Mankato West senior Allison Banse was looking for several things in a college.
She knew she wanted to study nursing, but was also hoping to participate in both volleyball and track and field.
“I really wanted to do sports. I didn’t think that I would be able to just let go of them,” Banse said. “Especially after high school and having those successful just like core memories from the volleyball and track team.”
Banse ended up finding a school that allowed her to do it all in the College of Saint Benedict. She committed to the school in November.
Banse said she was able to quickly narrow down the choices because she tagged along on several visits with her older sister during her search. It ended up coming down to Saint Benedict and Gustavus Adolphus.
There was immediate interest in St. Ben’s after exchanging emails with the coaches of both teams.
“My first question to both of them was ‘am I able to do both track and volleyball (and) nursing?’ They both were just like ‘yes.’ They were overly ecstatic about that, too,” Banse said. “They have many student-athletes who are in nursing.”
Then Banse traveled to St. Joseph for a visit, which ended up making it an easy decision.
“Right away it felt like home — the atmosphere on campus,” Banse. “I talked with their track throwers since I’m a thrower. Getting their different perspectives really helped me.”
Banse knows she’ll be busy. At the collegiate level, there’s also a winter track season, so she’ll have a sport at all times during the school year.
But that’s the way she prefers it. Banse enjoys having the structure that comes with a busy schedule.
Last month, Banse, who is also in choir, was announced as a winner of the Minnesota State High School League’s Triple A Award. The honor goes to students who maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher, while also participating in MSHSL sponsored athletic and fine arts activities.
“She’s done this for a long time. She’s very good at time management,” West volleyball coach Stacy Jackson said. “She’s probably one of, if not the most disciplined athletes I’ve ever coached.”
Added Banse: “The challenges that I’m going to face are just going to help me become a better person, athlete and nursing student.”
The Scarlets are coming off a historic volleyball season. West made it to its first section final in program history, with Banse, a libero, leading a stout defense.
In West’s Section 2AAA semifinal win over St. Peter, Banse broke the program’s career digs record. She finished her career at 1,158 digs.
“She’s super coachable,” Jackson said. “If the St. Ben’s coach wants her to work on something, she’s the one that will come early to work on it, she’ll stay late, she’ll study it, she’ll watch film. …
“She will work super hard, and she doesn’t really do well with mediocrity.”
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