By Skip Weaver
Contributing writer
Michelle Brunswick believes in never taking anything for granted, and that has been a driving force behind her goal of doing her part to bring a state championship back to Madison.
Brunswick, a 5-foot-11 senior forward for the Mohawks (23-2), who will face Fayetteville-Perry at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday night in the Division III regional semifinals at Springfield High School, was a freshman on the 2010 squad that went all the way to the state championship game before losing to Findlay Liberty-Benton.
“Being part of that was an amazing experience,” Brunswick said. “It is always something that I will hold close to me even though we didn’t win, but being a freshman I don’t think I really appreciated it.
“There are no second chances in the tournament,” she continued. “You always have to bring your ‘A’ game. We want to be those champions and that is what is driving us this year.”
Brunswick is one of seven seniors on the team this year, but only three of them ‑ Brunswick, Meghan Miller and Josey Harding ‑ were part of that state runner-up squad four years ago. They talk about wanting to get back, but hardly ever talk about the loss.
“We talk about what we can improve on and change to help us have a different outcome,” Brunswick said. “We just need to stay focused and take things one game at a time.”
Brunswick is not a top scorer averaging just 5.1 points per game, but she is Madison’s top defender with a team-high 91 steals (4.0 per game) according to coach John Rossi. She also ranks third in rebounds (5.7 per game). Rossi called Brunswick the “most athletic kid in his program.”
“She is our Energizer Bunny,” Rossi said. “She gets up and down the floor very well and her motor runs 100 mile per hour. It helps our program immensely to have a kid like that.”
Basketball began at 6 years old for Brunswick. She would jump onto the court with her friends during halftime of her brother Justin’s youth games to play 2-on-2 or just shoot around. Little did she know then the kind of success she would be part of at the high school level.
The Mohawks have a 93-9 record in her four years including four consecutive Southwestern Buckeye League titles and a perfect 48-0 mark in league play. They’ve won four sectional titles, three district crowns and one regional title in addition to being state runners-up in 2010.
“Not in my wildest dreams could I picture my high school career turning out this good,” said Brunswick, who also competes in soccer, cross country and track. “I guess you always dream of it, but to have it happen is almost surreal and makes you really appreciate it.”
Brunswick recalls fondly her sibling rivalry with Justin, who is 2 ½ years older. She said he has had a big influence on her life.
“He always had a height advantage on me, but that forced me to figure out a way to get around him when we played basketball,” Brunswick said.
Brunswick also said her friends and faculty members have been influential in her life.
“They have made me into the person I am today,” she said. “I definitely don’t think I would have been able to do everything I have done outside of Madison, and that is something I’ll take with me the rest of my life. Madison will always be my home no matter where I go or end up.”
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