britney (Held) plays with her younger sister, who is a junior also planning to play post-high school volleyball,” says Taylor. “And I know Ann and Mike have siblings that play other sports, too.

“The success here is unbelievable,” says Taylor, who has worked at Central for 10 years. “It’s one thing to succeed in high school, but then our students always go to the collegiate level and succeed as well.”

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