You rarely hear Brighton High School complain about its size. Still, 17 of the Monroe County League’s other 21 schools have larger enrollments. So to field a full compliment of athletic teams, which they do, and compete against the likes of Fairport and Rush-Henrietta, which they do, the Barons have to approach things differently.
“Usually what we do is ask if you have any friends who are pretty athletic, send them our way and we take a look at them,” said boys volleyball coach Brad Rosenbaum.
“Over the last couple of years we’ve had a couple come out and help the program.”
Just such an opportunity presented itself three years ago. Mike Hansen had played freshman soccer. A couple of his classmates felt he was in the wrong fall sport.
According to fellow senior Riley Damerell, “Me and Phil (Pellegrino) knew Hansen from the basketball team and we kept getting on him to play volleyball. So our coach challenged Hansen to a one on one basketball game.”
At the time, Hansen was 6-2. Coach Rosenbaum is 5-7. The stakes were high.
“I saw him and his brother (former Brighton volleyball star J.P. Hansen) at the gym and we both started to get on him to play volleyball in the fall. So I said, ‘I tell you what. We’ll play a game of basketball, one on one to 11. If I win, you come play for me. If I lose, you can do whatever you want to do.”
With nothing to lose and everything to gain, the motivated coach won 11-1. True to his word, Hansen showed up to play volleyball in the fall of his sophomore year. The basketball bet became a local legend.
“I didn’t necessarily throw it,” said Hansen, who has since grown to 6 foot 6 and stars for the basketball team too. “It was the first time meeting him. He earned my respect and ever since then he’s been a great mentor and coach to me.”
Volleyball has since become the sport of choice for Hansen, who wants to play at college. A would-be engineer, Hansen plans on attending SUNY-IT. But off a strong senior season, Hansen may have many more options at his disposal.
The immediate goal is a Section Five volleyball championship. Brighton has never won one. Victor, a five time champion, stands in the way.
The senior laden Barons beat the Blue Devils for the first time two weeks ago. The teams have a rematch this week and perhaps another in the sectionals.
“It’s the motivation to get one of our banners up on the wall of our gym and to leave our mark on Brighton’s volleyball program,” says Hansen.
Don’t bet against them.
You rarely hear Brighton High School complain about its size. Still, 17 of the Monroe County League’s other 21 schools have larger enrollments. So to field a full compliment of athletic teams, which they do, and compete against the likes of Fairport and Rush-Henrietta, which they do, the Barons have to approach things differently.
“Usually what we do is ask if you have any friends who are pretty athletic, send them our way and we take a look at them,” said boys volleyball coach Brad Rosenbaum.
“Over the last couple of years we’ve had a couple come out and help the program.”
Just such an opportunity presented itself three years ago. Mike Hansen had played freshman soccer. A couple of his classmates felt he was in the wrong fall sport.
According to fellow senior Riley Damerell, “Me and Phil (Pellegrino) knew Hansen from the basketball team and we kept getting on him to play volleyball. So our coach challenged Hansen to a one on one basketball game.”
At the time, Hansen was 6-2. Coach Rosenbaum is 5-7. The stakes were high.
“I saw him and his brother (former Brighton volleyball star J.P. Hansen) at the gym and we both started to get on him to play volleyball in the fall. So I said, ‘I tell you what. We’ll play a game of basketball, one on one to 11. If I win, you come play for me. If I lose, you can do whatever you want to do.”
With nothing to lose and everything to gain, the motivated coach won 11-1. True to his word, Hansen showed up to play volleyball in the fall of his sophomore year. The basketball bet became a local legend.
“I didn’t necessarily throw it,” said Hansen, who has since grown to 6 foot 6 and stars for the basketball team too. “It was the first time meeting him. He earned my respect and ever since then he’s been a great mentor and coach to me.”
Volleyball has since become the sport of choice for Hansen, who wants to play at college. A would-be engineer, Hansen plans on attending SUNY-IT. But off a strong senior season, Hansen may have many more options at his disposal.
The immediate goal is a Section Five volleyball championship. Brighton has never won one. Victor, a five time champion, stands in the way.
The senior laden Barons beat the Blue Devils for the first time two weeks ago. The teams have a rematch this week and perhaps another in the sectionals.
“It’s the motivation to get one of our banners up on the wall of our gym and to leave our mark on Brighton’s volleyball program,” says Hansen.
Don’t bet against them.
