To honor Black History Month, the Cascade Collegiate Conference wanted to celebrate the diversity of the conference by featuring different members of the CCC family and how they are "Living the Legacy" in the NAIA.
If you told Channa Hart that she would make a 20-hour, 1,098-mile trek from Southern California to Lewiston, Idaho to play collegiate volleyball, she might have thought you were joking with her.
The Menifee, California native grew up enjoying almost year-round sunshine and now goes to school where not only can the temperature dip below 30 degrees, but it can even snow. When Warrior head coach Shaun Pohlman started recruiting Hart, it took a trip to LC State to really open her eyes.
“Coming to LC State was definitely a big surprise to me and my family; Idaho felt like the last possible option for me!” said Hart. “Coach Pohlman reached out and really helped me see the potential of LC and what the program could become. After playing with the volleyball team on the visit and meeting some faculty here at LC, I knew I was in good hands. This team has really been a family away from home and I've been so thankful. Plus, the gym is absolutely amazing and the community support at games is always motivating to see.”
Collegiate volleyball wasn’t always a dream of Hart’s. She grew up playing other sports and joined a recreation league in middle school where she was hooked.
“After playing soccer and basketball, it was nice to play a non-contact sport where I could hit the ball as hard as possible and jump as high as I could,” said Hart. “Although I was a bit clumsy and shy, one of the club directors in town invited me to join a summer team and it's been history since!”
This past fall, Hart was the only player to start all 31 matches for the Warriors and picked up All-Cascade Collegiate Conference second-team honors after leading LC State with a .348 attack percentage. She was third on the team with 62 blocks (54 assists and eight solo) and averaged 1.40 kills per set.
Hart’s career – like many other current student-athletes – has been anything but normal with a pandemic disrupting everything. The Warriors didn’t get to play in the fall of 2020, instead, the CCC played a spring season. Then, just four months later, it was volleyball season once again, but with some added reservations.
“Every year brings different challenges, but I would say my mental health has endured most of this rollercoaster,” said Hart. “I mean it's crazy how quickly I would shift from hesitation to anticipation to regret to fear to excitement to disappointment to hesitation all over again. Covid definitely hasn't made things easy for us athletes, but here we are!”
Hart’s positivity has kept her going through times that have been challenging and has a post-it note board that covers half of the wall in her room.
“There are quotes, jokes, doodles, and handwritten letters that I look up at whenever I'm working at my desk,” said Hart. “It helps me reset and get back in the right mentality. Also, the team is supportive and reassuring, so even on days when I didn't feel like going, they had my back.”
As a student-athlete, Hart has a lot on her plate. She has to balance practices, games, classes, homework, eating, sleeping, social life, and so much more. It can be overwhelming, and Hart admits there are times she wished it would disappear for 15 minutes so she could catch her breath, but she’s learned how to handle it with the help of her team.
“When you're hopping from weights to practice to film, you don't necessarily have the time to slack off and let your schoolwork pile up,” said Hart. “You have to go the extra mile and plan study halls, times to complete assignments, and make sure that your performance on the court isn't being affected by it. A big word my coach uses all the time is ‘compartmentalization’ and I've really applied it to how to balance my workload, social life, and athletic performance.”
Hart’s hard work not only paid off on the court, but also in the classroom. The psychology major is a two-time Academic All-CCC honoree and earned CoSIDA Academic All-District in the fall, becoming the third Warrior in program history to earn the distinction.
“My biggest athletic accomplishment is CoSIDA Academic All-District,” said Hart. “I still can't believe I received the award! It's been a big honor and receiving it was a big surprise. It really proved that putting your head down and getting the job done has its perks. Being recognized is one of the motivating factors for this spring semester for me. I have plans to do better and push the envelope more than last time. Fall 2022 better watch out!”
Hart has maintained a 4.0 grade point average, is an active member of LC's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and this semester is interning with LC State’s Sports Information Director Alisha Alexander.
“Interning with Alisha is a dream come true,” said Hart. “She has been absolutely amazing and supportive since I got here and it's always nice to meet someone from home who understands just how different everything is. I'm looking forward to seeing the behind the scenes look at the athletic world. As athletes, we focus on the game, but Alisha's job calls for more than that. She's very dedicated and professional when it comes to every aspect of a game, an award, or a photoshoot. I feel like this is a great opportunity to become efficient, practical, and passionate about what I do!”
After graduating from LC State, Hart wants to go to graduate school for Psychology and start a career as a guidance/school counselor.
“I think it's important to help students at one of the first big decision points of their lives,” said Hart. “College is a daunting idea, and I believe every student deserves to figure out what's best for them. Also, I plan on becoming a graphic designer where I can work alongside a publishing company, create my own small business, or simply use it whenever I please.”
Hart has a lot of aspirations and looks to her parents, brothers and two of her closest friends as her inspiration.
“They're my biggest support group and I don't think I would be where I am now without their help,” said Hart. “My parents inspire me every day with their positive outlook on life and their unwavering faith in God. My brothers may not know it, but they are a big reason why I do what I do. Each one of them has worked through their own challenges right beside me and I know I can always count on them. Carli Berntson, my roommate since freshman year, has been an inspiration since the day I met her because of her values, commitment to herself, perseverance, and outgoing nature. And Denise Elder (one of the graduated seniors from last year) is the sister I never had. She constantly uplifts others, leads by example with her head high, and brings joy and laughter to every room she walks into. They all inspire me!”
Hart also looks up to professional athletes who have had an influence on her life.
“As a black athlete, I'm always looking up to professional athletes who have broken through standards and made a name for themselves,” said Hart. “Serena Williams, Gabby Douglas, and Simon Biles have definitely impacted my outlook on life.”
Seeing athletes like her blaze the path before her has inspired Hart and she hopes to keep moving the needle forward.
“Black History Month is the moment where we embrace our culture and take a deep dive into the significance of every black voice in history,” said Hart. “African Americans have contributed so much to the world that we live in now. We need representation. We need our voices to be heard. Our month allows us to connect with one another and recognize our beauty, our grace, and our community. For me, it means connection and pride for my people. It's amazing to hear the individual stories, the heartfelt poems, and the resonating pulse of our history. Our hair, our food, our words, our songs. There have been marches and movements and documentaries and movies, but this month only scrapes the surface of black history. There is so much more that deserves to be recognized, so it is time to listen and appreciate.”
While Hart may look to others as her inspiration, she is also an inspiration to young athletes as well and wants to encourage little girls to play sports and fall in love with it. It could take you thousands of miles away from home, but you also might discover more of who you are as a person.
“Don't let anyone interfere with what you want as an athlete,” said Hart. “A college experience is going to be something you'll remember for the rest of your life. You'll get good memories, great teammates, and phenomenal life lessons from it. It changed me as a person. I used to be shy, clumsy, and scared. Growing mentally and physically in a sport builds confidence in so many aspects of your life. As women, we deserve to feel confident and proud of what we achieve. You can do that here and now. You just have to put your mind to it and start the relentless hustle.”
Hart is one of two African American athletes on the Warrior volleyball team and looks to use her influence as a student-athlete like she has seen others before her.
“As a little kid, seeing black athletes achieve greatness made me believe that I could do it too,” said Hart. “I want to be that for the young black girls in my own community. I want them to know that their dreams are valid. Each and every one of them is special. Every time I step on the court, my main goal is to inspire and continue the dream. I may not have many years left as an athlete, but they are our future. I can't wait to celebrate their accomplishments in years to come!”