Athlete of the Month

By Colin Anderson

Holly Ansley, Senior

Bonners Ferry High School

Years of athletic competition have taught Bonners Ferry senior Holly Ansley several life lessons that she can apply not just on the court but in all aspects of her life. “One lesson I have learned from being involved in sports is you can’t make it to the top without working for it,” she said.

Now amidst her final season on the girls’ basketball team, Holly continues to apply that hard work both on the court and off. She’s been a varsity player all four years, with her natural leadership abilities boosting her to a team captain when only a sophomore. That same year she was named an all-state selection—and the accolades have followed in both her junior and senior seasons. Beginning her high school career on the varsity team as a freshman was a big step, and a very special game that season still stands out above just about all the others. “The most memorable moment when playing sports was my freshman year when we beat the Sandpoint girls’ basketball team. That was the most fun and the best game our team ever played,” said Holly.

Holly is also a serious competitor on the track team. She is the defending district champion for both the long jump and triple jump, and she placed at state in both events her sophomore year. She had her eyes set on breaking the school record in both events before the pandemic wiped out her chance last spring. Since then she’s been focused on achieving that goal before her time is up. “My sophomore year I was less than an inch away from the triple jump record. To achieve this goal, I have been weight training with Mike Davis up at Iron Mike’s Gym.”

In the classroom, Holly carries a 4.0 GPA and earned a Top 10 Percent Scholar award her junior year. She plans on attending Idaho State University this fall and looks forward to pursuing a career as a dental hygienist. While she doesn’t plan on playing competitively at the collegiate level, Holly will cherish all the experiences she’s had along the way. “I have enjoyed building friendships throughout the years with my team and other team players. I also enjoy the competitive side to sports and of course winning!”