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May 28, 2010

Central volleyball turns to Brege

Trojan alum coaches JV team to 31-5-3 record

By JAMES COOK jcook@record-eagle.com

TRAVERSE CITY — Traverse City Central's search for a new volleyball coach didn't have to go very far.

After looking for a mentor to replace Tim Homa — who stepped down for personal reasons after leading the program for five seasons — the Trojans hired Katherine Brege, who led the junior varsity team for one year.

"Her calm demeanor was something that was important," said Central athletic director Cody Inglis. "She has a good rapport with the girls. Volleyball is such an up-and-down game and there's such a roller coaster of emotions, it's important to keep an even keel. She's going to bring that consistency to the program that Tim Homa did a great job in building back up. We think Katherine is going to continue that."

Under Homa, the Trojans won more than 30 matches in each of the last three seasons and also claimed a district crown, contending for Big North Conference titles in each of the last three years, but coming in second to Cadillac each time.

"When the varsity coaching job opened up, it seemed like the right thing that was supposed to happen," Brege said.

After an all-state career under Laurie Glass at TC Central, Brege played club volleyball at the University of Michigan and coached Kalkaska for seven years (1999-2005), leading the Blazers to a Lake Michigan Conference title.

"I grew up in Traverse City and played at Traverse City Central, so of course when I started coaching I knew I would love to go back to my alma mater and coach there," Brege said. "I didn't expect it to happen quite so quickly."

She had just been back from a four-year stay in Colorado, teaching and coaching middle school volleyball and track. In one season with Central's JV team, she led the Trojans to a 31-5-3 record.

"She did a nice job last year," Inglis said. "The experience was something that really struck me. She developed and turned a program in Kalkaska into a district- and conference-winning team. She really did a nice job there."

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