Highland’s Kelsey Hora focuses on team

RIVERSIDE - Kelsey Hora is all about the team.

Although she recently reached an individual milestone, the Highland Community senior focused on urging others to do the same.

'I know a few freshmen right now that can get there and I'm encouraging them to do that,” said Hora, who was honored last week for scoring 1,000 career points.

Her coach, Jody Fink, isn't surprised.

'She's just the ultimate teammate and anybody would want to strive to be her in that aspect,” he said. 'You need great teammates to be a great team and she's the epitome of that, no matter what sport or activity she is in.

'Even in just regular life, if you get to different activities, she's always encouraging, even in prom court if she doesn't win prom queen, she's happy for the other person because she knows she has given it everything she's got in everything she does, and that's the best legacy you can leave, is to have people look up to you.”

When Hora reached the milestone on Jan. 3, she was a bit surprised.

'I forgot that I was that close to that point during the game,” she said. 'I had no idea why everyone was all cheering for me. Then I looked at the crowd who were holding ‘1,000' signs and I just cried because I felt really excited and overwhelmed by it all.”

Fink said reaching the milestone didn't come easy.

'It means a lot of time on the court, a lot of games played and a lot of dedication as an athlete all the way around,” he said. 'She might be the best all-around athlete we've had here at Highland, when you look at every sport she has done. She has hit milestones in every one of them, whether it was softball, volleyball, basketball, track, you name it.”

Hora may not be done setting a high bar. Fink said she ranks third in Highland history in scoring and has the opportunity to reach second. She also will rank in the top 10 in many categories when her high school career has finished. Her best attribute, however, isn't measured in numbers.

'I've never known her to say a bad thing about one single person at all,” Fink said. 'She's always there encouraging.

'She is there to pick up a teammate when they're down, give them a ball, setting them up for a play in volleyball, getting into position for an RBI in softball, whatever.”

Sports will continue to be part of Hora's future.

'I have a full ride at DMACC for softball,” she said, 'and I might play basketball. But I'm not sure yet.”