By Jimmy Allinder
Each day since Hannah Fisher has been a student at Monroe Township High School, she has been occupied in some shape or form by playing sports.
In the winter, she played basketball. In the spring, it was softball. And in the fall, she was the volleyball team’s manager. How strange it will be for Fisher when she says goodbye to varsity sports at the conclusion of the upcoming softball season.
“After a lot of thought, I made the decision to not play sports in college,” the senior said. “I will join club teams, although I’m not sure which sport I’ll play because I like basketball and softball equally. However, my college studies will be my top priority.”
When Fisher heads to college (she hasn’t decided where yet), her major will be psychology, even though her favorite subject, she said, is mathematics.
Coincidentally, Monroe girls basketball coach Leigh Vogtman was Fisher’s favorite teacher when she was a student in her physical education and Teen PEP (Prevention Education Program) classes.
“Coach V has been a huge influence on me as a player and person,” Fisher said. “She has a love for basketball that is so infectious that I developed an appreciation and love for the game myself.”
Fisher said the attribute she noticed most about Vogtman was her hard work ethic that ultimately led to the program’s first NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group IV title this past season.
“Coach V spent countless hours putting together practice plans, scouting and doing anything to make our team better,” Fisher said. “Her driven personality inspired me to work as hard as I could, and that has really helped me grow the last four years.”
Not surprisingly, Fisher has used those lessons to attack her studies with the same devotion to playing sports year-round. The result is a 90.9 average, a spot on the honor roll or principal’s list every marking period throughout high school and induction into the National Honor Society.
“At first, it was a challenge to maintain my grades and play sports,” Fisher said. “I had to manage my time to get work done quickly, but efficiently, not only because of sports, but my extracurricular activities.”
She continues to be active in the National Honor Society, Teen PEP and Heroes and Cool Kids.
Each instance Fisher has been involved with sports, her teams have achieved success. In addition to the basketball team’s sectional title, the volleyball team won its first Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) championship. And as a regular on the softball team last season, she played for the White Division winner.
Softball season, weather permitting, will commence in a week, and Fisher is anxious to help the Falcons repeat as division champions and win the conference title. After being a utility player last year, she will return to the outfield on a regular basis. At the plate, Fisher will look to improve last year’s hitting statistics, which included a .343 batting average with 23 hits and nine runs batted in.
“Hannah is an extremely hard-working young lady who is talented in several sports,” head softball and assistant basketball coach Keith Hudak said. “She is an excellent teammate, a pleasure to coach and epitomizes what a student-athlete should be.”
Besides Vogtman and Hudak, those in Fisher’s life who have been at her side are her father, Michael, and mother, Hope. Fisher also holds a special place in her heart for her grandfather, who passed away in 2015. A family friend, Scott Filiault, whose daughter, Casey, is also a member of the basketball team, worked with Fisher to help her improve her skills on the court.
“I always try to stay positive and confident in what I do on the field or court,” Fisher said. “My strength has been the mental aspect of sports. I don’t let mistakes or even playing in front of crowds get to my head. I’m looking forward to getting into the swing of things now that softball is about to begin, and that excites me.”
Along with that excitement is the belief she can still improve her skills on the diamond.
“That’s OK,” Fisher said. “There’s always room for improvement in anything I do, and I love to be challenged.”