By George Bremer
The Herald Bulletin
ANDERSON, Ind. —
Perhaps no one was more surprised by Sarah Steele’s inclusion on a recent list of top Ball State athletes than the former Pendleton Heights star herself.
“That’s a neat honor to have,” she said. “Unexpected. I wouldn’t have ranked myself up there.”
Steele, then known as Sarah Obras, suited up for the Cardinals from 2002-05. She set school records for career kills (1,975) and kills per game (4.34). She’s also one of five players with 1,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs.
Her efforts were enough to impress a 12-person panel convened by the Ball State Daily News to produce a list of the 20 best Ball State athletes in the past 20 years. Steele checks in at No. 17 on the list. Former Muncie Burris setter Emily Sallee, a four-year starter who holds the school’s career assists record, is the only other women’s volleyball player to make the cut. She ranks No. 7.
Former Muncie Central basketball star Bonzi Wells, still the Mid-American Conference’s career scoring leader, tops the list.
Steele is excited, but humble, about her inclusion.
“I’m sure there are people more deserving who aren’t on there,” she said.
Steele, who now lives in Fishers, has been working the past few years as a certified public accountant for Park Tudor School.
This fall, she’s returning to the game she loves as the Panthers’ head volleyball coach.
It’s a move she’s been thinking about for quite some time, but her schedule never really allowed her the time.
She’s taking over a program with a lot going for it.
Park Tudor is coming off back-to-back sectional championships in 2008 and 2009. The Panthers also have won the Indiana Crossroads Conference title four times since 2005.
Lapel joins the ICC as a full member for the first time this season. Park Tudor is scheduled to visit the Bulldogs on Oct. 5.
Steele admits she’s not overly familiar with Class 2A, aside from the fact that dominant Burris feeds into the Panthers’ regional. But she’s excited about learning the ins and outs in what amounts to a dream job.
“Volleyball has always been my passion,” she said. “This is an opportunity to combine my real-world job with my passion. Not many people get a chance to do that.”
